What the Primary Health Care Report is for
Manitoba Public Insurance runs the Personal Injury Protection Plan, which pays for medically required treatment after a collision that no government health program covers, and replaces income when injuries stop someone working. The Primary Health Care Report is the first account from the practitioner treating the injuries. MPI reads it to see what the collision caused, what care the patient needs, and whether they can work.
It’s separate from a workers’ compensation report, such as the WCB Manitoba Doctor First Report, which goes to the Workers Compensation Board for work injuries.
Who completes it
The treating practitioner completes the report and signs it, with the MPI registered account number if they have one. The patient or guardian signs the authorization at the bottom, which releases the report to MPI in support of their claim. The patient doesn’t complete any other part.
How to fill in the report
The collision and first response
Enter the claim number, the patient’s details and occupation, the case manager if known, and the dates of the examination and the collision. Answer whether the patient hit their head, lost consciousness and for how long, had an abrasion, contusion, or laceration and where, had investigations, and sought care within 24 hours. Mark the mechanism as rear, frontal, side, or other impact, and attach the results of any investigations.
Symptoms and physical signs
Check every symptom that developed because of the collision, marking left or right where the form asks, from neck pain and headache to dizziness, sleep disturbance, and anxiety. Then check the physical findings, such as limited range of motion, tenderness, segmental dysfunction, and neurological signs. Keep the two lists apart: symptoms are what the patient reports, and signs are what you found.
Neurological examination
Record whether the examination was normal or showed a sensory deficit, motor deficit, reflex changes, or dural tension, with the dermatome, muscles, and levels affected.
History in the five years before the collision
Answer whether, in the five years before the collision, the patient took more than four weeks off work for an injury or health problem, used prescription or over-the-counter medications regularly, had significant health problems needing ongoing care, or had chiropractic or physiotherapy treatment, with the date of the last treatment. Answer from the record rather than from the patient’s recall alone.
Diagnosis, work status, and management plan
Give the clinical diagnosis. Say whether the patient is at work, and if not, the targeted return date. Answer whether the condition prevents travel to work, stops the patient doing required tasks, poses a safety risk to them or co-workers, or would be made worse by returning. Then list prescribed medications, splints or assistive devices, referrals, the expected frequency of in-clinic care over the next six weeks, and the forecast total duration of care.
Common reasons it’s delayed
- No MPI claim number, or the patient hasn’t yet reported the claim.
- The patient’s authorization left unsigned.
- Symptoms checked with no physical findings or neurological examination.
- The five-year history left blank.
- Not at work with no targeted return date.
- Investigations mentioned but results not attached.
Submitting and who pays
The completed report goes to Manitoba Public Insurance for the patient’s injury claim, and the patient must report the claim to MPI before a compensation file is opened. The form doesn’t state a fee. MPI’s guide says most physiotherapists, chiropractors, and athletic therapists bill MPI directly for accident-related treatment, and the report carries a field for your MPI registered account number.