Revised Assessment Guidelines for Catastrophic Impairment

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) is pleased to provide, for your information, the revised Assessment Guidelines for Catastrophic Impairment Designated Assessment Centres (DACs).

The Minister’s Committee on the DAC System (Minister’s Committee), whose mandate is to assist DACs in providing neutral, comprehensive and cost-effective assessments, has recommended the implementation of the revised assessment guidelines effective October 1, 2001.

The revised Assessment Guidelines, attached to this document, are entitled Catastrophic Impairment Designated Assessment Centre Assessment Guidelines: A guide to conducting Catastrophic Impairment DAC assessments (October 2001) and replaces Ontario Insurance Commission Guidelines for Designated Assessment Centres to Conduct Assessments for Accidents on or after November 1, 1996 as amended, June 1998 for catastrophic impairment assessments only.

The Guidelines provide direction and the legislative context for the assessors to complete their report. Like other DAC assessment guidelines, there are screens built into the intake process to help:

• focus in on the issues that are in dispute.
  
  
• determine what type and how many health care professionals are required to assess the claimant.

Other systemic issues the Minister’s Committee has been able to address through these Guidelines include:

• cost and time efficiencies to allow for a file paper review on issues regarding the validity of the Glascow Coma Scale and earlier exit points once a catastrophic determination has been established.
  
  
• the focusing of a CAT DAC to provide an opinion on the issues in dispute and not broadening the scope of the assessment unnecessarily or beyond its mandate.

In addition, the new guide introduces a paediatric designation for those CAT DACs who meet the eligibility criteria.

These new documents reflect the ongoing commitment of FSCO and the Minister’s Committee to ensuring that the DAC system is fair, accessible, timely and cost-effective.

Please ensure that the information contained in this bulletin is brought to the attention of your ADR Coordinator.

For More Information

Questions about this bulletin should be directed to FSCO’s Automobile Insurance Policy Unit at 416-790-7137 or 1-800-668-0128 extension 7137. The fax number is (416) 590-7265.

Philip Howell
Chief Executive Officer and
Superintendent of Financial Services (Acting)
September 17, 2001

Attachment (PDF):

Catastrophic Impairment Designated Assessment Centre Assessment Guidelines