HCAI Glossary Blog for Massage Therapists
By: Nataliya Zlotnikov, MSc, HBSc ∙ Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Is this resource for me?

Are you a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) in Ontario who sees MVA patients? This resource could be a valuable tool for you.

Using Health Claims for Auto Insurance (HCAI) can often be overwhelming. 

Simplify. With our downloadable code list, curated for Ontario RMTs.

Get my free RMT HCAI 
codes package now!

Keep reading below to learn more about HCAI 👇

What is HCAI

Developed collaboratively by Ontario auto insurers in conjunction with the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), the Ontario Ministry of Finance, various medical rehabilitation provider associations, and other stakeholders, Health Claims for Auto Insurance (HCAI) is an electronic system designed to streamline the claim submission process¹.

HCAI serves as a mandatory, centralized platform for the transmission of essential forms—Ontario Claims Forms, or OCFs—between insurers and health care facilities in Ontario. 

This process ensures that submissions are directed to the appropriate insurance companies for review and adjudication ^{2, 3}.

Embodia has an HCAI integration

HCAI can be confusing — we’re here to make it easier.

Embodia’s all-in-one practice management system, with its robust HCAI integration, makes the paperwork simple so you can focus on your patients. 

Save time and administrative hassle by managing your booking, billing, charting, tracking, and insurance submissions all in one place.

Meet with us to learn more!

Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) and HCAI

Many RMTs—as well as many other allied health and wellness practitioners—find the HCAI coding process to be quite complex, often feeling anxious about selecting the correct code for fear that their treatment plans may be denied. 

As far as RMTs go, treatment confirmation forms (OCF-23) also require authorization from an Initiating Health Practitioner (IHP). 

An IHP can be a physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist. Furthermore, professionals from three other fields—optometrists, psychologists, and speech-language pathologists—are also authorized to approve treatment and assessment forms (OCF-18).

Let’s learn about HCAI 

HCAI uses standard coding on OCFs for injuries (ICD), interventions and treatments (CCI), goods/supplies (GAP), unit measures, and provider types.

Below, you will see each of these explained, and common code examples for RMTs provided. 

You can access the complete curated codes package by following the link below. While we strive to tailor these codes for Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs), each practitioner is ultimately responsible for verifying the accuracy and currency of the codes.

Get my free RMT HCAI
codes package now!

ICD-10-CA injury coding

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems - Tenth Revision (ICD-10) is an international standard for reporting diseases, injuries, and causes of death developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

ICD-10-CA is an enhanced version of ICD-10 developed by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) and is the classification used to record problems, diagnoses, symptoms and other conditions necessitating contact with health care providers

ICD-10-CA and HCAI code structure  

HCAI will only recognize valid ICD-10-CA codes. 

Without valid ICD-10-CA codes, HCAI users will be unable to submit forms to automobile insurers.

Position 1 - Series: The Series code represents a broad category of disease, condition, injury, disorder, or symptom.

Position 2-3 - Category code: Provides general details to describe the injury, disease, disorder, symptom or condition.

Position 4-6 - Sub-category code: Provides specific details related to the injury, disease, disorder, symptom or condition. Generally, this level of detail is not required for automobile insurers.

Example: S13.4

Position 1 = S  |  Position 2-3 = 13  |  Position 4 = sub-category code

Common injury codes (using ICD‑10‑CA) for RMTs

✅ Tips:

• Always match ICD-10 codes with treatment goals and CCI codes (see below)

• S13.4 + 7.SC.52 is one of the most common RMT code combos in HCAI

• Avoid vague codes unless appropriate (e.g., M79.1 only when you can't specify)

CCI and GAP codes (for intervention and treatment coding)

The Canadian Classification of Health Interventions (CCI) was developed by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). 

It is a comprehensive list of codes for diagnostic, therapeutic, and support interventions.

The CCI did not address certain services specific to the Ontario auto insurance health system. So, GAP (Goods, Administration, and Other) codes were created only for use in the Ontario auto insurance system for things such as goods, supplies, admin services (travel time, mileage, report preparation), etc.

The HCAI Ontario Claim Forms (OCFs) that require intervention codes are primarily the OCF-18 Treatment and Assessment Plan, OCF-21 Invoices (including OCF-21B and OCF-21C), and the OCF-23 Treatment and Assessment Plan.

CCI and HCAI code structure 

 

Position 1 - Section: Represents the broad category or type of intervention.

Position 2-3 - Group: Indicates what was affected.

Position 4-5 - Intervention: Indicates what was done.

Position 6-7 - Approach or Technique or Reason: Indicates how or why the intervention was done. Generally, this level of detail is not required for automobile insurers.

Position 8-9 - Device or Method: Indicates what was used. This level of detail is not required for automobile insurers.

Common intervention and treatment codes (using CCI) for RMTs 

💡 Notes:

• "7.SC" = Therapeutic interventions related to the Musculoskeletal System

• For Manual Therapy, 7.SC.52 is the most frequently used by RMTs

• Codes should match the nature of the intervention and the injury diagnosis (ICD-10 code) on the OCF forms

• Always pair your CCI code with a relevant ICD-10 injury code for approval (e.g., S33.5 for lumbar sprain)

GAP and HCAI code structure 

Position 1 - Section: Represents the broad category or type of intervention.

Position 2-3 - Group: Indicates what was affected.

Position 4-5 - Intervention: Indicates what was done.

Common intervention and treatment codes (using GAP) for RMTs

📌 Notes for RMTs:

• GAP codes are non-treatment administrative or assessment activities

• These are in addition to CCI + ICD-10 coding for treatment itself

• GR01 must usually be pre-approved in the Treatment Plan (OCF-18)

• Use GR03 for ongoing manual therapy treatments (paired with a CCI code like 7.SC.52)

• The Session Fee code (SZZPR) is a service code that providers may wish to use for a bundled group of physical rehabilitation services.
  
  
  

Get my free RMT HCAI
codes package now!

Here are some additional resources and links to check out: 

• Learn more about HCAI on Embodia

• Learn more about other direct billing services on Embodia

• Embodia's Guides: Introduction to HCAI on Embodia

• Blog: Embodia's HCAI Integration: Benefits & How to Get Started

• Blog: Embodia’s HCAI Integration Helps Psychologists Provide the Care their MVA Patients Need
  
  

---
Date published: 30 July 2025
Last update: 30 July 2025