WCB-Alberta C151: Physician Progress Report Guide

After the first visit on an Alberta work injury, general practitioners use this follow-up report and invoice when something relevant has changed since the last report. It updates the adjudicator or case manager on objective findings, treatment, return-to-work status and capabilities, including when the worker can go back. Follow-up visits with nothing new to report are billed on a C568 medical invoice instead.

Who completes it

The general practitioner seeing the worker for follow-up completes the whole report and invoice, and WCB-Alberta's reference guide also applies it to emergency room specialists; other specialists use the C568. It is built from an existing report on the claim in Electronic Injury Reporting.

How to fill it in

Participant details

Start from 'New Report from Existing' in Electronic Injury Reporting: search for the worker, choose the Physician Progress Report, and the demographics fill in. Check the pre-filled billing number, contract ID (000001 for general or family practice) and role; if your myWCB user ID carries more than one, choose from the drop-down, since a wrong contract ID can delay payment. Don't start a new first report for a follow-up visit: the C050 is only for the initial visit.

Injury details

Record current symptoms as the patient describes them, their site, and whether they are local, regional or referred, then objective findings: range of motion, palpation, flexibility, strength, swelling, neurological deficit and other relevant results, with positive and pertinent negative tests. WCB-Alberta asks that follow-up reports state objective findings and any improvement since prior reports; 'unchanged' and 'as/see before' are not helpful. ICD-9 codes entered here carry over to the invoice.

Treatment plan details

Answer whether opioids were prescribed at this visit; once the exam is 90 days after the accident, WCB requires added detail on the opioid treatment plan and any adverse opioid behaviours. Update referrals to allied health practitioners, non-opioid medications (dose, frequency, duration), booked surgeries and complicating factors such as psychosocial issues or pre-existing conditions. Record new consultations, referrals or investigations by category, type and details, ticking Expedite where offered, and ask for a case manager, WCB medical consultant or return-to-work provider if needed.

Return-to-work details

Say whether the worker has missed work beyond the accident date (time off only for medical appointments doesn't count) and, if so, whether they have returned to any work, including modified work. If they are back, report modified hours, with the hours per day they can manage within current capabilities, and modified duties. Section 34(1)(b) requires you to tell WCB when the worker is or was able to return to work, within three days of that date, in a report like this or separately.

Current capabilities

If the worker is off work or on modified work, select Able, Unable or Limited to for each listed activity, with hours and maximums where applicable, and add other restrictions or comments. Revise the estimated date for pre-accident level work, which the C459 guide expects to change in progress reports as recovery happens, or give the expected date of maximum medical recovery if permanent restrictions are likely. Report frequency as never, occasional (6 to 33% of the day), frequent (34 to 66%) or constant (67 to 100%).

Other information

Attach up to three new results in DOC, DOCX, TIF/TIFF, PDF, RTF or TXT format: MRI, X-ray, CT or ultrasound reports, imaging requisitions, EMG referrals, specialist consultation or operative reports (1 MB each), or chart notes and other files (2 MB). Mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk; error messages must be fixed before the report will submit, while warnings, usually about invoice codes or dates, still allow submission.

Invoice information

The billing number, contract ID and ICD-9 codes pre-fill from the report. Add the skill code, facility type and the health service codes for the visit under Alberta Health Schedule of Medical Benefits rules, with modifiers, calls and encounters as needed. WCB-Alberta's billing FAQ lists common reasons invoices come back: a modifier missing a letter or digit (CMGP with three calls is CMGP03), time-based modifiers on more than one code, and the letter O typed for zero (BCP01).

Common mistakes

Filing a C151 when nothing relevant has changed since the last report; those follow-up visits belong on a C568 medical invoice.
Creating a new first report (C050) for a follow-up visit instead of building the progress report from the existing report.
Writing 'unchanged', 'as before' or 'see before' instead of current objective findings and whether the worker has improved.
Not telling WCB within three days once the worker is able to return to work, as section 34(1)(b) of the Act requires.
Missing the on-time window: WCB must receive the report by 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time on the fifth business day after the exam.
Fixing a missed health service code by sending another report instead of a C570 Medical Services Reassessment with 'N/A' in the 'was' field.

Submitting and payment

How to submit it: In myWCB Electronic Injury Reporting, open 'New Report from Existing', search for the worker and choose the Physician Progress Report, or send it through an accredited medical software vendor; paper C151s are order-only. To be on time, WCB must receive it within four business days of the exam, by 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time on the fifth.
Who pays: WCB-Alberta pays a progress report fee at same-day, on-time or late rates under its physician fee schedule effective April 1, 2025, triggered by creating a follow-up report in Electronic Injury Reporting, with visit services billed on the same invoice.

Good to know

Section 34(1)(b) of the Workers' Compensation Act requires you to tell WCB when the worker will be or was able to return to work, within three days of that date.
In the Medication Management Program, a C942 checklist is sent with a C151 and earns a report fee, while a C914 Medication Management Report replaces the C151.
To correct a submitted report or add a missed health service code, use the C570 Medical Services Reassessment form under 'New Report from Existing'.
WCB-Alberta pays a report fee only when a report is actually filed, including on long-standing claims and after an Alberta Health payment reversal.

Get the official form

Download the current version from the source each time; forms change without notice.

Physician progress report (C151)

Official page

Get the note ready with Vero

WCB-Alberta takes this form through its online services or your EMR, so there is no PDF to fill. Vero Scribe writes the visit note it draws on, so the details are ready when you complete it.

See how Vero Scribe works

How this list is checked

A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms change without notice, so download the current version from the official page before you fill it in.

Sources for this guide

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Frequently asked questions

When is a C151 progress report required?

Use a C151 for follow-up visits where relevant changes have occurred since the first report. Separately, section 34(1)(b) of the Workers' Compensation Act requires you to tell WCB when the worker will be or was able to return to work, within three days of that date. If nothing relevant has changed at a follow-up visit, bill it on a C568 medical invoice.

How do I create a progress report in myWCB?

In Electronic Injury Reporting, open the 'New Report from Existing' tab, search for the injured worker's name and choose the Physician Progress Report form; the system fills in the demographic information. The fee schedule calls this step 'create a follow-up report'. If your clinic reports through accredited medical software, the C151 may be sent from your EMR instead.

What is the deadline for an on-time C151?

Count the exam date as day 0. Same-day means WCB receives the report by 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time the next business day; on-time means within four business days, by 10:00 a.m. MT on the fifth. Later reports are paid at the late rate. Timing uses WCB's receipt timestamp, not when you completed or sent the report.

What should a C151 include that the first report didn't?

WCB-Alberta wants follow-up reports to give current objective findings and say whether the worker has improved since prior reports; comments such as 'unchanged' or 'see before' are not helpful. Update return-to-work status, modified hours or duties and capabilities, and revise the estimated date for pre-accident work as recovery progresses.