B.C.'s medical watchdog seeking injunction against Telus Health program
British Columbia's Medical Services Commission has applied for an injunction against a Telus Health program, alleging its billing model contravenes the province's Medicare Protection Act.
The LifePlus service, which was reviewed by the commission earlier this year, has been described as creating a "two-tiered" system by charging for services that should be covered under the B.C.'s medical services plan.
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the application for an injunction Thursday.
"Earlier this year, I directed the Medical Services Commission to review Telus Health following complaints made by the public of illegal extra billing," he said at a news conference held Thursday afternoon.
"It is very important to uphold the Medicare Protection Act, which is in place to preserve our publicly managed and fiscally sustainable health-care system for British Columbia. Access to necessary medical care should be based on need and not an individual's ability to pay."
The findings of the review are not publicly available and the BC Greens have demanded they be released.
A representative from Telus Health says the company was blindsided.
“To not, at this point, be given an opportunity to even have a discussion, to even get a response on our inquiries, to say, 'If there’s something that you think is not right let us know, we will fix it.' We’re blind right now on that, and I think that’s very disrespectful and quite a shame,” said Juggy Sihota, vice president of consumer health for Telus Health.
Dix doesn’t see it that way.
“The process requires an exchange of information and information received, and it has done over the last number of months with Telus Health and others,” said Dix.
One expert tells CTV News the timing of the injunction application comes when the province is facing a severe doctor shortage.
“These type of two-tier-health-care models, where access is based on your wallet and the ability to pay, is going to be moving and siphoning health-care providers and – in this case – primarily family physicians, out of a system that’s based on need,” said Andrew Longhurst, a health policy researcher at Simon Fraser University.
Telus Health claims it isn’t knowingly breaking any rules.
“The LifePlus program is a small, preventative service,” said Sihota. “We do not charge for primary care services with our LifePlus service. Our fee is preventative health, uninsured services like dieticians, kinesiologist, health and wellness services.”
Sihota says LifePlus has approximately 4,000 users and 25 doctors.
Dix says the Medical Services Commission will argue its case for an injunction in the coming weeks, but wouldn’t provide any details of the filings as it’s now before the court.
Telus Health, meanwhile, isn’t backing down.
“We welcome the legal proceedings,” said Sihota. “We welcome the opportunity to make sure that the right facts and details are shared. So expect that.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.