No more fee-based physician program: B.C. Medical Services Commission reaches deal with Telus Health
The B.C. Medical Services Commission and Telus Health have reached an agreement, after the commission went looking for an injunction over alleged contraventions of the Medicare Protection Act.
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the deal on Wednesday.
"To ensure compliance going forward, Telus will no longer offer physician services to new clients through its LifePlus program," Dix said.
Dix said Telus will separate the services that can be charged back to the Medical Services Plan from the LifePlus program. That means those who have paid for the program already will no longer have access to physician services through LifePlus, but rather through Telus Health. In that way, they will maintain access to a family doctor.
In a statement, Juggy Sihota, chief growth officer for Telus Health, said the two parties had come to an agreement.
"This agreement will see the MSC withdrawing its petition against LifePlus and Telus Health modifying some of the program’s operational processes over time to ensure a clearer delineation between insured and uninsured care delivery while maintaining continuity of care for its clients," the statement reads.
In February 2022, the Medical Services Commission began investigating Telus' fee-based LifePlus program. In December 2022, the commission sought an injunction against Telus Health.
At that time, Sihota denied any wrongdoing.
“The LifePlus program is a small, preventative service,” said Sihota at the time.
“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.”
The commission asked for an injunction, alleging Telus charged for services covered under MSP. It's unclear if the company is accepting that argument under the terms of the agreement.
When asked if Telus would need to pay a fine, Dix emphasized the deal focuses on making modifications to the program.
"It's not about punishing people," Dix said. "We're not going to send a whole bunch of people, take away their family doctor when they're getting physician services that are covered under the Medicare Protection Act in our health-care system."
The Green Party of B.C. first raised the issue of the Telus program in February 2022 in the legislature. Saanich MLA Adam Olsen said Wednesday that he was flabbergasted Telus won't face a financial penalty.
"We've seen this privatized health-care system under the NDP continue to grow despite their rhetoric (that) they support accessible equitable universal health care, so (we're) really surprised to see there aren't any penalties," Olsen said.
Dix said he was delighted with the agreement because the LifePlus program has been brought into compliance with Medicare Protection Act.
In a statement, the Medical Services Commission put other organizations with similar fee-for-service models on notice.
"This settlement should serve as an indicator to others who may be offering expensive, patient-funded health-care programs – that are charging for access, or priority access, to medically necessary health care – will be investigated."
As for the bigger problem of connecting people with family doctors, Dix promises a new rostering system will be up and running in July. The first priority, he said, is to connect those with the greatest need to a service provider. Given an estimated one million British Columbians are without a family doctor, that could take a while.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.