With the blessing of the federal government, B.C. is putting three health clinics under the microscope amid long-standing concerns about overbilling and the integrity of the country91裸聊视频檚 public health-care system.
Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said her department reached an agreement with B.C. to audit the three clinics in hopes of rooting out the practice of extra-billing for medically necessary care, a violation of the Canada Health Act.
91裸聊视频淭he audit will determine the extent to which extra-billing and user fees have been a barrier to accessible care for people in British Columbia,91裸聊视频� Philpott said in a statement Thursday.
Philpott91裸聊视频檚 newly appointed B.C. counterpart, former NDP leader Adrian Dix, said he strongly supports the audit agreement, which was negotiated under the province91裸聊视频檚 previous Liberal government.
91裸聊视频淲e have to act to ensure that access to medical care in B.C. is based on need and not on an individual91裸聊视频檚 ability to pay,91裸聊视频� Dix said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
91裸聊视频淭hat is the reason the law exists and that is something that has been fundamental to Canada91裸聊视频檚 health-care system for a long time and is something we strongly support.91裸聊视频�
Health Canada and the province decided to proceed with the audits in March, he said, noting that a considerable amount of planning has flowed from that decision.
91裸聊视频淭he results of the audit may have consequences 91裸聊视频� but the audits haven91裸聊视频檛 been completed yet so commenting on conclusions that haven91裸聊视频檛 been drawn would be incorrect and unfair,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e are not assuming the results of the audits.91裸聊视频�
The Canada Health Act, which imposes conditions on the provinces and territories in exchange for health care funding, prohibits so-called extra billing or user charges for services that are deemed medically necessary.
Once extra-billing or user charges are confirmed, a dollar-for-dollar deduction from that region91裸聊视频檚 federal health transfer payment is required.
Some $204,145 was deducted from B.C.91裸聊视频檚 March 2016 transfer payments as a result of extra-billing and user charges for insured health services that were levied at private clinics in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
Extra-billing occurs when a medical practitioner charges an insured patient who receives a covered health service an additional sum over and above what is paid for by a provincial or territorial insurance plan.
Questions about the public health-care system in B.C. have also been raised in a high-profile court case involving Dr. Brian Day of the in Vancouver.
In the lawsuit, launched in 2010, Day is challenging B.C.91裸聊视频檚 ban on the purchase of private insurance for medically necessary services covered by the public system, arguing it forces patients to endure long wait times that can exacerbate their health problems.
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The federal government is also engaged in the Cambie case, which it believes could have important implications for public health care across Canada.
Dix said 91裸聊视频漵ome of the principles91裸聊视频� being defended by the government in the case are similar to the questions at play in the audits.
91裸聊视频淚t is what the Medical Services Commission in B.C. and the ministry of health are defending in that case,91裸聊视频� he said.
Kristy Kirkup, The Canadian Press
