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May 1, 2020
In this issue:
- COVID-19
- Technology
- Joint Collaborative Committees
- Health Care Partners
COVID-19
Business Cost Premium can now be applied to telehealth
Effective May 1, 2020, the Business Cost Premium (BCP) will be temporarily expanded to apply to telehealth fee items, including phone and video communication with patients. Information is available here.
This is just the latest in a wide range of billing and fee code changes announced by Doctors of BC and the BC government to support physicians to provide optimal patient care during the COVID-19 crisis. Taken all together, these changes can have a have a significant impact, particularly in supporting the expansion of virtual care. New temporary fee codes have also been introduced to address added costs of treating patients with COVID-19 in physicians’ offices.
Physicians are encouraged to review all the available information and ensure they make full use these billing changes. Information on all billing and fee code changes in response to COVID-19 can be found here.
Did you know? Physicians can reach out to complex care patients to check in and monitor their conditions. These calls are billable services and a good way to support patients during this difficult time.
MSP coverage during COVID-19 pandemic
A reminder that patients who are not eligible for coverage under MSP will be provided provincially insured health coverage for services relating to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Services for unrelated conditions that are performed on MSP non-eligible patients will remain uninsured.
Physicians and other health care providers are responsible for determining if a patient meets the criteria for coverage. Services related to COVID-19 for non-MSP eligible patients should be billed using the following Personal Health Number (PHN): 9703740703.
Providers may also notice an increase of patients presenting to them with confirmation of coverage letters. These letters have been issued in response to access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on billing this general PHN, call the following numbers:
Vancouver: 604-456-6950
Elsewhere in BC: 1-866-456-6950
Delivery of immunization services during COVID-19
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has published a document with guidance for immunization providers on prioritization of infant, childhood, and adult immunization programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document outlines strategies applicable to both primary care and public health clinical services.
On April 15, Dr Bonnie Henry, BC Provincial Health Officer, shared the message about continuity of immunization services during the COVID-19 response at her daily press briefing, highlighting that immunization is an essential service. ImmunizeBC is promoting these messages in a variety of ways including a banner advertisement, audio advertisement for podcasts, and social media announcements.
Caring for patients with cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has created an information guide with tips, pitfalls, and red flags for family physicians caring for patients with cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to read the guide.
REAKT: Rapid Evidence And Knowledge Translation for Rural Providers during COVID-19
UBC Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is providing a personalized service that answers questions from rural providers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rapid Evidence And Knowledge Translation (REAKT) responds to questions posed by rural doctors that may involve evidence review and summary, sourcing existing resources such as pre-printed order sets, or sharing ideas and innovations. Responses are rapid and sent directly to the provider who made the request, as well as contributing to an expanding online library of resources.
Click here to ask a question. Visit the website for more information.
VIRTUAL CARE
DTO updates and resources to support virtual care
Doctors Technology Office (DTO), in partnership with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), is providing Zoom for Healthcare licenses to community providers (family physicians, nurse practitioners, and specialists). More information can be found here:
On Thursday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. PT, DTO is hosting “Getting Patients Back to Practice – Navigating the New Norm,” a physician-led webinar highlighting strategies for effectively communicating with patients to ensure they are aware that virtual care is available, and are accessing it in an appropriate and timely way. Physician panelists will share best practices, lessons learned, and other tips including prioritizing at-risk patients, returning to full practice capacity, educating patients about appointment availability, and sharing quick start toolkit resources and communication templates. Physicians who wish to join the session can register here or contact DTOinfo@doctorsofbc.ca for more information.
The DTO Virtual Care Support Network, created in response to the pandemic, includes 80+ physicians and MOAs who are available to help their peers through coaching and sharing best practices and troubleshooting tips based on clinical experience. The Virtual Care Support Network also includes RST coaching and optimization cycle facilitation through the Practice Support Program. Physicians or MOAs who would like to be matched up with peer support can contact DTOinfo@doctorsofbc.ca for more information.
On Wednesday May 6 at 8:00a.m. PT, DTO will be hosting a Virtual Care Huddle to see what supports, feedback, pressing issues, etc. you are hearing or needing help with. This huddle was created in response to divisions requesting time to discuss their technology and support needs in real time. To register, click here.
JOINT COLLABORATIVE COMMITTEES
Support from Locums for Rural BC
Locums for Rural BC, which is funded by the Joint Standing Committee for Rural Issues and operated by the Health Employers Association of BC, has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways to better serve rural communities during this challenging time.
Locums for Rural BC is supporting all Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) communities by granting access to the three locum programs until June 30: the Rural General Practitioner Locum Program, the Rural General Practitioner Anesthesia Locum Program, and the Rural Specialist Locum Program.
This support will help communities with an active COVID-19 outbreak among patients, exposure and/or active outbreak among health care workers, or physician mental health or stress-related issues as a result of COVID-19. Locum support is being provided to these communities as supplemental resources and require the support of the Health Authority Medical Director.
For further details, visit the website or email info@locumsruralbc.ca
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS
Expanding data collection and sharing to help family physicians build stronger practices
The Health Data Coalition (HDC) has announced the expansion of HDC Discover, a data-sharing application that allows family doctors to compare EMR data from their clinic to provincial averages. Doctors can then share that information with their colleagues and work together to improve patient care and inform strategic decision-making.
HDC signed an adaptor development agreement with Intrahealth and TELUS in 2018 to expand the original application, which previously only allowed sharing by Medical Office Information System (MOIS) and Oscar users. With the launch of Intrahealth, and WELL Health signing an agreement to ensure continuity for OSCAR EMR users, the majority of family physicians in BC will now have access to HDC Discover.
Learn more, and join the network of BC physicians sharing data to improve patient outcomes.
Foundry BC offering virtual drop-in counselling
Foundry BC is now offering free and confidential virtual drop-in counselling sessions by telephone, video, and instant chat to young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers.
Foundry’s Virtual Service complements existing services available through Foundry centres and helps to expand access for young people across the province who may not be able to access services in their local communities.
Appointments can be booked by calling 1-833-308-6379. For any questions, email online@foundrybc.ca.
Free chronic pain education for health care providers
All health care providers in BC are invited to join BC Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) for Chronic Pain – a free, virtual learning community of specialists and community health care providers that aims to improve care for complex pain cases. Participating physician will receive CME credits.
ECHO sessions are presented by videoconference and include an instructive presentation followed by case presentations from session participants. Providers who participate will receive interdisciplinary community and specialist recommendations.
ECHO is delivered once a month in a two-hour session. Upcoming topics include:
- Screening for psychiatric and psychosocial co-morbidities on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. PT
- Providing trauma-informed care on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. PT
For more information and to register, visit the website.
DIVISIONS IN THE NEWS
Click here to read the latest news about Divisions of Family Practice in the media.
The provincial communications team produces a twice-monthly newsletter designed to keep divisions up-to-date with the Divisions initiative. It is sent to local division executive directors, administration, physician leads, and board members. In order to minimize emails being sent these groups, we try to include as much in these newsletters as possible. We encourage you to share it with your division members at large. If you have a story you would like to submit for consideration, please contact Caroline McGechaen at cmcgechaen@doctorsofbc.ca.
Media coverage is monitored by the Divisions of Family Practice provincial communications team and compiled on the Divisions in the News page.
This issue can also be found on the Divisions of Family Practice website.
