New Family Doctor Welcome

The Central Island Division of Family Practice would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Ed Aasman who has joined Dr. Larry McClure  at Salish Sea Family Practice on Weld Street.
Dr. Aasman will be attaching patients from the Health Connect Registry.

Welcome Dr. Aasman!

New LFP Payment Model facility-based compensation calculators

March 21, 2024
New LFP Payment Model facility-based compensation calculators

Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors continue to work with the Ministry of Health to improve the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model. We continue to listen to your feedback and make payment model changes to address your concerns. To submit questions or feedback, please email FP.Billing@doctorsofbc.ca.

In this newsletter, we are providing information on the following:

• LFP facility-based care compensation calculators
• Information on 2024 Panel Payments
• Evolving FPSC funding supports
• Reminder that the 98101 temporary code is effective until March 31
• Reminder to resubmit 2024 annual registration codes by March 31
• PAS Registry Payments billing issues resolved
• LFP in the news

Compensation calculators for the LFP Payment Model facility-based care are now available

To assist you in assessing if the LFP Payment Model for facility-based care is right for you, we’ve created new compensation calculators. There are three new compensation calculators: one for maternity care in hospitals, one for inpatient care, and one for long-term/palliative care facilities.

These compensation calculators can help estimate annual compensation for each area of facility-based care under the LFP Payment Model. These can be found on both the BC Family Doctors’ website and Doctors of BC’s website.

Information on 2024 Panel Payments

Eligible physicians enrolled in the LFP Payment Model must submit an online claim form annually to receive the panel payment installments for the calendar year. Instructions on how to claim the 2024 panel payment will be sent via email to individual physicians, starting in March 2024.

Detailed Q&As on panel payments can be found in the BC Family Doctors Billing Question Library.

Evolving FPSC funding supports for inpatient & long-term care
FPSC is changing its funding supports for family physicians who provide inpatient and long-term care in facilities to align with, and complement, the LFP Payment Model. The changes will provide a more consistent, transparent, and sustainable approach to family physician compensation for care in facilities and a more equitable approach across communities.

For more information, please read the recent FPSC Co-Chairs message.

Reminder that 98101 temporary code ends March 31
98101 was established as a temporary code for respiratory immunizations provided by an allied care provider between October 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. This code supports immunization efforts for influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses during winter respiratory illness season.

Detailed information is available on the BC Family Doctors website (member login required). 

Deadline approaching: Resubmit your annual registration code by March 31

All physicians enrolled in the LFP Payment Model must resubmit their registration code (98000) by March 31, 2024 to continue billing under the LFP Payment Model. LFP locum physicians must submit the locum registration code (98005) and the LFP locum registration form by March 31, 2024.

If the registration code(s) are not submitted by March 31, no subsequent payments will occur under the LFP Payment Model until it is submitted.

More details on re-enrolment are available on the BC Family Doctors website.

PAS Registry Payments - Billing issues resolved
 

Thank you for your patience as we looked into the technical issues around the new billing codes to claim the PAS Panel Registry Payment and the Clinic and Provider Registry Payment. HIBC has informed us that they have resolved this issue, and if eligible, you can now proceed with claiming the Panel Registry Payment of $6,500 and the Clinic and Provider Registry Payment of $2,000. 

Thank you to all the longitudinal family physicians who have submitted patient panels and completed the PAS Panel Registry. As a reminder, longitudinal family physicians who submit their patient panels and access the PAS Panel Registry by the final deadline of March 31 are eligible to claim for payment of $6,500 for this work.
 
Detailed instructions on how to claim these payments can be found on the PAS payment information page or in the PAS payment FAQs.

LFP in the news

The LFP Payment Model continues to make headlines. Read this recent article in Maclean’s on the new payment model as a start to improving family medicine, written by BC Family Doctors’ Chief Medical Officer Dr Renee Fernandez.

Need more information?
Write us
Email: FP.Billing@doctorsofbc.ca

View our information online (member login required)
Doctors of BC: doctorsofbc.ca/new-payment-model
BC Family Doctors: https://bcfamilydocs.ca/lfp-payment-model/
BC Government website: gov.bc.ca/MSP/LFP (login not required)

PAS Updates

PAS Payments - Billing issues resolved
Thank you for your patience as we looked into the technical issues around the new billing codes to claim the PAS Panel Registry Payment and the Clinic and Provider Registry Payment. HIBC has informed us that they have resolved this issue, and if eligible you can now proceed with claiming the Panel Registry Payment of $6,500 and the Clinic and Provider Registry Payment of $2,000. 

Detailed information on eligibility and how to claim the payment can be found on the PAS payment information page and in the PAS payment FAQs.

Final deadline for uploading panel lists and completing PAS Panel Registry
Thank you to all the longitudinal family physicians who have submitted patient panels and completed the PAS Panel Registry. For those who have not yet done so, Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health have extended the deadline to complete all necessary steps until March 31, 2024, in order to be eligible to claim the $6,500 payment. Detailed information is available in our recent newsletter.

For assistance:
For help with uploading panels, email psp@doctorsofbc.ca.
For help with the Panel Registry or Clinic and Provider Registry, email healthbcsupport@phsa.ca.
For general questions, email FP.billing@doctorsofbc.ca.

Staff support is available until Thursday March 28, as Doctors of BC and the PHSA offices will be closed from Friday March 29 until
April 2.

New intake for $10,000 rural physician/global health grants

The Rural Coordination Centre of BC is once again accepting applications for our next round of Rural Physician Research Grant Program and Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative grants. The next deadline is April 30, 2024.  Note that rural physicians partnering with First Nations communities on projects (either research or non-research projects) are also able to apply for the global health partnership initiative. Projects that address the health impacts of climate change are also eligible.

Below are summaries of the opportunities, and more information and the application forms are available on our website. Please distribute to any physicians you think would be interested in applying for either of these funding opportunities.

New for 2024, we have created a media toolkit, which is attached. Please send to your communications person (if you are not that person and you have someone helping with this)! The info is also available on the grants promotion page on the RCCbc website.

Rural Physician Research Program Grants

The RCCbc Rural Physician Research Grant program aims to empower rural physician researchers – or new aspiring researchers – to pursue innovative rural research and knowledge translation projects contributing to advancing rural health in BC. Through this project, rural physician researchers will be able to apply for research grants of up to $10,000 to support research activities. To be eligible, applicants must be a BC physician practicing rural medicine and with demonstrable connections to rural communities. The research must be pertaining to health in rural BC.

To apply for this opportunity, please download the application forms from the website and submit it to grants@rccbc.ca. The deadline for the next round of submissions is April 30, 2024.

Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative

The Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative (RGHPI) is a program which provides funding to support partnerships between rural BC physicians or medical trainees committed to rural service, and underserved rural communities in BC, Canada, and internationally. The goals of this initiative are to enhance capacity for generalism in rural BC; to foster reciprocal learning in diverse health systems and community contexts; and to demonstrate how global health (local and international) community partnerships can heighten awareness, create innovative solutions to address healthcare challenges, and lead to improved health outcomes, especially for underserved, marginalized, and Indigenous populations.

Through this initiative, rural BC physicians and medical trainees (residents and medical students) committed to rural medicine and global health can apply for funding up to $10,000 to support global health partnership projects. To apply for this opportunity, please download the application forms and submit them to grants@rccbc.ca. The application deadline is April 30, 2024.

Midsize Rural Physician Locum Coverage Project

We want to hear from family physicians in midsize rural communities about their locum coverage and how it affects their personal and professional lives. Those communities are Castlegar, Cranbrook, Duncan, Fernie, Fort St. John, Kimberley, Nelson, Parksville, Penticton, Port Alberni, Powell River, Prince Rupert, Qualicum Beach, Revelstoke, Rossland, Salmon Arm, Smithers, Terrace, Trail, Vernon and Williams Lake.

Information gathered will build a base of evidence to use in advocacy and policy making, especially related to funding and supports to recruit and retain locums in these communities by presenting it to the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues. Dr. Zeke Steve is the Principle Investigator for this research project (# H22-03468). We will share our findings with your Divisions of Family Practice. The 12-question anonymous survey takes about 10-20 minutes to complete. Deadline is March 31. Thank you!

Please access the survey here. 

Island Medicine Conference - Registration Open!

Dear Island Clinicians,

We at the Island Medical Program Physician Education Program (PEP) are excited to announce that registration has opened for the third annual Island Medicine Conference! This primary care focused conference will be hosted at the Victoria Conference Centre and Royal Jubilee Hospital on May 3-4, 2024. We would love to have you join us!

The first day is packed with concise and relevant update talks followed by engaging breakout sessions. The popular optional day two Skills Session consists of expert led hands-on small group learning stations.

The last two conferences have been very successful in delivering relevant and up to date skills and information that you can apply directly to your practice. The networking and food are definitely highlights as is the networking reception at the end of day one. It’s been so great to get together and meet our colleagues and peers in the flesh!

For those looking for a getaway, we have negotiated an excellent room rate at The Empress!

To see the full conference agenda and register, please click here.

Please take a look at your calendar and try to join us!

Christopher Morrow MD CCFP (EM)
Director of Physician Education Program, Island Medical Program
Clinical Associate Professor, UBC Department of Emergency Medicine
Emergency Physician VIHA, South Island

What’s New in Toxicology? What Every Acute Care Practitioner Needs to Know

Join us for the 2nd Annual What's New in Toxicology: What Every Acute Care Practitioner Should Know, being held in-person on Apr 20, 2024 in the Paetzold Auditorium at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, BC. The BC Drug and Poison Centre’s medical toxicologists will discuss recent changes in the management of drug overdose. Program highlights include presentation of difficult management cases and discussions of controversial management areas. Toxicologists will demonstrate why the management of each case is difficult and emphasize key management strategies while focusing on pearls and pitfalls in clinical management.

For more information and to REGISTER - click here.

23rd Annual BC Endocrine Day - Accredited!

Date: May 10, 2024
Start time: 8 a.m.
Location: Vancouver Holiday Inn Centre (Broadway)

This full day lecture series offers an interactive case-based review of common endocrine problems and encountered in clinical office practice. Open to general practitioners, internists, specialists, trainees, and allied health professionals. A variety of endocrine health topics and disorders will be reviewed including osteoporosis, POS management, and gestational diabetes mellitus guidelines; male hypogonadism; pituitary adenoma; breast cancer risk with hormone replacement therapy; and thyroid tests.

Click here for more information and Registration

BC Family Doctors New resource: Sick note for employers

We joined forces with BC College of Family Physicians to offer you an updated sick note template for employers. It’s all part of our advocacy efforts to reduce unnecessary paperwork for family doctors.

In our member survey, you named administrative burdens, such as sick notes, as one of your top gripes. You told us sick notes are frustrating because they take time and require you to assess a patient’s wellness for work without sufficient information to determine whether they can return to the job. Sick note requests are especially senseless for short absences from work. Some of you don’t bother billing or can’t bill for them.

We need to lobby the provincial government to table sick note legislation and limit the circumstances in which employers can require sick notes. Until these needed changes arrive, our sick note template is available to ease this administrative burden.

Physicians can download the sick note here.

Pathways 6 Month Review

Pathways 6 month review is now underway! Please check your email to review your profile. Don't forget to check your spam folder! Remember whomever you have listed as the office contact will receive the email to review/update your profile. If you have had staff changes or new providers have joined your clinic, please email Nanaimo@pathwaysbc.ca for updates and additional access keys.

Thanks for keeping Pathways up to date.

Confident Parent Thriving Kids - Anxiety Program Update

Dear practitioners, 

We want to express our gratitude for your ongoing support and referrals to the Confident Parents Thriving Kids Anxiety (CPTKA) program. In 2023, 1017 families accessed telephone coaching. Our coaches continue to empower parents/caregivers to learn skills that support their children to manage mild to moderate anxiety.

IMPORTANT – UPDATED CPTKA REFERRAL FORM
As of March 1, 2024, we have updated the Confident Parent Thriving Kids Anxiety program referral form.

Moving forward, please use the updated form and destroy any previous versions.
We are excited to announce several Confident Parents Thriving Kids Anxiety (CPTKA) program updates.  

• CPTKA has expanded referral pathways, now accepting referrals from registered counsellors and registered social workers.
• The CPTKA referral form has been updated, to include additional program eligibility criteria. A fillable PDF version of the referral form is available at www.confidentparents.ca. Please note we are unable to process incomplete referrals. 
• We encourage you to submit referrals through our improved online portal which can be accessed at www.confidentparents.ca.  
• Referring practitioners will be notified when a family is deemed out of scope for the program, improving continuity of care. The consent on the referral form has been updated to reflect this procedure. 

Current wait time to access the CPTKA program is 3-5 months. 

Please click on the links below for more information.

Updated CPTKA Referral Form

Program Limitations Information Sheet

For more information visit www.confidentparents.ca or email us at cptk.anxiety@cmha.bc.ca

Oceanside Hospice Society

The Oceanside Hospice Society serves individuals and families experiencing end-of-life, care-giving and bereavement in the area stretching from Deep Bay to Nanoose, and west to Errington and Whiskey Creek
We strive to provide links in the continuum of care by supporting care giving at home, in hospital or the palliative care unit at Trillium and at community care facilities.
Please contact us at 250.752.6227 or visit www.oceansidehospice.com for further information.

Divisions Dispatch

The latest news from the provincial team and complementary organizations.

Please click here for updates including:

• LFP Payment Model updates
• Updated BC Cancer screening report titles
• Divisions invited to meet with BC Cancer Cervix Screening Program to prepare for transition from cytology to HPV primary screening
• East Kootenay family doctor develops guide to reducing environmental impact of health care
• July 19 webinar | Antidepressants and substance use
• July 20 webinar | Updates on risks and harms of alcohol use
• Opioid use disorder training for doctors and their clinical teams: LOUD in PC Collaborative
   

Divisions in the News

Divisions in the News
See what is going on in other divisions around BC:

https://divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-and-events