May 24, 2023

Updates on the LFP Payment Model

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide the latest updates on the implementation of the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model. To submit questions or feedback on the payment model, please email LFP.Billing@doctorsofbc.ca.

Three months after launching, the LFP Payment Model has achieved another milestone with more than 3,000 family physicians now enrolled. At our end, Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors continue to work to improve and expand the model. We continue to listen to your feedback, meeting regularly with the provincial government to address your concerns.

Today we are providing the following:

Expansion of locum eligibility
Extended deadline for submitting your list of patients
Support to help you clean up your patient panel now

Expanding eligibility for locums

Earlier this year, we announced LFP Payment Model eligibility for locums who substitute on a temporary basis for a physician who is enrolled in the LFP Payment Model, and away from their practice. Currently, LFP locums can bill when the host physician is away from practice for vacation, education, medical leadership, parental leave, or other reasons. Locum and longitudinal physicians from around the province told us that this limited eligibility was insufficient.

In response to concerns that were raised, Doctors of BC, BC Family Doctors, and the provincial government have agreed to expand locum eligibility.

Expanded locum eligibility will include the following groups:

Locums who provide short-term coverage for longitudinal family physicians (e.g. vacation)
Locums who provide long-term coverage for longitudinal family physicians (e.g. parental leave)
Locums who provide care at a longitudinal family medicine clinic to improve patient access to care (e.g. providing care 1-2 days per week on a regular basis)

This expanded eligibility will apply for locums who provide coverage/care for longitudinal family physicians billing under the LFP Payment Model, as well as physicians billing under other payment models (e.g. fee-for-service).

The changes will go into effect once there is an updated LFP Payment Schedule that reflects these changes. This is expected to take a few weeks. Until a new LFP Payment Schedule is in effect, only locums who fit the current eligibility criteria can bill under the LFP Payment Model. Please watch for updated information to be provided soon.

Update on submitting panel lists

When enrolling in the LFP Payment Model, physicians commit to develop and submit an accurate list of empanelled patients for whom they have accepted responsibility by July 1, 2023 (or within three months of enrolling, whichever is later).

Submissions will be done as a staged process over the next few months with physicians uploading their panel lists as they are ready. Panel uploads will commence in July (or sooner) and will be completed by October 31, 2023. We will have more information to share with you in the next few weeks regarding how physicians will be supported.

There have been many questions about the definition of “active patient”. We have reached agreement that the patients on a physician’s panel (“empanelled patients”) are those for whom you have accepted responsibility. The term “active” is being changed to “empanelled” in the LFP Payment Schedule to reflect this. Please note that you can still use the “active” status to capture these patients in your EMR. Best practices for updating your patient panel will be suggested in the panel clean up process (see below).

You will be submitting your list of empanelled patients through the billing function of your EMR/Teleplan. A process is also being developed for physicians who are not using an EMR.

The LFP Payment Schedule is being updated to reflect the change in deadline for panel submission and other related changes.

Time to clean up your panel list

For those who have not yet started panel clean up, the time to start is now! Watch for detailed information (including videos) that will walk you through the process of cleaning up and submitting your patient panel data. We recommend starting soon, so that you can develop and submit an accurate list of empanelled patients.

The resources that are being prepared by the FPSC’s Practice Support Program and Doctors Technology Office will include:

a) If you want to complete the work independently, quick guides and other resources will be available soon: Developing an accurate list of empanelled patients can be done independently. A set of guides, videos, and cheat sheets are being developed to walk you through how to create/update your panel list using your EMR. We will share these as they become available.

b) If you need more direct supports, webinars and workshops are being organized: In order to accommodate the large numbers of physicians needing support, we will be offering webinars and workshops. Sessions will be held focused on identifying empanelled patients in the various EMRs, including MedAccess, OSCAR, Intrahealth Profile, and CHR. Based on interest, these will begin in early June. You can submit a service request to join the queue or email psp@doctorsofbc.ca for more information. More information will be coming soon.

With so many physicians having signed up for the LFP Payment Model, we anticipate a high volume of requests. We are committed to connecting back with you as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience.

Need more information?

Write us

Email: LFP.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)