October 25, 2023

LFP Payment Model Updates and Resources

Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors continue to work with the Ministry of Health to improve, expand, and develop tools and supports for the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model. We continue to listen to your feedback, meeting regularly with the provincial government to address concerns.To submit questions or provide feedback, please email FP.billing@doctorsofbc.ca.

Today we are providing updates on:

•   New code for respiratory immunizations
•   October 31 deadline for physicians to submit panel lists
•   Update on Panel Registry
•   What’s coming up

New: Billing for respiratory immunizations

Family physicians play a key role in helping to protect British Columbians from respiratory viruses, especially as we move toward winter when everyone is at greater risk. Many physicians enrolled in the LFP Payment Model have been asking for a change to enable billing when immunization is provided by allied care providers in your practices.

For services provided from October 1, 2023, physicians can bill for influenza,
pneumococcal, pertussis, and COVID-19 immunizations provided by allied care providers using the temporary code 98101 “LFP Respiratory Immunization Provided by an Allied Care Provider.” In order to bill this code, the allied care provider must be paid out of practice earnings to work directly within the practice team with no cost recovery either directly or indirectly from a third party (eg. Health Authority, Division of Family Practice, Ministry of Health).

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

The Simplified LFP Guide and LFP Billing Question Library have also been updated with additional information. Information is also available on the government website.

October 31 deadline approaching to submit lists of empanelled patients

We want to thank the many physicians who have submitted lists of empanelled patients in advance of the upcoming deadline. A reminder for those who have not yet done so, that you have until October 31 to submit your panel lists using the third-party billing provider Dr.Bill. Step-by-step directions are available on Dr.Bill’s submission webpage.

Newly registered physicians must submit lists by October 31 or within three months of enrolling in the payment model, whichever is later. Watch for information soon on how to submit panel lists after October 31.

Please note:

An MSP Facility Number is needed in order to submit your panel lists. The Facility Number is used to associate the panel with the physician’s location practice. If you do not have a Facility Number, you can request one here. If you practice at more than one location, you will need a Facility Number for each one.
If you practice at multiple locations providing care under the LFP Payment Model, you will also need to submit separate panel lists.
It is important to clean up your lists of empanelled patients before submitting them, as it will reduce the chances that patients will appear on more than one panel. Guides and resources on the Health Technology Resources webpage can help you do this. You can also submit a service request for assistance or email psp@doctorsofbc.ca.

A reminder that Clinic Medical Directors (or designates) have until October 31 to log in to the Clinic and Provider Registry using your OneHealthID, and verify, update, or add information about your clinics in order to claim the $2,000 payment. A step-by-step guide is available here. Information on how to claim for your payment will be shared soon.

Information on timelines to complete Panel Registry

We are being asked by physicians practicing within the LFP model about deadlines for completing the Panel Registry, one of two components of the provider-facing stream of the Provincial Attachment System.

While we encourage you to complete the Panel Registry as soon as possible, physicians on the LFP Payment Model have until December 31 in order to claim the $6,500 payment. You will need to log in and provide or update your practice information, and identify if you are able to take on new patients. A guide on how to register and provide information into the Panel Registry can be found here. Detailed information on payments will be available soon.

Physicians must submit lists of empanelled patients by October 31 AND complete the Panel Registry by December 31 in order to claim the $6,500 payment. If you are a newly registered physician, and you need to submit your panel list after October 31, you may claim the payment if you submit your panel list and complete the Panel Registry by December 31. Information on the process to submit lists after October 31 will be shared soon.

A note: Please ensure that you are linked to your clinic as entered into the system by your Medical Director. This must be done in order to complete the process and claim the $6,500 payment. If you do not see your clinic appear in your dashboard, please speak with your Medical Director.

A reminder that physicians will not be forced to take on new patients or expand their panels.

Resources and supports

If you need technical support, please email: HealthBcSupport@phsa.ca

If you prefer, you can join a Zoom call or telephone the number below. This service is provided Monday to Friday, 9 am to 7 pm PST, excluding statutory holidays.

Join Zoom (link for app/browser and phone/dial in option):
https://zoom.us/j/93003034945?pwd=L3lkL0VqdEJvTjZ2cWMxelB3R3ppdz09
Dial: +1778-907-2071
Meeting ID: 930 0303 4945
Passcode: 548989

A wide range of training supports can be found on the Doctors of BC website, under “Resources and support”. The website also includes a step-by-step guide to support you. User guides are available once you log in to the PAS.

Family physicians will receive an invitation soon for a webinar to be held in November. The webinar will provide practical information and advice, and will include a demonstration of the PAS and information on how to submit panel lists with Dr.Bill.

General questions about the PAS can be emailed to FP.billing@doctorsofbc.ca.

What's coming up

Here is some of the work relating to the PAS that you will be hearing about soon:

A process to update panel lists after they have been submitted to reflect patients leaving or joining the practice. We advise physicians to wait until that information is shared before attempting to update panel lists.
A process to resolve conflicts where patients appear on two or more lists of empanelled patients, is scheduled to start early in the new year. Our goal is to get information to you in November.

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)