April 5, 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.

Doctors of BC and BC Family Doctors continue to listen to your feedback, meeting regularly with the provincial government to address your concerns about the LFP Payment Model. Today we are providing the following:

Developments on expansion of the LFP payment model
An update on panel payments for 2023
Expanded resources for medical office assistants
A summary of tools from Business Pathways
Information on how to withdraw from the model

Expansion of the LFP Payment Model

While there has been broad uptake of this model, with more than 2,600 family physicians across BC enrolled and much positive feedback, we have heard significant concerns from physicians who provide facility-based services in addition to longitudinal family medicine. Currently, services provided at facilities are not yet included under the LFP Payment Model. You have identified this as an issue across the province, in communities of varying sizes and geographies. You have told us that there is an urgent need to resolve this.
Doctors of BC, BC Family Doctors, and the Ministry of Health are committing to address these elements by the end of 2023. This includes:

Expanding the LFP Payment Model to enable billing by longitudinal family physicians for facility-based services, including maternity care, inpatient care, long-term care, and palliative care.
Adapting the LFP Payment Model to address the needs of rural physicians and communities.

In addition, the Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC) is developing options to provide some stabilization funding as soon as possible for physicians providing inpatient care, maternity care in hospital, and long-term care. These have been identified as areas at risk of significant destabilization in the coming months, resulting in potential gaps in patient care. The funding will provide a bridge until these areas are incorporated into the LFP Payment Model later this year. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.

We encourage you to continue to provide the medical care that your patients and communities rely on as we move through this transition period.

Update on panel payments for 2023

The LFP Payment Model compensates physicians for their time and patient interactions, as well as the size and complexity of their patient panel (panel payment). We now have more details about the logistics and interim methodology for determining the panel payment for this year.

When you will receive payment

The panel payment is designed to be paid four times per year on a quarterly schedule. In 2023, physicians billing under the LFP Payment Model can expect to receive the first two quarterly payments combined into a single payment by August 31.

What to do

In June, physicians who are eligible for the 2023 panel payment will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to submit their claim form. The online form will ask physicians to confirm their eligibility for the 2023 panel payment and to confirm their MSP Payee Number.

How it will be calculated

Panel payment amounts for 2023 will be based on an approach adapted from the Community Longitudinal Family Physician (CLFP) Payment to estimate the size and complexity of a longitudinal family physician’s patient panel. In this interim methodology, the number of patients is estimated using the Majority Source of Care (MSOC) methodology, and complexity is measured using the Adjusted Clinical Group (ACG) system.

The methodology has been modified to be more inclusive of new-to-practice doctors and to ensure similar payment rates for individual doctors when the panel payment transitions from interim methodology to a future provincial empanelment system. More detailed information about the panel payment for 2024 and beyond will be shared as soon as it is available.

LFP Payment Model – Information for medical office assistants

We know the importance physicians place on billing support and resources, as do medical office assistants (MOAs) and office staff who play a major role in the delivery of services at your clinic. After hearing from you, we are now making LFP Payment Model resources available to your MOAs.

They can access information in two ways: Firstly, on the Doctors of BC MOA landing page, once they’ve signed in with their MOA login. Any MOA who would like to receive a login and access these resources should contact the Fee Guide Advisors at economics@doctorsofbc.ca. And secondly, on the BC Family Doctors website, each BC Family Doctors physician member can register one MOA or office staff, allowing them to access the LFP Payment Model webpage for continually updated information. Learn more about registering your MOA with a BC Family Doctors account.

LFP Payment Model tools from Business Pathways

Business Pathways, a Doctors of BC initiative that supports doctors in running the business side of their practice, has developed tools, resources, and guides to help family doctors enter group governance, implement cost sharing agreements, find vetted legal help, and more.

The latest tools and resources include:

LFP Payment Model: Top six things to get you started
A Guide to Cost Sharing Agreements
A Guide to Group Governance Agreements
A Guide to Working in Non-Physician Owned Clinics
Tips for a Successful Meeting
A list of preferred law firms with preferred rates for members under Club MD

Doctors who are considering initiating or revising a contract agreement can also find templates for contractor agreements, cost sharing agreements, release of information agreements, and group governance agreements on Business Pathways’ Agreement Templates page.

Withdrawing from the model

Reminder: Debiting the 98000 LFP Registration Code does not withdraw a physician from the LFP Payment Model.

You can withdraw from the LFP Payment Model at any time by providing written notice to the Ministry of Health. Once you withdraw, you cannot re-enroll in the model for 12 months unless approved by the Medical Services Commission.

Complete and submit the withdrawal form LFP Payment Model – Withdrawal by:

Fax: 1-250-952-1417 or
Mail: LFP Payment Schedule, PO Box 9649 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9P4

Please see the LFP Payment Schedule for more information about withdrawal and removal from the LFP Payment Model.

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)