BC Greens Seeks Immediate Release of Study to Telus Health's Paid Program

BC Green party leader urges state governments to release immediately the findings of the watchdog on theTelus Health program.

Sonia Furstenau published to Health Minister Adrian Dix theMedical Services Commission's 'report' that private paid programs , a “two-tier” healthcare system that allows some patients to open their wallets and barge in line.

"Nearly one million British Columbians live without a primary care physician, while private companies swoop in and provide costly medical services," she said. said in her release Tuesday's News.

"British Columbians should know that these private health care providers do not allow illegal queue jumping or other practices under our universal health care system.

Read more: BC's medical oversight agency says the TELUS health program has created a "two-tier" health care program.

According to Furstenau, Dicks has been reporting to the Watchman for nearly six weeks. is receiving

In an interview, Dix said the Medical Services Board was reviewing rather than reporting and would make a ruling "in the next few months."

"This is a review and they have the authority to act on that review," he told Global News. "Of course, if action is taken, the public will be notified.

He added that he was concerned about possible problems with the program long before the Greens brought it up.

"This is what we call according to BC law. My job is to make sure the health care protection law is strong enough."

Earlier this year, Dix He confirmed that his department has asked the Health Services Commission to investigate whether the Telus Health LifePlus program creates a disparity in patient access to critical services. The review also explores concerns that family physicians are closing clinics and telling patients they can continue if they subscribe to the Telus service.

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The program Providing corporate healthcare.

In a June written statement to Global News, Telus Health said it responded to the commission's request in March. In addition to completing annual preventative health assessments, customers have access to medical professionals such as kinesiologists, physical therapists, psychologists and nutritionists.

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All participating physician companies explained that they are independent contractors and choose how much time to spend on the publicly funded primary care portion of their practice.

"TELUS Health does not charge for primary care services," wrote Sonya Lockyer, vice president of TELUS Health Care Centers and Pharmacy. “LifePlus program fees are strictly applied to the preventive care modalities listed above and are delivered by a multidisciplinary team not funded by public funds.”

Telus Health said: She added that she was "fundamentally opposed" to publicly funded, paid and expedited medical services.

LifePlus program costs $4,600 for the first year and more than $3,000 annually thereafter. The gaps in the healthcare system need to be filled by governments with a plan, not by companies chasing business opportunities,” says Frustenau. mentioned in the release.

"Certainly, the family physician crisis has been going on for a long time. Both BC. Liberal and BC are responsible for that. But the responsibility for fixing it lies with the government's party." The NDP has done nothing meaningful about it."

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Dix said additional billing for medically necessary services was not "generally" permitted in the state, and the Commission For such a fee the Board stated that it could take action on the complaint sought by the physician. He added that if the law wasn't strong enough, he would make it stronger, but he hasn't seen evidence of that to date. It should not be based on ability to pay, we are going to have universal health care,” he said.

In earlier comments, the minister said since 2017, alternative payments to doctors not served through the reimbursement model have increased from $500 million to about $750 million. I was. He said it has increased by about 15% each year for the past three years.

Dix said he and Prime Minister John Hogan had spent the past few weeks working with BC doctors to "solve problems." He said he had "an important session for" regarding working conditions and the shortage of doctors.

— using files from Kamil Calamari and Richard Zusman 

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