VICTORIA - The Medical Services Commission has found evidence that Cambie Surgeries Corporation and the Specialist Referral Clinic (Vancouver) Inc. have billed patients for publicly-insured medical services at two Vancouver clinics, the Cambie Surgery Centre and the Specialist Referral Clinic.

The findings are contained in an audit released today by the commission, an independent body mandated under the Medicare Protection Act to manage the Medical Services Plan (MSP) on behalf of the government of British Columbia.

Billing patients for publicly insured medical services is prohibited under Sections 17 and 18 of the Medicare Protection Act.

“The audit, which involved multiple visits to the clinics and a review of hundreds of cases, found clear evidence of extra billing,” said Tom Vincent, chair of the Medical Services Commission. “Now that we have this information, we are taking the necessary steps to enforce the act.”

The commission has provided a copy of the audit report to the corporations’ president and has advised in writing that if the practice of extra billing does not cease within 30 days then the commission will seek a court-ordered injunction.

A copy of the auditors’ report is available online at http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/legislation/msc.html

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:
Ministry of Health (on behalf of the Medical Services Commission)
250 952-1887 (media line)

 
BACKGROUNDER

The Medical Services Commission is an independent body mandated under the Medicare Protection Act to manage the Medical Services Plan (MSP) on behalf of the government of British Columbia.

The commission is a nine-member statutory body made up of three representatives from government, three representatives from the British Columbia Medical Association (BCMA) and three members from the public jointly nominated by the BCMA and government to represent MSP beneficiaries. This unique partnership ensures government, physicians and B.C. residents all have a voice in the administration of MSP.

In 2006, government expanded the audit and inspection powers of the Medical Services Commission, giving the commission additional power to seek an injunction from the Supreme Court to prevent extra billing and other violations under the Medicare Protection Act.

The Audit and Inspection Committee has four members, three physicians (one representing the BCMA, one from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and one representing government) and one member who represents beneficiaries. It performs the delegated powers and duties of the commission to audit and inspect medical practitioners. Audits are done to make sure that services have been delivered and billed accurately and in accordance with the Medicare Protection Act. 

Media Contact:
Ministry of Health (on behalf of the Medical Services Commission)
250 952-1887 (media line)