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Updated: Business Cost Premium expands to include telehealth
May 8, 2020
News
This article has been updated with answers to some of the questions we have been asked by physicians. Click here to read the Physician Q&As.
Effective May 1, 2020, the Business Cost Premium (BCP) will be temporarily expanded to apply to telehealth fee items, including phone and video communication with patients.
This change ensures the BCP is paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, given these services would have normally been provided in person in physician’s offices.
To receive the BCP on telehealth fees, please ensure your claims include a registered facility number and a community-based office service location code.
While telehealth services do not need to be provided in your office, an appropriate facility number and service location code need to be entered on the claim in order for the BCP to be paid.
The facility number and location code should be based on where the service would have been provided if it had been performed in person.
Please click here for the rules and telehealth fees that are eligible for the BCP.
Physician Q&As
- How do I register for the Business Cost Premium?
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If you haven’t already registered for the BCP, you can still do so at anytime. This is a two-step process: 1) obtain a facility number and 2) attach yourself to your facility number. Registration, eligibility, and application information can be found here.
- Do you have any tips to help me with the application process?
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If you have obtained a facility number and submitted your Practitioner Attachment form, you’re ready to start claiming the BCP. To do so, please ensure your billing claim contains the following information:
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Facility number (note: please ensure the facility number is included on each claim, as this may not be automated with some billing software), and
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Service location code:
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A — PRACTITIONER'S OFFICE - IN COMMUNITY
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Note: These other service location codes will be accepted if the physician is responsible for some or all of the lease, rental, or ownership costs of that office:
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D — DIAGNOSTIC FACILITY
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F — PRIVATE MEDICAL/SURGICAL FACILITY
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M — MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE
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T — PRACTITIONER'S OFFICE - IN PUBLICLY ADMINISTERED FACILITY
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- Where will the payment show up and what if I think there has been an error?
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The BCP payment will be listed in the Adjustment area of your remittance statement.
If you have concerns about your BCP payment, please phone Health Insurance BC (HIBC) for assistance. HIBC administers the BCP on behalf of the Medical Services Plan and has dedicated support for it.
Please follow the prompts for the Business Cost Premium when you phone:
Vancouver: 604 456 6950
Elsewhere in BC: 1 866 456 6950
Resources
For information on the BCP and more on how to register, click here.
Have more questions? Email economics@doctorsofbc.ca.
More on all the billing and fee code changes in response to COVID-19 can be found here.
For a list of COVID-19 resources available to you, visit doctorsofbc.ca/covid-19.