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Billing changes – COVID-19
March 30, 2020
News
Doctors of BC and the BC government have agreed on temporary billing changes to enable physicians to better utilize virtual care, reducing the need for people to attend physician offices in person. New, temporary fee codes have also been introduced to address added costs of treating patients with COVID-19 in physician offices.
If you have questions or would like more information, send an email to economics@doctorsofbc.ca
New for week of March 30:
- New temporary family practice fee codes (effective March 27)
- Two new temporary specialist fee codes (effective March 27)
What's on this page:
- Payment for Video and Telephone Visits (updated March 24)
- New COVID-19 Office Visit Codes (updated March 20)
- Updates for Family Physicians (updated March 30)
- Updates for Specialist Physicians (updated March 30)
- Billing Changes FAQ
Payment for Video and Telephone Visits
Billing changes will allow:
- Telehealth fees to be used when the service is rendered over the telephone. This includes services for all patients including COVID-19 patients.
- Telehealth fees to be claimed for consultations, office visits, and non-procedural interventions where there is currently no telehealth fee. These may be claimed under the “face to face” fee with a claim note record that the service was provided via video technology or telephone and is payable by MSP.
The full list of telehealth fees by section can be found here.
Effective immediately, WorkSafeBC and ICBC permits Telehealth (video and telephone) for anything that does not require a physical exam/assessment. All ICBC Driver’s Medical Examinations are paused.
If physicians encounter problems, they should contact the regular ICBC/WorkSafeBC contact (ICBC Health Care Inquiry Unit at 1-888-717-7150 and WorkSafe BC Health Care Services at HCSINQU@worksafebc.com). These changes are in effect until an end date can safely be determined.
Guides and supports offered through the Doctors Technology Office to help physicians utilize virtual care technology can be found here.
Preamble Rule Changes – Medical Services Commission Payment Schedule
New COVID-19 Office Visit Codes
UPDATED MARCH 20, 2020
- Two new, temporary office visit fees have been introduced for physicians treating patients with suspected or active COVID-19 symptoms, one with test and one without test. The fees are payable only for in-office visits with patients displaying suspected or active COVID-19 symptoms.
- They are not payable in addition to another face-to-face visit for the same patient on the same day. However, they can be billed in addition to a telephone or video visit on the same day.
Details on new fees can be found here.
The Minute of the Commission – Medical Services Commission can be found here.
Updates for Family Physicians
UPDATED MARCH 30, 2020
- Daily volume limits are suspended. Services directly related to COVID-19 should include diagnostic code C19.
- New fees for family physicians, effective March 27 can be found here and include:
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13706 -- New Family Practice Delegated Patient Telehealth Management Fee (effective March 30)
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13707 -- New Family Practice Email/Text/Telephone Medical Advice Relay or ReRX Fee (effective March 30)
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13708 -- New Family Practice COVID-19 communication with specialist and/or allied care provider (effective March 30)
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- Updates and changes to GPSC fees effective March 20 and March 23 can be found here:
- Telehealth allowed for components of GPSC Planning and Mental Health Management Fees (effective March 23)
- Long Term Care Facility Visit (effective March 20)
- Palliative Care Patient Facility Visit Fee (effective March 20)
- For helpful Q&A, please visit the BC Family Doctors website.
Webinar on fee changes for family physicians – Tuesday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m. PT
Topic: GPSC changes for April 2020 and COVID-19 fee changes for family physicians
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Time: 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Time: 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time
To support family physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, GPSC billing experts will walk through the April 1 changes, any COVID-19 related fee changes that affect family physicians, and Pathways tools for COVID-19 care.
Updates for Specialist Physicians
UPDATED MARCH 30, 2020
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See “Payment for Video and Telephone Visits” (above) for information on billing with existing telehealth codes or for billing face-to-face codes via telehealth
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See “New COVID-19 Office Visit Codes” (above) which can be billed
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As of March 27, the Specialist Services Committee (SSC) has introduced two new codes:
Billing Changes FAQs
- Frequently asked questions and further information available here.