The British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) has asked Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan to investigate possible billing practice violations of the Canada Health Act by physicians at two for-profit surgery clinics in Vancouver.

The union is also demanding that BC Health Services Minister Colin Hansen investigate possible violations of a provincial law, the Medicare Protection Act, at the two clinics, False Creek Surgical Centre and Cambie Survey Centre. This act prohibits physicians who bill the Medical Services Plan (MSP) from charging fees to patients covered by Medicare for medically necessary procedures covered by Medicare.
“Doctors who join the Medical Services Plan aren’t allowed to bill patients for any insured service,” said BCNU President Deborah McPherson, RN. “Basically, a doctor is either completely in the MSP or they’re completely out. They can’t practice on both sides of the Medicare fence. We believe that physicians at these clinics - who are listed on the Medical Services Plan - are billing patients for medically necessary procedures (and are) in violation of both the Medicare Protection Act and the Canada Health Act.”

But McPherson said neither the provincial government nor the federal government has taken the necessary steps to halt these possible violations. Under the act, the minister must initiate a consultation with the provincial government about alleged violations. The BCNU hopes that its letters to Canadian and BC officials will spark that discussion.