Greens call for new billing model for B.C. doctors

The B.C. Green Party is calling for the Horgan government to take action to deal with the lack of family doctors in the province.

Leader Sonia Furstenau says between 750,000 to 900,000 residents are without a family doctor and the shortage is predicted to grow. She said the government needs to urgently improve their payment model and remove administrative barriers to keep family physicians in their communities.

“The billing model is very outdated and does not provide the stability needed for good medical care,“ said Furstenau, who is the MLA for Cowichan Valley.

“Doctors are basically running a small business instead of putting their focus into caring for their community members. The current fee-for-service model is turning prospective doctors away from family practice and British Columbians are the ones bearing the burden. This government needs to explore models of practice that maintain or improve the current level of in-person, in-community care that doctors are providing.”