B.C. government working on long-term plan for virtual health care
Global News
B.C. doctors and the province are now discussing whether payment changes are needed here.
For much of the past few years, British Columbians have gone from seeing doctors in person to through a screen for virtual health care.
“There is clearly some benefit to (virtual health care) and that is why we are working to make the best clinical decisions,” B.C. health minister Adrian Dix said.
Earlier this week, changes came into effect in Ontario, when the Ontario Medical Association reduced the amount doctors get paid for virtual visits.
Minor assessments were set at $37 dollars a visit but changed to $20 for a video session and $15 for a phone call.
B.C. doctors and the province are now discussing whether changes are needed here.
“What we need to do is to apply standards to virtual visits, to ensure people get the care they need,” said Dix. “There are simply some things that can’t be dealt with virtually.”
The reliance on virtual medicine has soared during the pandemic as last April there were nearly 1.5 million virtual visits in B.C. compared to nearly 1.2 million in-person visits.
“We want to make sure that what we are achieving is the kind of health care that really benefits people,” Sonia Fustenau said, BC Green Party leader.