Important: Ministry of Health payment for physician planning time in response to COVID-19

On June 9th, it was announced that the Ministry of Health will compensate physicians to a maximum of 35 hours in total for active planning performed between March 15th and June 30th at the relevant committee sessional rate, provided the following criteria are met:

  • Meetings must be about service delivery planning, re-design and implementation related to provision of patient care at a community, facility, regional and/or provincial level in response to COVID-19.
  • The planning work is extraordinary, and goes beyond usual department, division or medical staff association (MSA) meeting – planning for physicians’ offices and patients will be not compensated, and
  • Physicians are active in the planning – payment will not be provided for passive attendance at meetings.

 Hours that have already been submitted to South Island MSA and/or Island Health do not need to be resubmitted.

To help you access this funding for any outstanding hours that meet the criteria, please complete and email this table (expand as necessary) to info@southislandmsa.ca by Wednesday, July 22:

DateDurationActivity

We will submit these requests on your behalf, and will forward payment of approved claims in August via FEMS/VersaPay, per the Doctors of BC process.

Important Notes:

  • If you have not submitted any time claims, you are welcome to submit hours so long as they meet the Ministry’s criteria and your total hours do not exceed 35 hours.
  • If you have already submitted time claims to the South Island MSA, you are welcome to submit additional hours so long as they meet the Ministry’s criteria and your total hours do not exceed 35 hours. You do not need to resubmit hours already submitted.
  • If you have already submitted time claims directly to Island Health as a Medical Leader or Informal Leader, no further action is needed.
  • If you have already submitted time claims through your Division of Family Practice or another MSA, you are welcome to submit additional hours so long as they meet the Ministry’s criteria and your total hours do not exceed 35 hours.

Questions?  Email us at info@southislandmsa.ca.


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