Health Minister Adrian Dix said the new model would be introduced as an optional alternative for family doctors, who are now paid largely based on the number of services provided, and would be available from February. The alternative moves away from this fee-for-service system and would see doctors paid based on the time they spend with patients, the number of patient visits, the number of patients in their practice and the medical complexity of those patients , officials said. “It would give family physicians a fairer payment option, one that better recognizes their value in providing primary care,” Dix said at a news conference Monday morning. “Most importantly, it will help preserve their business autonomy, giving them more flexibility to create the kind of practice that works for them – and more importantly, for their patients.” A full-time doctor will receive about $385,000 a year under the new model, up from $250,000 today, according to the province. The new payment model was developed in partnership with Doctors of BC and is being delivered through a three-year trial master physician agreement, which comes with a total cost increase of $708 million by the end of the third year. This master agreement must be ratified by physicians before it becomes effective. As well as pay rises, the government said the deal would also cover income differentials and new hourly premiums for out-of-hours services. It is estimated that up to one million British Columbians do not have access to a primary care provider, with an additional million waiting for specialist care. Doctors attributed the shortfall, in large part, to the fee-for-service payment model, which they criticized as outdated. BC doctors also have to find and lease their own space, hire their own staff and procure their own equipment, meaning they spend hours running their businesses instead of practicing. For patients, this model can mean less time with doctors and fewer appointments available, as it limits the time their doctors are available to practice and incentivizes them to see a higher volume of patients rather than provide comprehensive care. In addition to the hundreds of thousands without access to consistent care, the crisis has led to increased pressure on already strained and understaffed 911 centers, ambulances and hospitals. In August, the department announced $118 million in temporary funding for primary care providers — with eligible doctors receiving an average of $25,000 each to keep their practices running while the new payment model was negotiated. With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Lisa Steacy and The Canadian Press
