Since April 1, 2020, eligible BC physicians can claim a Business Cost Premium (BCP) on fees to help cover the rising ownership costs associated with a community-based office.
In accordance with the 2022 Physician Master Agreement (PMA), the scope of the BCP expanded as of April 1, 2025 to include new eligible services, locations and new payment rules.
The new payment rules include nearly all MSP fees, with the exception of form fees and claims compensated by other payment models, such as the Alternative Payments Program (APP) and the Longitudinal Family Payment (LFP). Physicians receiving RRP benefits are not eligible for the BCP, and the BCP des not not apply to radiology, anesthesiology, pathology, and nuclear medicine fees.
Who is eligible for the BCP?
To be eligible for the BCP, a community-based office must register for a unique Facility Number and at least one physician must be attached to that Facility Number. You must also:
- Be responsible for partial or complete rent/lease/ownership costs of a community-based office
- Be able to receive and retain payment directly from MSP for the eligible fees (payments assigned to Health Authorities are not eligible)
BCP payment calculations
Eligible physicians receive BCP payments based on the highest percentage and daily maximum among all the eligible community-based offices they are attached with.
- City of Vancouver: 5% up to a daily maximum of $60 per day per physician
- Metro Vancouver (excluding the City of Vancouver) and Greater Victoria: 4% up to a maximum $48 per day per physician
- Other communities (outside Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria) not eligible for the Rural Retention Premiums: 3% up to a maximum $36 per day per physician
The Business Cost Premium supports community-based doctors by helping to offset the costs of maintaining office space. If you are a community-based doctor, make sure you are taking advantage of this premium and applying for it retroactively if you haven’t yet registered.
How to register
Visit the BCP page to register for the Business Cost Premium. You will need to complete the application to obtain a BCP/MSP Facility Number for your community-based office and the application to attach a physician to a community-based office. If you practice at multiple eligible offices, you must complete a Practitioner Attachment form for each distinct location. There is also a list of helpful FAQs.
If you have registered but aren’t sure if you have received a payment, double-check your remittance statement. You’ll find it under the adjustment area of the remittance statement.
If you haven’t received payment you may be missing information on your claim, such as the BCP facility number assigned to the physician’s community-based office (which isn’t automated with some billing software). The Teleplan system needs the BCP facility number in order to apply the right percentage premium for the location. If this is the case, you can resubmit claims and get retroactive BCP payment.
If you have any questions, you can call Health Insurance BC (HIBC) for support at 604-456-6950 (Vancouver) and 1-866-456-6950 (Elsewhere in BC). You can also email economics@doctorsofbc.ca or contact the Dr.Bill team.
This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Ventures Inc. or its affiliates.
Additional Reading
Dr. Nour Khatib left medical school for a finance career, but a persistent calling encouraged her to return years later and become an emergency physician.
