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Business Cost Premium in BC expands to include Telehealth Fees during COVID-19

Courtney Marie L.
May. 6, 2020
8-minute read


Effective May 1, 2020, the Business Cost Premium (BCP) will be temporarily expanded to apply to telehealth fee items, including phone and video communication with patients.

This change ensures the BCP is paid during the COVID-19 pandemic, given these services would have normally been provided in person in physician’s offices.

To receive the BCP on telehealth fees, make sure your claims include a registered facility number and a community-based office service location code.

The original message from Doctors of BC outlines that while telehealth services do not need to be provided in your office, an appropriate facility number and service location code need to be entered on the claim in order for the BCP to be paid.

The facility number and location code should be based on where the service would have been provided if it had been performed in person.


Business Cost Premium Details

The Business Cost Premium (BCP) is to provide improved compensation if you are are responsible for some or all of the rent, lease, or ownership costs (either directly or indirectly) of a community-based office. The BCP is a percentage premium paid on eligible fees for in person, face-to-face services, to compensate you for the work you do with patients in your office.

You must be entitled to receive and retain payment for the eligible fees directly from MSP (i.e., payments assigned to Health Authorities are not eligible for the premium). The current BCP eligible services are:

  • Consultations
  • Visits
  • Complete examinations
  • Counselling

BCP Amendments

The BCP list of eligible fees has been temporarily amended to include telehealth fee items during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure BCP is paid given the majority of these services would have otherwise been provided to patients face-to-face at eligible physician offices. Eligible BCP claims require a registered facility number and a community-based office service location code. While telehealth services do not need to be provided by the physician in their office, the appropriate facility number and service location code that should be entered on the claim is based on where the service would have been provided if it had been performed face -to-face.

Telehealth Fees that are Eligible for BCP

33572

33577

33630

33632

33637

33730

33732

33737

50507

50510 

50511

50512

50514

50515 

50516

50517

50518

50519

60607

60610 

60613

60614

60622 

60625

60626

60630

60631

60632

60633

60635

60636 

60638

60639 

66007 

66010

66012

70070

70072

70077 

70080 

70087

77707

77710

77712

78007

78010 

78012

79207

79210

79212

83070

94070

94072

94077

00470

00471

00477 

01155 

01470

01472

01770 

01772 

01777 

03310 

03312 

03317

04070

04072

04077 

08070

08072 

08077

13036

13037

13038

13041 

13042 

20207

20210

20214

22007

22010

22011

30070

30071 

30072

30077 

31107

31110 

31112 

32107

32110

32112 

32114 

32270

32271

32272

32277

32370

32372

33
107

33110

33112

33114

33470 

33472

33473

33474

33477

33570


To receive the BCP:

  • You are responsible for some or all of the lease, rental or ownership costs of that community-based office, and
  • The community-based facility in which the eligible services are provided must be in an eligible location and have a unique Facility Number registered with MSP, and
  • You must be registered with MSP as a physician practicing at that Facility, and iv) The correct Facility Number must be entered on each claim where the eligible service is rendered.

How is the BCP calculated?

The percentage values and the daily maximum amounts of the BCP are based on the location the eligible service is rendered:

  • City of Vancouver: 5% of eligible fees up to a maximum BCP payment of $60 per day per physician.
  • Metro Vancouver (excluding the City of Vancouver) and Greater Victoria: 4% of eligible fees up to a maximum BCP payment of $48 per day per physician.
  • Other communities (outside Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria) not eligible for the Rural Retention Premiums: 3% of eligible fees up to a maximum BCP payment of $36 per day per physician.

How will the BCP be paid?

The BCP will be applied to eligible fees submitted on your billing claims, and will be paid to your payee number. The claims system will apply the percentage for the premium and calculate the daily maximum. In order to identify the physical location in which services are provided and for the correct percentage premium to be applied, you need to register your community-based office for a Facility Number, which is a unique physician/office location-identifier.

If you are responsible for some or all of the lease, rental, or ownership costs at more than one community-based location, you need to register each location where eligible services are provided.

How to Obtain a Facility Number for the BCP

To apply for a facility number you need to submit the “Application for MSP Facility Number (New)” form below. Please ensure to check the box to request the BCP be applied to eligible fees paid to eligible physicians attached to that facility.  Each location must obtain a unique Facility Number.

Application for MSP Facility Number (New): Online application.

Application for MSP Facility Number (New): Fill and print out form.


If, at any time, you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in touch. Otherwise, please check back to the COVID-19 Resource centre for more updates.

 

“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.”

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Courtney Marie L
Writer and editor with a demonstrated history of working in the Canadian healthcare sector and the publishing industry. Skilled in writing, editing, proofreading, Spanish to English translation, and teaching English as a second language. Strong communications professional with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Political Science from the University of Manitoba.
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