COVID-19

BC Family Doctors is working hard to support you during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We successfully advocated for new fee codes, expanded the use of existing fee codes, and developed practice support resources to help you deliver virtual and in-person care. We led communications campaigns to recognize that family physicians are #HealthcareHumans as well as healthcare heroes. We created self-care and mindfulness tools to help you support your mental well-being, given the additional pressures of working during this once-in-a-century pandemic. We continue to advocate for sustainable primary care funding to support your ongoing delivery of care.

This list of our COVID-19 Actions and Achievements shows the hard work of your organization during this time of change.

Download a PDF version here

Assessment for COVID-19 Therapeutics	Worked with MSP to develop temporary fee code T10046 to support the time and complexity of the care and care coordination related to COVID-19 treatment.
Respiratory Immunization for patients 19 years of age or older	Worked with MSP to develop two new temporary fee codes 10040 and 10041 for adult respiratory immunizations (influenza, pneumococcal, and pertussis in pregnancy) Effective Oct 1 2021
COVID-19 Immunization Advice	Worked with MSP to develop a new temporary fee code 10045 for provision of COVID-10 Immunization Advice provided in addition to an in-person visit for an unrelated reason
COVID-19 Immunization	Worked with MSP to develop three new temporary fee codes 10042, 10043 & 10044 for COVID-19 immunizations
Respiratory Immunization for patients 19 years of age or older	Worked with MSP to develop two new temporary fee codes 10040 and 10041 for adult respiratory immunizations (influenza and pneumococcal) Effective Oct 1, 2020
Management of Maintenance Opioid Agonist Treatment	Worked with MSP to make changes to 00039 so that visits required to support substance use risk mitigation in the context of COVID-19 can be billed in addition
Expanded use of telemedicine	Worked with Doctors of BC to expand the use of telehealth for family physicians.
COVID-19 Office Visit fee code	Initiated new fee codes for office visits for treating suspected or active COVID-19 patients: one fee code for visit with test; one fee code for visit without test.
Age differential added to Telehealth fees	Worked with MSP to create age-adjusted telehealth fee codes that have the same value as the in-person fee codes for visits, counselling and consultations.
Billing for long-term care facility and palliative care facility visits	Worked with MSP to create a mechanism for physicians to bill for care delivered via telehealth to patients in long-term care and palliative care facilities.
Billing for labour and delivery when an emergency caesarean section is done	Worked with MSP to create the option for physicians to bill for labour and delivery care (14109) in circumstances where the family physician cannot attend the caesarean section due to COVID-19 restrictions in the OR.
Billing for in-hospital consultations and visits by telehealth	Worked with MSP to create a mechanism for physicians to bill for care delivered via telehealth to patients in hospital.
Business cost premium expansion to Telehealth fee items	Advocated for expansion of the Business Cost Premium to apply to telehealth fee codes.
New FPSC fee codes for communication and delegation	Worked with Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health representatives at FPSC to create new fee codes for delegated patient management via telehealth, email/text/telephone medical advice relay or re-RX, and communication with a specialist and/or allied care provider.
Expanded use of telehealth for Chronic Disease Management fee codes	Worked with Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health representatives at FPSC to change the CDM fees and Personal Health Risk Assessment fee to allow for care to be provided by Telehealth.
Expanded use of telehealth for FPSC Planning fees and Mental Health Management	Worked with Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health representatives at FPSC to change the FPSC planning fees and Mental Health Management fee to allow for care to be provided by Telehealth.

Medical Exemption for COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Letter	Created a standardized letter for patients clarifying there are no medical exemptions for proof of vaccination.
COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Accommodations for Healthcare Workers	Created a standardized letter for patients who are healthcare workers outlining limited medical reasons for vaccine exemption.
“The Doctor is In” guide for expanding in-person care in community-based physician offices	Partnered with Doctors of BC, the BC College of Family Physicians, and South Island/Victoria Divisions of Family Practice to create a recommendations guide written by family physicians for physicians to safely re-open their offices, based on WorkSafeBC, PHO, College and BCCDC guidance.
Billing Webinar on COVID-19 Telehealth services	Hosted joint webinars with FPSC on billing for telehealth services in COVID-19, including age-adjusted telehealth fees.
Billing FAQ document	Created a Billing FAQ document to address most common billing questions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Available for download on BC Family Doctors website.
“What are Essential Services in Primary Care Services?” resource	Created a one-page reference for family physicians outlining the prioritization of essential services in primary care, based on BC's Pandemic Influenza Response Plan (2012).
“Beyond Essential Services in Primary Care” resource	Created a resource for family physicians expanding in-person care services, with a guiding framework to determine if care delivery should be in-patient or virtual.
“Determining Clinical Appropriateness for Virtual Care Visits” resource	Created a resource for family physicians to assist in determining the clinical appropriateness of various patient care services.
COVID-19 Employer Sick Note	Created a standardized COVID-19 sick note for employers, based on recommendations from the Provincial Health Officer and the BC Centre for Disease Control recommendations.
COVID-19 Travel Clearance Letter	Created a COVID-19 travel clearance letter template for physicians to utilize when drafting “documentation of recovery” letters for patients planning travel.
“Feeling Worried About Returning to Work During COVID-19?” Resource for Patients	Created a resource for patients feeling worried about returning to their workplace in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Billing Questions Service	Answered individual billing questions regarding care delivery during COVID-19.
Billing Page on Website	Created and continually updated a page on the BC Family Doctors website listing temporary fee code changes related to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Resources page on Website	Created a page on the BC Family Doctors website listing and linking to COVID-19 resources, information and supports - from self-care tools to physician office resources to clinical practice resources.