Physicians in BC’s rural communities are set to receive increased eligibility for incentives and benefits as a result of changes to the Rural Retention Program (RRP) by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC), a partnership of Doctors of BC and the BC government.
The changes reflect the feedback of more than 600 rural physicians, health authorities, and other stakeholders during the three-year review of the RRP started in August 2018.
Effective April 1, 2021 – the changes include:
- A temporary reduction of the RRP income eligibility threshold from $75,000 to $65,000
- Eligibility for physicians on parental or planning medical leave (New & Retroactive)
- Introduction of the Rural Business Cost Modifier (New)
- Minimum point requirement to be eligible for full rural benefits to be reduced
- Implemented points to be based on a 5-year rolling average
Rural physicians will receive a letter by mail about these changes and the rolling average points being implemented for their community.
For further information, visit the Doctors of BC website.