 |
April 4, 2002
HEABC and PSERC pass costs of MSP delisting onto nurses
BCNU has launched grievances against the practice, which contradicts a claim made by the Minister of Health Services
Contrary to claims made by the Minister of Health Services when he announced the delisting of physiotherapy and other services from the Medical Services Plan, our employer is not making up for our lost coverage through our extended health plan.
BCNU has been forced to launch grievances against HEABC and PSERC, because these employers have told Pacific Blue Cross to cover 80 per cent of $10 (the former user fee) for your first 12 visits each year to physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopaths and for non-surgical podiatry. For those first 12 visits, nurses are now expected to pay the full balance of the treatment cost.
Before these procedures were stripped from Medicare on January 1, 2002, MSP covered most of the costs of those first 12 visits, with Pacific Blue Cross paying 80 per cent of the $10 user fee.
Now MSP no longer pays for these paramedical services for any BC resident who does not qualify for MSP premium assistance. According to HEABC’s directive, Pacific Blue Cross will pay 80 per cent of the full costs only after those 12 visits, subject to any deductible.
BCNU’s position is that Pacific Blue Cross must pay 80 per cent of the full cost of all these paramedical visits, subject to the deductible. Upon resolution of the grievance, we expect that Pacific Blue Cross will reimburse any claim that has been calculated incorrectly.
When he announced the delisting in December, Health Services Minister Colin Hansen claimed that British Columbians who are covered by extended health plans would have the extra costs paid by those plans.
Please contact Sharon Saunders at BCNU if you have claimed for paramedical services received after January 1, 2002. Send in a copy of documentation from Pacific Blue Cross and ensure that your name, address and telephone number is on the documents.
|
 |
|
