New evidence of Canada Health Act violations, BC Court of Appeal ruling affirming government authority to audit for-profit clinics, and resolution at next week's UBCM Convention all signal need for immediate government response
VANCOUVER, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - New research conducted by the BC Health Coalition has revealed evidence that for-profit clinics across the province continue to openly charge patients additional fees to jump the queue for health services already covered by Medicare.
The report*, entitled "Eroding Public Medicare: BC Update 2010", is an update of a groundbreaking 2008 national report** that documented an explosion of private for-profit health facilities across the country that are jeopardizing the equality and fairness of our health care system.
"This latest report confirms that Health Minister Falcon must take a leadership role in protecting British Columbians from private investors who are charging unlawful user fees and billing patients for health services already covered by Medicare," said Health Coalition Co-chair Rachel Tutte.
"The need for action has also been made clear by recent court decisions," she said, referring to a BC Court of Appeal ruling that confirms the Medical Services Commission has the authority to audit for-profit clinics in BC, including Dr. Brian Day's Cambie Surgery Centre. Cambie is the largest for-profit clinic in BC and is leading a legal attack on B.C.'s Medicare laws that protect patients from being charged user fees for publicly insured, medically necessary health care.
The report also comes in advance of a resolution*** that is on the agenda at next week's Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Whistler, and calls for a provincial moratorium on the expansion and funding of private, for-profit surgical and diagnostic clinics.
*The BC 2010 Update can be downloaded from: http://tiny.cc/z0vi4
**The 2008 National Report "Eroding Public Medicare: Lessons and Consequences of For-Profit Health Care Across Canada" can be downloaded from: http://tinyurl.com/2daltzy
***Resolution B155 can be downloaded from: http://tinyurl.com/22ofq3m
For further information:
Lew MacDonald, BCHC Coordinator: 604.787.6541