Enforcing the Medicare Protection Amendment Act
Medical Services Plan (MSP) pays for medically required services provided to British Columbians, and the Medicare Protection Act sets rules surrounding the billing for services provided by physicians and certain other health-care practitioners who are enrolled in the plan.
By bringing into force outstanding sections of the Medicare Protection Amendment Act, British Columbians won’t pay extra costs for services that are covered under MSP, or publicly funded as a benefit under the Hospital Insurance Act
Enforcing the Medicare Protection Amendment Act does not stop the current practice of health authorities partnering with private providers or private clinics, as long as the services are publicly funded, and patients are not required to pay out of pocket. As well, these changes do not prevent patients from choosing to pay for services, such as cosmetic procedures, that are not medically necessary MSP benefits.