Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities

Under the authority of the Medicare Protection Act (the Act) and the Medical and Health Care Services Regulation (the Regulation), the Medical Services Commission (the Commission) regulates aspects of diagnostic facilities that provide publicly-funded diagnostic services.

The Commission has established the Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities as a panel pursuant to Section 6 of the Act. The Commission has delegated authority to the Committee, under Section 6 of the Act, to consider and, where appropriate, approve applications relating to diagnostic facilities and services, and to provide advice and assistance to the Commission related to diagnostic facilities that provide, or intend to provide, outpatient diagnostic services.

Under Section 33 of the Act, the Commission has the authority to approve diagnostic facilities for the purpose of permitting Medicare diagnostic benefits to be delivered in them. The Commission has delegated authority to the Committee to consider applications and make Section 33 approvals, as well as to attach, add, delete, or amend conditions as necessary or advisable.

Like the Commission, the Committee facilitates reasonable access to quality, medically necessary, outpatient diagnostic services for beneficiaries throughout British Columbia.

The Committee’s work and decision-making must be performed in a manner consistent with the Act and Regulation, the Policies and Guidelines of the Medical Services Commission’s Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Facilities (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/diagnostic-lab-services/diagnostic-services/advisory-committee-on-diagnostic-facilities-acdf-application-forms/policies-and-guidelines/advisory-committee-on-diagnostic-facilities-modernization-project) and the Minute of the Commission, which delegates specific authority to the Committee (the Delegation), as may be amended from time to time.

The Committee is empowered and expected to use its discretion and best judgment in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties. It will consider all relevant factors in the exercise of its delegated discretion, and will exercise that discretion in a manner that conforms to the legislative objects and scheme of the Act. The Committee is accountable to the Commission for the exercise of the Committee’s powers and performance of its duties.