A GP for Me telephone consultations increase

Family doctors participating in the A GP for Me program are now able to do 1500 telephone consultations a year, triple the number allowed when the program was first announced last year. This step will help to better meet the needs of patients for more timely access to family doctors, particularly in the case of follow-up consultations which can in some cases by done by telephone. It also helps to increase capacity in family practices, so that over time doctors will be able to take on more patients.

A GP for Me is a joint partnership of the Doctors of BC and the BC government. Its goal is to enhance the primary care system by building stronger relationships between patients and family doctors, and by increasing capacity so that more patients who want a family doctor can get one. It is overseen by the General Practices Services Committee, made up of representatives from Doctors of BC and the BC government,

For more information on A GP for Me, go to http://agpforme.ca/

Background:

• Eligible physicians have billed 14070 (or 14071 for locums) and are participating in and billing A GP for Me (Attachment) fee codes.
• The change is retroactive to January 1, 2014.
• The limit for billing of the telephone/e-mail follow-up management fee (14079) remains unchanged at five per calendar year for any patient for whom one of the portal "planning-related" fees (14033, 14043, 14053, 14063, or 14075) has been billed for complex care, mental health care, palliative care planning, or COPD chronic disease management.
• For patients who are eligible for 14079, it is advisable to use this first, saving the 14076 fee for other patients who would benefit from telephone visits.
• For more information on this and other GPSC fee codes, see the GPSC billing guide at http://www.gpscbc.ca/billing-guide-fees.