Submitting and updating panel lists

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All family physicians providing longitudinal care are asked to submit lists of empanelled patients to MSP/Teleplan. The lists will appear on the Panel Registry (part of the Provincial Attachment System) in a few days after submission.

Before submitting panel lists

Before submitting lists of empanelled patients, it is important to clean up your lists.

To support you in preparing an accurate and up-to-date panel list through your EMRs, self-serve guides, and resources can be found on the Health Technology Resources webpage. You can also submit a service request for assistance, or email .

Important: Now is a good time to ensure you have an MSP Facility Number, as it is needed to submit your panel. The Facility Number is used to associate the panel with the physician’s location practice. If you do not have a Facility Number, you can request one here. If you practice at more than one location, you will need a Facility Number for each one.

Submitting panel lists

There are two ways for physicians to submit your panel lists:

  • Through your Electronic Medical Record (EMR) if you use MedAccess, Profile, Accuro, or MOIS.

  • Through the third-party billing service provider, Dr.Bill, which is provided at no cost.

Physicians are asked to start submitting lists as soon as possible once they are cleaned up.

Using EMRs

In order to submit your lists of empanelled patients using your EMR, you will need to be using MedAccess, Profile, Accuro, or MOIS. These EMRs have the bulk claiming functionality required to do this work. If you do not use one of these EMRs, then you will need to use Dr.Bill (more information available below).

Using Dr.Bill

Dr.Bill has worked closely with Doctors of BC and MSP Teleplan to create a secure patient panel submission service that will be available to all family doctors with no cost to you. To submit your panel through Dr.Bill, visit their submission webpage. On this page you will also find instructions for how to submit your patient panel. Helpful templates and training materials for preparing your extract for upload can also be found on the Health Technology Resources webpage.
 
You must use Dr.Bill if you use an EMR that is listed according to this EMR flow diagram. You may also simply choose to use the Dr.Bill instead of your EMR (MedAccess, Profile, Accuro, or MOIS). Please note Dr.Bill’s office is closed for the statuatory holidays, and so it is recommended that panels are submitted before then, to ensure supports are available. 

If you have more than one facility number, please contact before signing up for Dr.Bill. They will provide you with additional details to ensure accurate panel uploads.

For assistance: E-mail .

Ongoing panel updates following your initial panel submission

After submitting panel lists to MSP/Teleplan through your EMR or Dr.Bill, they will show up in the PAS within a few days. It is important to keep your PAS data up to date and in line with your EMR on an ongoing basis. Updated panels will help everyone involved in primary care have a better picture of attachment in BC, as we work together to ensure people have access to a primary care provider.

Updated panel lists in the PAS will also be critical to ensure payments accurately reflect panel size when the new method is developed for calculating CLFP payments, or panel payments under the LFP Payment Model.

Please refer to this guide for workflow considerations to keep your PAS panel list accurate and updated. If you need extra support please reach out to a Practice Support Program coach for help by emailing or
submit a service request.

How to update panels on the PAS

How to add patients to panel: Send a $0 attachment code 98990 to MSP/Teleplan through your EMR. This will be reflected in the PAS within a few days. This code and process is only to be used after your full panel is submitted. You should only submit your entire panel as a bulk upload one time. 

If you are adding a patient that you have previously removed from your panel within PAS, you will need to contact the PAS support team for assistance. Refer here for contact information.

However, physicians under contracts who are currently using the PCN attachment codes should continue to do so until February 1. The PCN attachment codes was be retired on that date, transitioning to a single attachment code for the province.

How to remove patients from panel: Select the patient on your panel and click on the “remove” button in the PAS. Removing a patient in the PAS will not remove them from your EMR, so you will want to ensure the patient has also been inactivated in your EMR. Work is underway to integrate these systems in the future. 

How often to update panels

Physicians are encouraged to incorporate these steps for adding and removing patients into your daily workflow. After your initial panel upload you should not be resubmitting your entire panel again. It is also recommended that you review panel lists in the PAS regularly, and no less than on a quarterly basis, to ensure it is up to date and to correct any possible errors along the way. A note that a quarterly check-in will ensure that you do not need to update your password.

Physicians will be able to see updates on the PAS when adding patients to panels within a few days after submitting the $0 fee code. When patients are removed from panel lists will be reflected immediately within the PAS.

If you have uploaded your panel more than 6 weeks ago and do not see it in your clinic, it may be stored in the “Patients Without a Clinic” tab on the PAS home page. Selecting all patients in the panel, then selecting “Change Clinic” will allow you to assign your panel to your clinic.

If you need assistance, contact information for support with the PAS is listed under "Resources and Support" on our PAS webpage.

Why updating panel lists is important

Updated panels will help everyone involved in primary care have a better picture of attachment in BC, as we work together to ensure people have access to a primary care provider. Updated panel lists in the PAS will also be critical to ensure payments accurately reflect panel size when the new method is developed for calculating CLFP payments, or panel payments under the LFP Payment Model.

Sometimes patients may, often inadvertently, appear on more than one panel list. Early in the new year, we will start a process to resolve situations where patients appear on multiple panel lists. It will be important that panel lists are updated before this process begins to minimize the number of panel conflicts. Watch for more information on deadlines, payment, and the process for resolving panel conflicts in the coming weeks.

Resources and supports

Resources are available to help develop an accurate list of empanelled patients and to submit your panel here.

MOAs can provide significant support for physicians and practices by completing tasks within the PAS including updating panels and clinic information. MOAs can watch this webinar(link is external) by the Ministry of Health to support MOAs in accessing and using PAS.