Yes, the objective of this initiative is to increase patient attachment across the province. If you currently do not have a practice with a patient panel but are interested in establishing a family practice and building your own patient panel, you are encouraged to apply

Yes, if you are an International Medical Graduate, you will be considered for a New to Practice contract.  Health Match BC can determine your eligibility and support you with your licensure and immigration needs.

The contract term is two years, with the option of terminating the contract without cause on six months’ notice.

 The physician may also terminate the contract with 60 days’ written notice in the following circumstances:

• In order to join the other physicians in the clinic under the Group Contract for Practicing FPs.
• To elect to be paid fee-for-service, similar to the other physicians in their group practice, on the condition that the physician will continue to provide the services set out in the contract for the balance of the term as a member of the same practice

If a practitioner currently does not have a patient panel but is interested in establishing a full-scope family practice and working a minimum of 0.5 FTE, part-time opportunities may be available.

1.0 FTE of services is defined as 1,680 to 2,100 hours annually. Contracts may be for less than one FTE but must be a minimum of 0.5 FTE.

Practitioners may commit to other opportunities; however, it is expected that they will do so only if they are able to fully meet all the obligations under the Service Contract and the Practice Agreement with the group practice (including any extended/after hours and on-call requirements), and the work is clearly done outside the Service Contract required hours and panel commitments.

Practitioners are expected to make themselves available to provide services after-hours. Any services provided that arise from being called in after-hours fall within the scope of this contract and are included in the practitioner’s reportable hours.

The contract does not address the specifics of call requirements for patients within the group practice; this is a matter for the group practice to coordinate. The contract does not provide payment for “availability”; however, any services provided while on-call can be included in the hours under the contract and will count towards the minimum hours or service requirement.

Physicians are required to cover overhead costs from the payments they receive under the contract. Arrangements between the physician and the practice they join regarding overhead costs are to be determined privately among the parties. The contract is administered by the regional health authority; physicians engaged through the contract.

Under both payment modalities, the FPs are independent, autonomous practitioners; however, the Service Contract better supports the PCN and team-based care. Under FFS, physicians are paid a specified amount for providing services in accordance with the Medical Service Commission Payment Schedule; there are billing restrictions on delegating services and limited ability to bill for team consultations. Under a Service Contract, time is a major component of payment (e.g., 1,680 to 2,100 hours per year for one FTE) along with other deliverables (e.g., minimum panel target). Compared to FFS, contracted physicians have a more stable and predictable income, which enables them to spend more time with patients and to work in interdisciplinary teams. Contracted physicians will also have reduced administrative burden compared to FFS through simplified encounter reporting.

The physician must commit to act as the regular and most responsible primary care provider for a minimum patient panel that is balanced in composition (e.g., age, complexity). Panel size targets graduated over the term are set out in the contract as follows:

• Year 1 of the term: panel size of a minimum of 800 patients per 1.0 FTE.
• Year 2 of the term: panel size of a minimum of 1,250 patients per 1.0 FTE.

Primary care waitlists can be used to build the patient panel (e.g., waitlists developed by the Division of Family Practice, the ministry, or any future waitlist designated by the PCN). Generally, if a practitioner is having difficulties meeting a deliverable, it is expected that the practitioner works with the health authority and/or their group practice to identify strategies to address the concern and meet the deliverable going forward.

Benefits are not provided under the NP contract and must be obtained separately by the NP.

The service contract rates for NPs were established with the objective of providing income comparable to that earned by NPs employed in health authorities. To maintain equity with health authority-employed NPs, the service contract rates are adjusted to recognize benefits and other costs that are borne by the health authority as the employer, such as medical and dental benefits, medical liability coverage, professional development, disability insurance, parental leave, and pension/retirement savings plan.

Marketing and recruitment will be expanded to suitable candidates in BC, the rest of Canada, and internationally. Please contact Health Match BC to see if you are eligible.

The term of the Service Contract is three years.

Compensation options, alternative to fee-for-service and employment arrangements, are currently being implemented in a phased approach to support the PCN service plans. This includes the development of a Service Contract for established practitioners with a patient panel and the expansion of population based funding models.

At the end of the contract term, it is expected that the practitioner’s practice will be fully established and that they will have a full patient panel. Practitioners will be able to choose between staying on a Service Contract or transition to one of the compensation options that support PCNs and team based care.

If a practitioner currently does not have a patient panel but is interested in establishing a full-scope family practice and working a minimum of 0.5 FTE, part-time opportunities may be available.

Practitioners may commit to other opportunities; however, it is expected that they will do so only if they are able to fully meet all the obligations under the Service Contract and the Practice Agreement with the group practice (including any extended/after hours and on-call requirements), and the work is clearly done outside the Service Contract required hours and panel commitments.

The Service Contract rates are competitively set for BC to provide income security while the new practitioner establishes their practice and builds their patient panel.

The compensation rates are set based on the salary grid rates for NPs employed by the health authorities, with consideration for the differences associated with being an independent contractor versus an employee (e.g., benefits, pension). Recognizing that overhead costs are paid by health authorities for their NP employees, a separate overhead allocation is provided.

For an expected leave, the NP should look for another NP to take over the contract for the duration of the leave. If this is not possible due to a lack of availability of alternative providers, a discussion with the clinic about coverage for the time away will need to occur and a mutually agreed upon arrangement decided.