|
Friend,
Canada’s largest private clinic broke the law by charging patients way over the legal amount for medical care. A government audit revealed a shocking level of extra-billing - patients were unlawfully billed nearly $500,000 in just 30 days.[1]
The clinics' owner Dr. Brian Day admits his clinics broke law, but he has avoided consequences for years by launching a constitutional challenge against the very law his clinics broke.[2] Now, he’s paused the trial and wants to settle his case with the BC Government. But on what terms?
This is a very important moment. A resolution to this case is the BC government's chance to send a strong message to British Columbians: you can trust that you are protected by health care law. Our government needs to hear that we expect patients and public funds to be protected from those who put profit before care.
Make sure the BC government does the right thing. Send a message to Premier Christy Clark, Minister of Health Terry Lake and Attorney General Susan Anton to tell them you want restitution for patients and consequences for Dr. Day’s clinics.
The public and patients have played a pivotal role in this story so far – complaints from patients and the public moved the Medical Services Commission to audit Day’s clinics in 2012.
What auditors found was shocking: Day’s Cambie Surgery Centre and the associated Specialist Referral Clinic found that patients were unlawfully extra-billed $491,654 in just 30 days, and during that time, the clinics filed overlapping claims, charging both the patient and the Medical Services Plan, for an amount of $66,734.[3]
If these audit results give any clue as to the extent to which patients and public funds are being overcharged, these two clinics could have unlawfully billed more than $34,000,000 in the past five years.
The BC government needs to know that British Columbians want to see restitution for patients who were unlawfully extra-billed, real consequences for breaking the law, and a requirement for full compliance to medicare law by private clinics.
Send a message to the government now to call for a further audit that gets to the bottom of what is going on in these clinics. An in-depth audit is needed to ensure that restitution is brought to patients and that clinics face full consequences.
This week public health care advocacy organizations across the country called for the BC government to act in defence of patients and public health care - generating huge pressure in the media just as the provincial health ministers were meeting in Banff.[4]
Let’s build on this momentum. If enough of us speak up now, the BC Government will negotiate knowing that they have the support to protect patients and stop Brian Day clinics’ profit-motivated attack. Send a message to the BC Government now, before a resolution is reached.
With thanks for all you’ve done to get us this far,
Edith MacHattie Dr. Monika Dutt
BC Health Coalition, Co-chair Canadian Doctors for Medicare, Chair
Sources:
[1] Medical Services Commission Audit Report 2012
[2] “Private clinic opens doors to auditors”, Globe and Mail, January 23, 2001
[3] Medical Services Commission Audit Report 2012
[4] "Advocates urge government to protect medicare" Globe and Mail, September 30, 2014
“Public health care advocates urge government to fine private Vancouver clinic” The Canadian Press, September 29, 2014
|
