I have a question/issue regarding healthcare (Medical Services Plan, pharmacare, public health, complaints regarding care you received)

General Questions about Care, Complains and Services

• I am concerned about the care me or my family member has been provided.
  • For services provided within the Vancouver Coastal Health area (Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore), please contact the VCH Patient Care Quality Office
  • For services provided within the Fraser Health area (Burnaby, Tri-Cities, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Mission), please contact the Fraser Health Patient Care Quality Office
• I have contacted the relevant PCQO and I am not satisfied by their answer and/or still have additional concerns.
  • Please contact my office to discuss further.
• I have a complaint about my physician.
  • Please direct your concerns to the College of Physicians and Surgeons: https://www.cpsbc.ca/for-public/file-complaint 
• I am on a waitlist for (insert procedure here). Can you help me with the wait time?
  • Unfortunately, no. Physicians prioritize their own waitlist based on need and urgency. We cannot help expedite your position on a waitlist. Please contact your care provider to discuss further.
• I want my family member or myself to enter assisted living, or long term care. Can you help?
  • Admission to assisted living or long term care is managed by a case manager in a given health authority. You either need a referral from a care provider or through Home and Community Care services.
  • Please see this site for more information: http://www.vch.ca/your-care/home-community-care/how-to-access-services

Medical Services Plan

• How do I get Medical Services Plan coverage?
  • Please visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents
• Who qualifies for MSP?
  • To be eligible for coverage with British Columbia’s health care plans, your spouse/child must be a resident of this province. The Medicare Protection Act defines a resident as a person who is a citizen of Canada or is lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence, makes his or her home in British Columbia, and is physically present in British Columbia at least six months in a calendar year, or a shorter prescribed period, and includes a person who is deemed under the regulations to be a resident but does not include a tourist or visitor to British Columbia.
• My relative is visiting Canada and is in need of urgent medical care. Can they be covered?
  • Unfortunately, no. Visitors and tourists to Canada including visiting family members who are not a resident of BC (obtained permanent residence) are not eligible for MSP.
  • Visitors are expected to have adequate private medical insurance for their duration of their stay. Our office cannot assist with obtaining MSP coverage.
• I am in the process of obtaining Permanent Residence. Where can I get more information on when my coverage begins and when I can apply?
  • Please visit this webpage for more information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible/applicants-for-permanent-resident-status
• I have been receiving calls from MSP regarding outstanding MSP fees. I thought we didn’t have to pay MSP fees anymore. What’s going on?
  • As of January 1, 2020, British Columbians no longer need to pay MSP premiums. However, any outstanding fees prior to January 1, 2020 are still outstanding and must be paid. If you have questions about your balance, please contact my office. Please note that we cannot help you waive MSP fees.
  • However, you may qualify for Retroactive Premium Assistance which can reduce your MSP fees. Please see this site for more information and for the application: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/premiums/retroactive-premium-assistance

Pharmacare

• How do I qualify for pharmacare coverage?
  • Pharmacare is an income tested program where British Columbians who are below a certain income threshold will receive full or partial coverage.
  • More information on pharmacare coverage and how to apply can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/who-we-cover/fair-pharmacare-plan
• What does pharmacare cover?
  • More information on what is covered can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/about-pharmacare
• My doctor prescribed (insert medication here) and when I had my prescription filled, I found out that the medication is not covered by pharmacare. Can you help me obtain coverage? Why is this not covered?
  • Medication is regularly reviewed by the Drug Benefit Council based on a number of criteria. They determine whether or not a certain medication should be covered. More information can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/what-we-cover/drug-coverage/drug-review-process-results
  • The Pharmacare Formulary Search can give you information on whether or not a certain medication is or is not covered: https://pharmacareformularysearch.gov.bc.ca/
  • Some medication is covered by pharmacare but requires special authorization through what is known as a Special Authority request. Please ensure that your physician has submitted the appropriate paperwork.
  • More information can be found here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/pharmacare/prescribers/special-authority
  • Special authority must be granted prior to you filling your prescription. Prescriptions filled prior to obtaining coverage will not be retroactively covered.