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Archival description
Alternative Payments program files
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Alternative Payments program files

  • GR-3487
  • Series
  • 1968-2011

The series consists of applications, reports, forms, correspondence, printouts from government databases, and budget information received, maintained and created by the Ministry of Health and its successors. The records were created between 1968 and 2011 for the Alternative Payments program. The series documents the provision and monitoring of Medical Services Plan (MSP) funding for physician and health care practitioner services through alternative payment agreements to regional health authorities. The functions of the Alternative Payment program were controlled by the Physicians’ Compensation branch.

The Alternative Payments program is a method of funding physician services by the Medical Services Plan through means other than the fee-for-service method. The program is designed to secure sufficient access to care in situations where fee-for-service arrangements may not guarantee physicians the financial support or stability to be able to provide needed care, such as in teaching hospitals or community-based services in rural areas. There are two models for alternative payments : service agreements and sessional arrangements. Service agreements consist of a contract between the Ministry of Health and a Health Authority which retains physicians under contract or direct employment. Sessional arrangements are based on contracts between a Health Authority and a physician.

Records consist of alternative payment agreement accountability records case files. Records regard reviewing applications from regional health authorities for funding for programs within their geographic areas of responsibility; developing and monitoring agreements with regional health authorities; monitoring programs funded by alternative payments methods; and processing payments to regional health authorities in accordance with approved agreements. The series also include some files with related policies, procedures and forms.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:
British Columbia. Ministry of Health (1976-2001)
British Columbia. Ministry of Health Services (2001-2005)
British Columbia. Ministry of Health (2005-2008)
British Columbia. Ministry of Health Services (2008-2011)

The records are arranged in several groups of accessions by health region and then by agency or health authority. The records are covered by Medical Services Plan ORCS 40740-20, 40600-00 and 40700-02.

British Columbia. Ministry of Health (1976-2001)