i face a legislative hammer ‘THE PROVINCIAL govern- ment has given the practice of.extra billing by B.C. doc- itors about five weeks to live. By Anna Marle D’Angelo ‘News Reporter “On the heels of a federal mnouncement that $1.73 million worth of federal transfer payments uld be deducted to cover extra- ‘billing by 46 B.C. doctors, the *-provincial government has given * the’ British Columbia Medical! ‘Association (BCMA) until July 1 to ‘negotiate an end to extra billing. Failing that, the government will legislate an end to extra billing, “according to the provincial health tninister last week. “But a spokesman for 13 North Shore’ doctors who have opted out e..0f.the Medical Services Plan (MSP) ind-are currently billing patients ectly said the federal health min- ister’s decision to withhold transfer ayments was “playing politics era non-issue.” ’Dr. Tony Chan said opted-out loctors are not extra billing patients hen they direct bill for money. But patients don’t receive all their ney back from MSP to compen- efor what opted-out doctors have charged. "Chan said opted-out doctors #. charge more to patients because ‘they get about 10% tess ‘in ‘total muneration for their services # compared with opted-in doctors. “We are trying to recoup some of that. What we are doing is not extra billing. We are not making ‘any extra money (than opted-in -doctors).” said Chan. He said opted-out ductors don’t. et a povernment-funded pension plan which doesn’t figure into-the MSP money paid back to patients. ‘ Chan said that opted-out doctors -are saving the government money Raby not getting the pension plan ben- tits. ! He also claims that the govern- ment is saving money through the reduced numbers of “frivolous” doctor visits to opted-out doctors, The North Shore's opted-out doctors, all specialists except for one general practitioner, ate part of 46 physicians in the province who now direct-bill patients for their services. Originally about 75 doctors opted-out of the MSP because of stalled negotiations over a raise in fees. A new fee contract was finally accepted by doctors last year, but most of the opted-out physicians didn’t rejoin MSP. Meanwhile, North Vancouver Lonsdale NDP MLA David Schreck said anyone who under- stands the Canada Health Act knew the federal government could penalize the province for allowing the opted-out doctors to work. “Yt was bound to happen. We were fortunate, really, to have the 1%-year or so grace period,” said Schreck. He added that government pro- grams have suffered because of opted-out doctors. Schreck acknowledged that there was a difference between an opted-out doctor and a doctor who extra bills. “A physician could opt-out without extra billing (his patients). Why he, or she, would do that is beyond reason because all it would do is itconvenience the doctor and patients,” said Schreck. Schreck had called for removing, the hospital privileges of opted-out doctors who were extra billing their patients. (Hospital privileges allow a doctor lo admit and treat patients ina public hospital.) Schreck now favors a negotiated end to extra billing. Chan seems to agree, saying opted-out doctors hope that a solu- tion will be found through the BCMA because the province is being “penalized wrongly” on their behalf. See Doctor page & Doctors who opted out CCORDING TO the British Columbia Medical Association (BCMA), the following North Shore doctors have currently ‘opted-our of the Medical Services Plan and receive fees through direct billing of their patients: gS _ surgeons: N.O. Aarinatos, Richard Lewis, Kerry Creedon and Anthany Chan: W Orthopedic surgeons: Paul Sabiston and Gree Clarke: Cardiologists: Jubn Robert Imrie and Ken S. Wao, Obstetrics and gynecology spe- cialist: Roger G. Goodall: @ General practitioner: Leon Bard: gm Urologists: Michael W, Sookochoff, K.P. Yue and Paul Gray Crofis. EE TELE IT EEE HIGH THYME Herbs... Many kinds are available to liven up your kitchens and your recipes. WILLIAM DAVIS Former Deep Cave resident enjoys the success of his Vancouver acting school. 55 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 NEWS photo Paul McGrath Pure pedal power THE 1994 North Shore Spring Triathlon attracted record numbers as 416 athletes partici- pated in the event on Monday. It was the first race of the 1994 season to feature the top Canadian mate and female triathletes of 1993 — Mark Bates of Vancouver and Carol Montgomery of North Vancouver. For more detaiis and race results see page 18.