THE Es ¥ OLE RE fue See 36 pages City lights see Office, Editoria! 985-2131 Display Advertising 940-0511 Surf’s up on the wild West Coast High Adventure: 20 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 ~ NEWS photo Cindy Goodman A DECEMBER sun sets on another crisp winter day. This view of downtown Vancouver was taken from 15th Street and the Grand Boulevard in North Vancouver City. Eight N. Shore surgeons to opt out of medicare in fee protest in jodging a complaint with the AT LEAST eight North Shore doctors plan to opt out of medicare on Jan. 15. By Surj Rattan News Reporter Dr. Tony Chan, the North Shore’s B.C. Medical Association (BCMA) representative, said the move by the eight general surgeons to leave the provincial government’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) payment structure is not a protest but rather a way to “preserve medicare."” But North Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP MLA David Schreck said the move is merely a way for doc- tors to increase their salaries. Under the MSP payment struc- ture, doctors bill the MSP for medical services provided to B.C. residents on medicare. The gov- ernment in turn reimburses the doctors. But doctors who have opted out of medicare bill their patients di- rectly. The patients in turn seek reimbursement from the provincial government. Said Chan, ‘“‘The government cannot continue to fund medicare with a blank cheque. They have an empty pocket. This way would involve the public. “The number of scrvices we provide would diminish and that will lead to a less inefficient use of the system,’’ said Chan. He said the North Shore doc- tors who decide to opt out of medicare will charge their patients what they consider to be ‘‘ap- propriate fees,’? which could vary between different doctors and pa- tients. “For example, | may see a woman whe is on welfare and cannot afford to pay me, “But § will seill treat her and will then give her an invoice and then just telf her to pay me when she gets reimbursed by the gov- ernment, “If there is a person from out of the province with no medical insurance and needs emergency medical atiention, we will treat them, as we have always done, for nothing. “I don't care if they can’t pay. Vit just take them into the operating room and fix them up. That’s what medicine is all about,”’ said Chan. But he added that patients who can afford to pay for medical ser- vices will be charged the BCMA rate, which Chan said is about 10% higher than the government’s MSP payment rate. Chan said by opting out of medicare, doctors will be able to ‘gain our independence.”” He added that he expects the move to be criticized by the pro- vincial government. Schreck said he hopes the doc- tors will reconsider what he called an unfortunate move, “If they refuse to provide ser- vice I will be glad to assist anyone B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons for misconduct. “Tvs just greed, and they want to line their own pockets. What I’m hearing them say is they want more money,”’ said Schreck. He added that B.C. has a higher fee structure for doctors than any other province. Schreck said Victoria has of- fered the BCMA an opportunity to co-manage the MSP = and restore a cost-shared retirement plan, “ft also believe that the British Columbia Medical Association, or some of its leadership, have been set on eliminating al! forms of cost control on MSP payments,” said Schreck.