Audit finds 2 private BC health clinics extra billing patients; told to stop
July 18, 2012 - 3:51 PM
VANCOUVER - Two private health clinics in Vancouver have been found to be extra billing their patients in violation of the Canada Health Act and have been ordered to stop or face court action.
The order from the B.C. Medical Services Commission involves Cambie Surgeries Corp. and the Specialist Referral Clinic, which are owned by the same company.
Commission chair Tom Vincent says an audit has found more than 200 cases in which the clinics billed patients for medical services that are already publicly-funded under the provincial health plan.
The bills for the services totalled almost $500,000.
He says the clinics have been told to stop the practice within 30 days or the commission will seek a court injunction.
However, Vincent says the commission has no power to impose financial penalties or recover funds from the clinics.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012