Information on this page is specific to the Vancouver Island Health Region. Find everything you need to know to apply for and complete a group contract, fulfill reporting expectations during the contract, and operationalize your clinic to support contract requirements.

Please note that documents are subject to change at the discretion of each authoring organization and may vary over time. Although we do our best to keep the most up-to-date versions, individual documents may not be the most current. Please check directly with each authoring body for any questions/concerns.

View the March 24 Practicing Family Physician Group Contracts webinar recording.

The Group Contract for Practicing Full-service Family Physicians is a new hours-based contract for a group of at least three family physicians with established patient panels, who work together to provide community longitudinal care. It provides choice for family physicians who want to move away from Fee-For-Service (FFS) and practice in a different way.

It is also available to individual physicians who are not in the same clinic but are in the same Primary Care Network (PCN) and are prepared to work together as a group to provide the services and patient access required under the contract.

The contract is not available to physicians in solo practice.

Eligibility and Commitments

• A minimum of three family physicians is required.
• Each physician under contract must have an established panel.
• All physicians must all participate in an existing PCN or commit to actively support the development of a PCN in the community.
• All physicians must agree to provide community longitudinal primary care services aligned with the principles of a Patient Medical Home.
• All physicians under the contract must participate in the FPSC’s Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives, including panel management and use of the Patient Experience Tool.
• Full time physicians are expected to work 1,680 hours per year, and each physician under contract must commit to working a minimum of half time (i.e., 840 hours per year).

Before You Get Started

• Review the Doctors of BC Group Contract for Practicing Full Service Family Physicians webpage.
• Read the Group Practice FAQ (MoH)
• Read about the Expression of Interest (EOI) process, and access the EOI form.
• For questions about the EOI process, please email PCN.Compensation@gov.bc.ca.
• For help preparing for a possible transition to a group contract please connect with Esther Stevens, Manager, Practice Support Program (PSP), Primary Care Strategy.

Completing the Contract

• Practicing Family Physician Group Contract Template (Island Health).
• The Access to Measurement Form (MoH): For the collection of information required to measure access and quality improvement (i.e., third next available appointment).
  • See Section 9(a) of Appendix 2 of the Group Contract template.
• Assignment of Payment (AOP) Form Guide: Written and visual instructions on how to complete the AOP Form (Health Insurance BC).
• Direct Deposit Application Form (Island Health).
• Group Governance Agreement.
• For assistance completing the contract, please contact: PCNMedAffairs@islandhealth.ca.

Reporting During the Contract

Quarterly Timesheet (for Island Health)

• Timesheet.
• Group Contract Clinic Hours Reporting Guidance (MoH).
• For assistance with timesheets and hours reporting, please contact: PCNMedAffairs@islandhealth.ca.

MSP Reporting

ENCOUNTERS

• Info Encounter and Attachment Reporting and Billing Support Contact List (MoH): A quick-reference list for various needs (e.g., clinic setup, requesting new M status clinic payee number if you don’t already have one, reporting codes, etc.).
• Info Encounter Reporting for FP Contracts (MoH): Information on simplified encounter codes.
• Clinic Setup for Encounter Reporting (MoH): Step-by-step instructions on how to connect an MSP billing number to a clinic payee number.
• Encounter Reporting FAQ (FPSC).
• Shift Reporting and Shift Code Guidelines (MoH): Information on reporting shift hours via Teleplan.
• Patient Attachment Reporting: General guidelines to attachment reporting and attachment records.
• For any questions related to encounter reporting, please email: PCN.Compensation@gov.bc.ca.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

• Year 1 – QI Contract Expectations: Review of QI expectations and focus areas for the first year under contract.
• Read more about the San’yas Anti-Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training available (not a requirement), and register here.
• For questions related to QI expectations or inquiries, please contact: Esther Stevens, Island Health’s PSP regional coach.

Clinic Operations

• The Clinic Operations Guide: Overview of all relevant operational information for clinics on contract, including:
  • EOIs
  • Payment
  • Reporting
  • Quality Improvement
  • Notification of new or departing physicians

EMR Resources

Encounter, Attachment and Shift Reporting EMR Orientation Guides

• Med Access
• Oscar Pro
• Oscar

Patient Attachment Forms

• The Attachment Conversation Form: Physician/practice and patient agreement terms for attachment.
• The Patient Attachment Verification Form (MoH): For obtaining patient consent to attachment and disclosure of information to Ministry of Health.