Guide

Chapter 1:
Medical Billing in B.C.

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Medical billing may have a (well-earned) reputation for being complicated, but with a solid foundation of the basics, it can quickly become a straightforward part of your day. Download the full version of our Ultimate MSP Billing Guide for the tips you need to start billing accurately from the start.

Here is a brief overview of what we’ll cover in Chapter 1: 

1.1 Physician Payment Models

Canadian doctors get paid in a variety of different ways. Depending on your situation, you may even be compensated through multiple payment models at the same time. 

In the Ultimate MSP Billing Guide, you’ll learn the basics of the three most common payment models:

  • Fee-For-Service
  • Salary
  • Alternative Payment Plans (APPs)

Did you know?

APPs are on the rise and vary widely. Generally, they are made up of a combination of:

  • Fees for clinical services
  • Time-based payments
  • Rewards for participation in specific clinical initiatives
  • Population or capitation payments
  • Payment for admin costs
  • Bonuses for achieving specific targets

1.2 The MSC/MSP Payment Schedule

This section of our Ultimate MSP Billing Guide offers a quick overview of the Medical Services Commission (MSC) Payment Schedule. This is the official document that lists all MSP-insured services, codes with corresponding descriptions, rules for use and dollar amounts.

Did you know?

The MSC Payment Schedule is approximately 500 pages long!
(Thankfully, most specialties have a core set of frequently-used codes and rules, which makes billing less daunting than it seems.)

1.3 How Claims are Submitted and Processed

Physicians billing in BC submit claims through the system called Teleplan. Teleplan is the only way you can submit claims securely in BC.

Download the full version of our Ultimate MSP Billing Guide to learn how to apply for Teleplan.

Download the Ultimate MSP Billing eBook

Take complete control of the MSP billing world. Download our free Ultimate MSP Billing eBook to help you start optimize your billing from the start.

1.4 How And When Physicians Get Paid

MSP claim submissions and payments run twice monthly. All claims submitted before 11:00 a.m. on the MSP cut-off date will be on your next remittance. 

Remittances are typically posted 7-10 days after the cut-off date and your payment will be deposited a few days after that.

The surest way to never miss a cut-off date? Sign up for MSP cut-off reminder emails. Each email comes with a billing tip to help you optimize your billing and keep you up to date with important Ministry changes

1.5 MSP Reports You’ll Receive

Approximately 7-10 days after you submit your claims, physicians receive two reports from MSP:

  1. Remittance Advice (RA) Report
  2. Error Code Report

These reports are helpful for bookkeeping and essential for keeping track of any claims submitted.

Chapter 2: How to Start Billing