Nearly half of BC’s eligible family physicians have sent in their applications for the long-term care grant and maternity care network grant ahead of the July 31, 2023 deadline. The divisions of family practice are working with their members and partners to develop their applications for inpatient care funding. The funding applications will align with FPSC’s funding parameters and provincial payment standards for inpatient care.
These grants and the new payment are part of FPSC’s $29 million in one-time funding, announced in May to help communities stabilize inpatient and maternity care in hospitals and long-term care until these elements are incorporated into the new longitudinal family physician (LFP) payment model.
Of this amount, FPSC is providing $10.2 million for inpatient care, allocated to the divisions of family practice to administer as family physician payments supporting inpatient care. The divisions are currently consulting their local members and partners to develop their funding. In BC, there are approximately 1800 community-based family physicians providing inpatient care services.
FPSC is providing $13.5 million through the long-term care grant. Family physicians who are eligible for the grant are participating in the FPSC Long-Term Care Initiative, have a minimum of 5 long-term care beds, and commit to maintaining their long-term care services until December 31, 2023. Over 550 grant applications have already been submitted to FPSC. In BC, there are approximately 1350 family physicians providing long-term care.
FPSC is providing $5 million through the maternity care grant to eligible physicians, who are participating in the FPSC Maternity Care Network Initiative and commit to maintaining their hospital maternity services until December 31, 2023. FPSC has already received 288 applications for this grant. There are approximately 500 family physicians participating in the FPSC Maternity Care Network Initiative in BC.
The new one-time funding is in addition to FPSC’s current total annual funding for facility-based care. Each year, FPSC provides these funds for facility-based care by family physicians:
- $31.4 million for inpatient care.
- $12 million for long-term care.
- $4.3 million for maternity care in hospital, including direct funding to individual physicians via MSP for maternity network fees.
If you have questions, please contact fp.billing@doctorsofbc.ca.
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