B.C. Health Minister Proposes Changes to Virtual Group Treatment

Patient anxiety is rising as the British Columbia (B.C.) health minister, Josie Osborne, plans to implement changes to virtual group treatment for patients with chronic conditions. This decision comes as the provincial government examines spending to address an expected budget deficit. The proposed adjustments include capping virtual group sessions at 20 participants, a move that both healthcare providers and patients have expressed concern over.

The B.C. Centre for Long Covid, ME/CFS, and Fibromyalgia operates a hybrid treatment model that combines one-on-one appointments with virtual group courses, benefiting patients suffering from debilitating chronic illnesses. According to co-founder Dr. Ric Arsenau, the centre has seen substantial success in improving patient outcomes, with 88 percent of patients reporting improvements and 17 percent returning to work. Currently, each of the centre’s group sessions can accommodate up to 50 patients, a setup that is billed to the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Arsenau emphasized that reducing the number of participants would render the virtual sessions impractical. “We save $1.2 million a year for the healthcare system, freeing up time for family doctors, emergency doctors, and specialists,” he stated, referencing a social impact study conducted for the clinic.

Despite the existence of other long COVID healthcare providers in B.C., Arsenau pointed out that approximately 6,000 British Columbians currently rely on his clinic, a number that increases by about 2,000 each year.

Patients have shared their transformative experiences since joining the centre. For instance, Denise Atkin, who has battled overlapping health issues, described the clinic as a “miracle.” After suffering severe symptoms following a COVID-19 infection, Atkin found the virtual group sessions instrumental in regaining her independence. “This is my only access to safe, effective and informed medical care,” she said, expressing her significant anxiety about the potential discontinuation of these sessions.

Another patient, Dasha Axxelson, a former nurse, highlighted the benefits of the group format. Having experienced cognitive decline due to long COVID, Axxelson appreciates the structured approach of the sessions. “Instead of meeting with a specialist in person for 10 minutes, you actually have an hour, sometimes an hour and a half, to learn so much more,” she explained. Axxelson noted that the clinic has helped her return to attending family events, such as her daughter’s Christmas concert.

The proposed changes stem from the Ministry of Health’s review of Medical Service Plan billings, which allowed physicians to charge the public healthcare system for virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, the ministry indicated plans to limit virtual group sizes after discovering that some physicians billed the MSP nearly $3,000 for sessions involving 100 patients.

Osborne acknowledged the significance of virtual care, especially for patients whose conditions often leave them homebound. “There’s a lot of value in this kind of care,” she stated during an interview. However, she emphasized the need to establish parameters to ensure that care is delivered responsibly within fiscal constraints.

While Osborne reassured that the intent is not to eliminate remote access to healthcare or group sessions, she indicated that discussions with stakeholders regarding the implications of the proposed cap are ongoing. The changes are slated for implementation in early March 2024, but there may be room for reconsideration based on feedback from the community.

As the situation develops, both patients and healthcare providers remain hopeful that their voices will influence the future of virtual group treatment in British Columbia.