The following list outlines the proposed definitions to be
enshrined in British Columbia’s Medicare Protection Act:
- Public Administration: the plan is
publicly funded and operated on an accountable basis.
·
Comprehensiveness:
the plan includes as benefits:
- All
medically required services provided by enrolled medical practitioners;
- All
required services provided by enrolled health-care practitioners and
prescribed as benefits under section 51;
- Benefits
that are performed in approved diagnostic facilities; and
- Any
benefits that are performed by practitioners in a health facility that
has entered into an agreement with one or more regional health boards
designated under the Health Authorities Act or with the Provincial Health
Services Authority, in accordance with the agreement.
- Universality: the plan applies to
100 per cent of beneficiaries on uniform terms and conditions.
- Portability:
the plan applies to the following individuals:
- Beneficiaries who are temporarily absent from British
Columbia or moving to another province;
- Eligible individuals who are moving to British
Columbia;
- Eligible individuals visiting British Columbia from
another province that has entered into a reciprocal agreement with
British Columbia for medical and health-care services, in accordance with
that agreement.
- Accessibility: the plan provides
benefits on uniform terms and conditions on a basis that does not impede
or preclude reasonable access by beneficiaries.
- Sustainability: the plan is
administered in a manner that is sustainable over the long term, providing
for the health needs of the residents of British Columbia and assuring
that annual health expenditures are within taxpayers’ ability to pay
without compromising the ability of the government to meet the health
needs and other needs of current and future generations.
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