To the editor:
Public health-care advocates are pleased provincial auditors have finally released the results of its investigation of the for-profit Cambie Surgery Centre and Specialist Referral Clinic.
The findings confirm our suspicion the clinics were charging patients illegal fees for health services already covered by Medicare. However, we are shocked by the extent of the billing the audit uncovered.
The audit released last week revealed nearly $500,000 in illegal fees related to just a small sample of the total services provided at the two private clinics. If similar billing practices exist at the 20 other for-profit surgical clinics in the province, then patients and British Columbia’s public insurance plan are potentially being billed illegally for millions of dollars.
Government must audit all private clinics in B.C., and take a leadership role in protecting British Columbians from for-profit clinics that are charging illegal fees for health services covered by Medicare.
Rick Turner, co-chair
BC Health Coalition