APP
Alternative Payments Program (APP): A Ministry of Health program, administered from within the Medical Services Division that promotes, provides funding for, and offers payment options to agencies employing or contracting physician services.
Full-time
For the purposes of the rural locum programs, full-time is defined as providing service at least nine months of every year in the eligible community.
Health Authority
Governing bodies with responsibility for the planning, coordination and delivery of regional health services, including hospital, long-term care and community services.
HIBC
Health Insurance BC (HIBC): The administrative operations of the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP) and Pharmacare.
Host Physician
A physician who practices full-time in an eligible Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) community.
Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC)
A provincial committee with equal representation from Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health including health authorities. Responsible for policy direction for rural programs including Rural Retention Program (RRP), Rural GP Locum Program (RGPLP), Rural Continuing Medical Education (RCME), etc.
Locum Tenens
A physician with appropriate medical staff privileges who substitutes on a temporary basis for another physician.
MSP
The Medical Services Plan of BC.
RSA
The Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) is administered by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC), in accordance with the negotiated agreement between Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health.
Rural Retention Premium
As of January 1, 2003, physicians providing services in eligible RSA communities will receive a premium on their fee-for-service (FFS) claims; those who live and practice in eligible RSA communities may receive a flat sum retention allowance in addition to the FFS premium.
Service Clarification Code (SCC)
For the Rural Retention Program, effective January 1, 2003: The SCC is a code for the eligible RSA community in which the service has been provided, must be indicated on all MSP billings submitted by the physician, in order to receive the rural retention fee premium.
Supplemental Physician
A physician who does not have a permanent position in the community, who is providing additional support required to maintain services in the community, is not substituting for another physician, and is filling a vacancy in the physician supply plan.