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Chronic illness clinic in B.C. 'a shadow of what it used to be' after fee changes
The clinic says the fee cut will force it to end multidisciplinary groups that served about 8,500 patients.
- The BC-CLMF is cutting services after the Medical Services Commission announced Sept. 24 that virtual groups would be capped at 30 patients effective Nov. 1, with per-patient reimbursement fees also reduced.
- While the clinic prepared for the 30-patient cap over a year, Dr. Jane McKay stated the Ministry never informed them of reduced reimbursement fees scaling down after 20 patients are admitted from $14.71 to $11.42.
- Patients like Caroline Gaudet of Maple Ridge rely on these groups for medical support unavailable elsewhere; Castlegar-based psychologist Dr. Angela Grace was forced to end her youth support group on Oct. 29.
- Kayli Jamieson, a team lead with LifeLineBC advocacy group formed in 2025, criticized the announcement timing during the provincial election cycle, calling it "an inappropriate announcement" given uncertainty over new government policies.
- Arguing the cuts reflect a double standard, McKay noted the clinic treats approximately 8,500 patients and compared Long COVID morbidity to heart disease, which receives consistent specialized care access.
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Chronic illness clinic in B.C. 'a shadow of what it used to be' after fee changes - Northern Sentinel
Tia Leschke has come to rely on a group of strangers she is unlikely to ever meet in person for health care. Leschke of Winlaw, B.C., suffers from fibromyalgia, a chronic illness that causes pain throughout the body as well as fatigue. Leschke’s family doctor didn’t know how to treat her condition, and referred her to an online clinic for support. The BC Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis) and Fibromyalgia (BC-CLMF) treats …
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