MSA Non-Resident Patient Billing Pilot

For fee-for-service PHC physicians at SPH and MSJ

Use the MSA system to bill patients and collect payments on your behalf (optional participation)
In scope: Billing for non-resident, out-of-country patients still in hospital or discharged: mainly tourists and cruise ship employees – with or without private travel insurance
Excludes: Billing for uninsured local or BC residents, Canadian residents, and ED patients who were not admitted. MSA discussions continue separately for uninsured local / BC residents

Physicians: how to participate

Open to fee-for-service PHC physicians who are members of the PHC Medical Staff Association (MSA): i.e. you pay dues to the PHC MSA vs another health authority. (Typically active or provisional status.)
Please contact us for any questions: pass@phc.ca

STEP 1: PHYSICIAN SUBMITS REQUEST

Submit request for payment of fees using the secure, online UBC REDCap form here

Submit here

Physicians will be prompted to enter:

Patient contact information from Cerner, unit location, physician billing code(s)
Do NOT include patient medical status/information
Review privacy & patient consent information below

Physicians are encouraged to submit early while patients are admitted for greater chance of successful collection.

STEP 2: MSA COLLECTS PAYMENT

MSA Services Coordinator contacts the non-resident patient for payment

Visits admitted non-resident patients at bedside within 24-72 hours: issues invoice, seeks to collects payment
If patients are unable to pay or already discharged, request will be issued by e-mail
Successful payments will be issued to physicians 1 x month; or non-payment status with patient followup for six months

Fees collected from patients: 90% will be issued to the provider and 10% to collection agent, minus administrative fees from the point of sales provider (Moneris).

The Coordinator will collect up front from patients with private insurance. Patients can then submit to their insurer. The Coordinator will also contact cruise ship employers directly.

The PHSA billing clerks will continue collecting for other hospital fees alongside this process.

PROCESS FLOW

Enlarge process map

MSA Pilot Goals

A six-month Medical Staff Association (MSA) funded-pilot endorsed by PHC Medical Staff members in March 2026 (80% vote). Using a quality improvement lens, it aims to:

Improve efficiency, consistency, and successful collection of fees for physician services
Reduce confusion and interactions between patients and physicians
Improve patient communication and education about their responsibility for payment of hospital and physician services

See more: Project Overview: MSA Non Resident Patient Billing Pilot 2026

Privacy, Security & Consent

MSA Process

The MSA has consulted and collaborated with PHC Leadership, Medical Affairs, Legal, Privacy, Communications, Operations, and PHSA on this initiative.

A privacy impact assessment (PIA)* sets out PHC’s role as well as privacy recommendations implemented by the MSA, and for physicians, which are subject to BC’s Personal Information and Protection Act (PIPA).

UBC REDCap System

• A secure intake and workflow tool for physician billing submissions.

• Minimal information is temporarily stored for invoice generation and pilot tracking.

About UBC REDCap

Patient Consent

• Non-resident patients are flagged in Cerner.

• Upon admission, non-resident patients are asked to sign a consent to share personal contact information for the purposes of billing for hospital and physician services.

• The consents are not stored in Cerner. They are retained by PHSA and accessible to the MSA Physician Services Coordinator.

Privacy – MSA & Physicians

• The MSA is an independent entity subject to PIPA. It acts as a service provider on behalf of participating physicians.

• Participating physicians are also subject to PIPA and remain responsible for billing activities, data stewardship and associated personal information, with the MSA acting under their authority.

*Please contact us at pass@phc.ca for a copy of the PIA.

Physician submission attestation

Upon submission, physicians will be asked to confirm that:

I am submitting this information for the purpose of billing uninsured physician services provided to the patient.

To the best of my knowledge, the patient has been informed of billing expectations and any required PHC consent process has been completed.

The information submitted is limited to what is necessary for billing purposes and is accurate based on available records.

I understand that personal information submitted will be used by the Medical Staff Association (MSA) on my behalf to issue invoices and collect payment.

I acknowledge that the MSA will validate patient contact information and consent prior to issuing an invoice.

Questions and pilot feedback:
The MSA invites physician questions or feedback to assist you in this process and to support continuous improvements in this model. Send to: pass@phc.ca

PHC Med Staff