Two changes to PITO's funding policies came into effect on January 19th, 2011. The first affects the funding of electronic interfaces. The second affects funding for group clinics with part-time and short-term physicians.
Funding of Electronic Interfaces
In November 2008, PITO established a funding program to reimburse 70% of physician costs for new regional interfaces that did not exist at the time of their original EMR contract. This reimbursement was on an interim basis until a common provincial interface could be established. Initially, this reimbursement addressed the cost of the new lab result and text report interfaces added by Interior Health Authority.
Since that time, several other interfaces have been added by other health authorities and other entities. To adapt to the expanding breadth of interfaces, PITO has made an adjustment to the interface funding policy.
Rather than funding 70% of costs that may vary, PITO will fund a standard fixed amount per physician per interface that will be established based on approximately 70% of average commercial costs identified by market data. PITO will maintain and publish a list of eligible interfaces and associated funding levels. If the physician’s actual invoiced cost for a particular interface is less than the standard PITO funding level for that interface, the amount reimbursed to the physician will be the invoiced cost.
Funding for Group Clinics with Part-Time and Short-Term Physicians
The standard PITO funding model supports regular practices with a fairly stable and full-time physician complement, but does not adapt well to situations where a physician may also practice part-time in another group practice – particularly where the physician roster at that clinic may change more frequently.
This funding model is especially focused on supporting new clinics established by Divisions of Family Practice to address specific local community health priorities, including maternity care and care of unattached patients.
In these situations, the physician can be eligible for standard PITO funding at their regular primary clinic, and may also be eligible for funding at another clinic where they practice part-time, on the basis of a portion of a full-time equivalent (FTE) that they work at their secondary clinic.
For example, ten physicians each working one day every two weeks in a shared maternity clinic would equate to one FTE, and be eligible for PITO funding equivalent to one regular physician. Each remains eligible for standard PITO funding at their primary clinic.
Funding under this policy must be approved on a case‐by‐case basis by PITO.
For further details on each funding program please see the full Funding Policy Change Notice (PDF).