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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Billing Code Changes

Government announces improvements to mental health care access

Mar 25, 2022 | 5:41 PM

More Albertans are expected to receive the mental health care they need as a result of billing code changes allowing psychiatrists to provide additional virtual care.

Alberta’s government says it is making changes to allow psychiatrists to bill for virtual indirect care as part of a psychiatric consultation. Currently, only time spent with a patient is counted toward virtual care billing code time requirements. Time taken with same-day patient management activities, such as reviewing patient history, ordering tests and completing the medical record, will now be eligible for payment, say government officials.

“The pandemic has had a significant impact on Albertans’ mental health,” said Jason Copping, Minister of Health, on Friday. “Psychiatrists have a very important role in providing assistance to the mental health needs of Albertans. By continuing to expand virtual care, we are improving Albertans’ access to supports and providing them with more treatment options.”

Another change will allow psychiatrists to bill for time when a child’s treatment is discussed with their guardian. Currently, psychiatrists can only bill when talking with a patient directly.

“The AMA and the government are negotiating a new interest-based agreement,” explained Dr. Michelle Warren, president, Alberta Medical Association

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. “In establishing our working relationship, we have agreed to address some priorities requiring action now to support physician practices and encourage uptake of virtual care. Today, through continued collaboration in the interests of patients, we fill another gap in mental health care delivery.”

“Improving access to a range of addiction and mental health treatment services is key to a recovery-oriented system of care. Allowing psychiatrists to provide additional care means that more Albertans will have the opportunity to pursue recovery,” shared Mike Ellis, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.

These changes will be effective retroactively. Eligible services performed on or after Feb. 1, 2022, will be assessed on the basis of enhanced billing codes for virtual psychiatric care.

Officials say the changes build on virtual care expansions the government and the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) announced in December 2021 to encourage more physicians to provide care virtually and make virtual health care more readily available to Albertans.

Psychiatrists are currently compensated by the government for providing virtual patient visits, consultations and group therapy.

Quick facts

• About 600 psychiatrists bill the Alberta government annually for providing services.
• Alberta’s government will pay between $700,000 and $1.5 million annually to enhance billing codes for virtual psychiatric care.
• Since the introduction of virtual care in 2020, about 42 per cent of physician visits, consultations and mental health services have been provided virtually.
• Virtual care is a relatively new model of care and continues to evolve. Similar to other Canadian provinces, Alberta’s government continues to monitor its effectiveness on patient care.

“Emergency services having stable funding is essential, but the UCP’s handling of healthcare has been anything but stable,” said David Shepherd, NDP critic for Health.

“For three years, the UCP have kicked the can down the road, creating ongoing uncertainty for air ambulance providers and the Albertans who depend on them. I hope the funding announced today starts to fill the gaps that the UCP have created in air emergency services.

“The UCP have inflicted chaos in the healthcare system through their war on doctors, nurses, and now with their proposed wage cuts on other frontline health workers. Communities in the southern, central, and northern parts of the province all have fewer doctors this year than they did last and are struggling to keep emergency rooms open,” exclaimed Shepherd. “The UCP can’t be trusted with Albertans’ healthcare.”