The Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement between the B.C. Government, Doctors of BC and the Medical Services Commission aims to enhance patient care and availability of physician services in rural and remote areas of B.C., by addressing unique and challenging clinical circumstances encountered by rural physicians.
- RSA Criteria
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Community eligibility for the Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement is determined by evaluating its level of isolation. The following criteria are used to complete this evaluation:
- Number of designated specialties within 70 km
- Number of general practitioners within 35 km
- Community size
- Distance from major medical community
- Degree of latitude
- Specialist Centre
- Location arc
Each of these criteria are applied to the community independently of one another and a set number of points are awarded to the community. These points (based on a 5 year rolling average) are then used to assign the community to one of four categories:
- 20 or more points: “A” community
- Between 15 and 19.99 points: “B” community
- Between 1.5 and 14.99 points: “C” community
- Between 0.1 and 1.49 points: “D” community
- The category assignment for each community determines eligibility for support through Rural Practice Programs.
- RSA Communities, Designations, SCCs and RCME contacts
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The category assignment for each community determines eligibility for support through Rural Practice Programs.
The Service Clarification Code (SCC) for the community in which the service has been provided must be indicated on all billings submitted by the physician in order to receive rural fee premiums.
For Rural Retention Program (RRP) points, fee premium percentages, and flat fee amounts for each community, please visit this page.
For information about Island Health’s Rural Continuing Medical Education (RCME) Community Program, visit here.
Community Community Designation Service Clarification
Code (SCC)RCME Physician
ContactAhousat / Hesquiaht First Nation A A4 Alert Bay / Namgis First Nation A A1 Dr. Jessica Macleod Bamfield A B8 Campbell River / Campbell River Indian Band (Wei Wai Kum) / Dzawada'enuxw First Nation / Homalco First Nation C CR Dr. Duncan Douglas Chemainus / Halalt First Nation / Lyackson First Nation C CM Dr. Tannis Morris Cobble Hill C CE Dr. Paul Harris Cortes Island / Klahoose First Nation A C4 Dr. Jenna Creaser Courtenay / Comox / Cumberland / K'ómoks First Nation C CC Dr. Kevin Swanson Denman Island C D2 Dr. Ron Wilson Duncan / N. Cowichan / Cowichan Band C D4 Dr. Glenn Robinson Gabriola Island C G7 Dr. Erin Cusack Galiano Island B G5 Dr. Erin Carlson Gilford Island / Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis A GK Gold River / Mowachaht-Muchalaht First A G2 Dr. Matthew Ness Holberg A H2 Hornby Island A H5 Dr. Laura Chalfin Hot Springs Cove A H7 Kingcome (Dzawada'enuxw First Nation) A K6 Kyuquot A K7 Ladysmith C L4 Dr. Vivan Kilvert Lake Cowichan / Lake Cowichan First Nation C L5 Lasqueti Island A L8 Mayne Island B M7 Dr. Juliana Losier Mill Bay C MB Nitinat / Ditidaht First Nation C N4 Parksville / Qualicum / Qualicum First Nation C PQ Dr. David Owen Pender Island B P8 Dr. Bruce Rebner Penelakut Island C PI Port Alberni C PA Dr. Greg de Pape Port Alice A P2 Dr. Jessica MacLeod Port Hardy / Gwa'sala-Nakwazda'xw / Kwakiutl First Nation (Kwakwaka'wakw) / Tlatlasikwala First Nation A P3 Dr. Jessica MacLeod Port McNeill A P4 Dr. Jessica MacLeod Port Renfrew / Pacheedaht First Nation A PN Quadra Island / Cape Mudge Indian Band C Q1 Dr. Steve Hughes Quatsino A Q4 Saltspring Island C SS Dr. Peter Verheul Saturna Island B S7 Sayward A S1 Shawnigan Lake C SL Dr. Meghan Chabot Sointula A S6 Tahsis A T2 Tofino /Tla-O-Qui-Aht First Nations A T4 Dr. Luke Williston Ucluelet / Toquaht Nation / Ucluetlet First Nation (Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ) A U1 Dr. Luke Williston Woss A W1 Zeballos / Ehattesaht First Nation / Nuchatlaht Indian Band A Z1
This webpage is under construction as part of a new initiative for Rural Physician Support. We welcome your feedback and thank you for visiting this page. Please contact Rural Programs’ Liaison, Nicole Baker with questions and suggestions.