B.C's health minister announced earlier this year that doctors charging patients for publicly insured services will face fines. The provincial government says it plans to invoke fines of up to $10,000 for a first offense and $20,000 for the second for private clinics that conduct surgical procedures after Oct. 1. As well, practitioners at private clinics could have their public billing privileges revoked. Clinics that partner with health authorities to offer services covered by the public plan would be unaffected, as would private facilities that perform cosmetic surgeries. Private clinics in B.C. predict longer wait times for procedures, but the provincial government states it'll open new ORs to take up the slack.
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