Can I provide virtual clinics and bill AHS while out of province?

Virtual Clinics while temporarily out of province:

Q: Can I provide virtual clinics and bill AHS while I am travelling out of province?

A: Yes, please read the below statements. Please also note that if you are travelling out of country, you must ensure that you have adequate insurance coverage.

Below is the updated statement about Alberta physician out of province:

If a physician is licensed to practice in Alberta, the virtual codes may be billed to Alberta Health for an Alberta resident when the physician is out of province or country on a temporary basis at the time of the service.  If the physician is living in a different province, the virtual codes would not be billable.  Please see the following from the Alberta Medical Association:

“The Insured Services unit has advised that Alberta based physicians may submit virtual Health Service Codes for insured medical services provided to eligible Alberta patients while the physician is outside the province as long as the physician is licensed with the CPSA and has a Practitioner Identifier assigned by Alberta Health.  This would not apply if a physician moves to another province and is transferred to another register.  They must be an Alberta based physician licensed with the CPSA.

If a physician makes a permanent move to another province, they should not be billing the AHCIP directly for virtual services provided to Alberta patients.  The circumstances where an Alberta physician may bill the virtual codes to Alberta patients would only be for temporary absences outside the province (regular travel, Covid-19 travel restrictions affecting return to Alberta, etc.)

A physician may be dual licensed in both provinces, however, the physician needs to provide the services in Alberta or be an Alberta based physician in order to bill the AHCIP directly for virtual services.

The above would also apply with the physician being located outside of the country (on a temporary basis) - they would be eligible to bill the AHCIP as long as they hold a valid and active Alberta practice permit and Prac ID.” -AMA

Virtual Clinics while temporarily out of country:

Physicians must ensure they have adequate medical liability protection when out of country. 

Resources for review:

• CPSA: "Physicians residing outside Canada: are you covered by CMPA?"  https://cpsa.ca/news/physicians-residing-outside-canada-are-you-covered-by-cmpa/
• CMPA "Providing virtual care (including telehealth): https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/en/membership/protection-for-members/principles-of-assistance/providing-virtual-care-including-telehealth