As of Nov. 1, the changes are expected to reduce access to specialty support and increase waits between appointments with the clinic, based on Bowen Island<\/p>\n
The summer before she got COVID-19, Karen Price spent 10 days backpacking on Mount Edziza in northern B.C.<\/p>\n
The ecologist and forest policy worker from Salt Spring Island spent most of her time outdoors before contracting the disease in September of 2022, leaving her bed-bound for months.<\/p>\n
Price tested positive for 16 days and spent the next six months in bed, struggling to breathe.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that point, GPs didn\u2019t really know about long COVID,\u201d she said, adding that she ended up doing much of the research about the illness and its \u00adtreatment options on her own.<\/p>\n
Eventually, she was referred to the B.C. Centre for Long COVID, ME\/CFS & Fibromyalgia, based on Bowen Island.<\/p>\n
It offers virtual care for patients across the province who struggle with neuroimmune and metabolic conditions, which have similar symptoms and management strategies.<\/p>\n
Like long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis (also called chronic fatigue syndrome) and fibromyalgia can cause severe exhaustion, brain fog, sleep issues and chronic pain.<\/p>\n
A recent B.C. Centre for Disease Control study found that more than 320,000 people in B.C. have long COVID.<\/p>\n
Price watched webinars, learned how to take care of herself, met others with similar stories and attended group sessions, joining video calls from her bed on Salt Spring Island.<\/p>\n
She appreciated access to \u00adsupport from specialists in \u00adphysiotherapy, \u00adoccupational therapy, nutrition and \u00adnaturopathy that was offered during virtual sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cEssentially, it gave me hope,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But as of Nov. 1, changes in Medical Services Plan funding are expected to reduce access to that specialty support and increase waits between doctor appointments with the clinic, which has about 8,500 patients.<\/p>\n
Under the changes, the number of patients funded per virtual group will be capped at 30 participants \u2014 the clinic currently typically has about 50 per group, although there is no limit \u2014 and per-patient reimbursement for service providers will be reduced by 25 per cent.<\/p>\n
Dr. Jane McKay, an internal medicine specialist who created the clinic with a colleague in early 2023, says allied \u00adproviders like occupational therapists will no longer be part of virtual groups because of the funding changes.<\/p>\n
McKay said she and the clinic\u2019s four other doctors will still be able to see patients and offer group medical visits, albeit with fewer patients, but weekly special lectures and monthly webinars will end.<\/p>\n
Findings of a recent study commissioned by the clinic \u00adsuggested that it saves the \u00adprovince money on health care, since clinic patients are far more likely to spend time in \u00adhospitals or at emergency departments if untreated.<\/p>\n
The study, completed by consulting firm MNP, surveyed more than 1,200 patients who visited the clinic between 2020 and 2025.<\/p>\n
Kayli Jamieson, a research fellow at Simon Fraser \u00adUniversity, said she was \u00adattending a national long COVID symposium at the University of British Columbia this month when she found out about the funding changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis goes against all the \u00adrecommendations patients have shared with us,\u201d she said, \u00adnoting that a study published last year that she worked on at SFU found that it\u2019s more \u00adeffective and \u00adefficient to provide care in virtual groups than through \u00adtraditional models.<\/p>\n
Jamieson is part of \u00adLifeLineBC, a campaign to advocate for the clinic that was launched last year when patients first learned that MSP changes were coming.<\/p>\n
The group, which is \u00adindependent of the clinic, includes researchers like \u00adJamieson who say telehealth group medical visits are a \u00adlifeline for patients who are \u00adbed-bound or live in remote areas.<\/p>\n
Jenna Graczyk has only been a patient at the clinic for a few months, but said it\u2019s already been the \u201cmost comprehensive care I\u2019ve ever received.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ladysmith woman \u00adstruggles with all three of the\u00ad \u00adillnesses the clinic treats.<\/p>\n
The 44-year-old former health-care worker has been on long-term disability for years and said the group care made her feel like she was less alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes you realize how lonely you were before,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI learned more in a \u00adone-hour session than any [previous] appointment combined.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nicole Ashlee is one of many patients who have been able to go back to work thanks to the clinic.<\/p>\n
The Victoria woman became sick with fibromyalgia when she was 17, which left her tired and struggling with brain fog while reading pages from a high school textbook. \u201cI would read it over and over again and none of it would make sense to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old was finally diagnosed with ME\/CFS two years ago thanks to the clinic and said it was the first time she \u201cfelt heard, understood and really supported.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ashlee recovered enough to attend Camosun \u00adCollege \u00adpart-time to become a \u00adbookkeeper, and now owns \u00adGranddaughter for Hire, a \u00adcompanionship and support \u00adbusiness for seniors in Victoria.<\/p>\n
She described her illness as like having a cellphone with a battery issue. \u201cThe phone is old, and it never gets a full charge,\u201d she said. \u201cAt any second, it could go to zero.\u201d<\/p>\n