A provincial government audit that found illegal billing practices at two B.C. private clinics is reason to examine the books at every private clinic in the province, says a public health advocacy group. Here is a letter sent to media by the B.C. Health Coalition co-chair Rick Turner:

“Public health care advocates are pleased that provincial auditors have finally released the results of its investigation of the for-profit Cambie Surgery Centre and Specialist Referral Clinic.

“The findings confirm our suspicion that the clinics were charging patients illegal fees for health services already covered by Medicare. However, we are shocked by the extent of the billing that the audit uncovered.

“The audit released [Wednesday] revealed nearly $500,000 in illegal fees related to just a small sample of the total services provided at the two private clinics. If similar billing practices exist at the 20 other for-profit surgical clinics in the province, then patients and BC’s public insurance plan are potentially being billed illegally for millions of dollars.

“Government must audit all private clinics in B.C., and take a leadership role in protecting British Columbians from for-profit clinics that are charging illegal fees for health services covered by Medicare.”

Cambie Surgery Centre and other clinics, meanwhile, are pursuing a lawsuit arguing the billing restrictions are themselves illegal and Canadians should have more access to private care.

Tthe B.C. Health Coalition helped promote a National Day of Action for a 2014 Health Accord on Wednesday, with rallies around the B.C. in advance of premiers meeting next week to discuss health care.

At the end of last year the Harper government announced it would cut the health transfers to the provinces by up to 50 per cent beginning in 2016.

David Beers is editor of The Tyee.