You do not need a re-referral for ongoing care at the Helmcken Pain Clinic unless:
- You have a new area of pain that you want to discuss
- Your condition has changed significantly since your last appointment
- You have been involved in a new accident or have a new injury related to your pain
- You were discharged from our care
- A significant amount of time has passed since your last appointment such that a full review is necessary to properly assess your condition.
- You want to see a new doctor who you have not seen before.
If you are unsure whether you need a re-referral please call our office. We will ask you a few basic questions and then advise you whether a new referral is needed.
The reason we require a new referral is so that we can book an appropriate amount of time to adequately assess your pain.
If we determine that you require a re-referral, but your physician does not agree or you cannot get a referral for other reasons, and you want to be seen regardless, then the BC MSP allows ‘balance billing’. The Helmcken Pain Clinic will submit an invoice to MSP for a GP visit code and you then pay the balance of the consultation fee privately; this does not expedite your visit and is not private pay for faster service. The BC MSP permits balance billing in this situation only.
Please refer to the Doctors of BC webpage on re-referrals for further information.