---
title: "BC long COVID clinic cuts services after province caps patient fees"
description: "The BC Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia has ended several of its group programs after the Medical Services Commission reduced per-patient fees and capped virtual groups at 30 patients."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-long-covid-clinic-fee-cut-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-05T14:25:12.257Z"
---

A virtual clinic serving about 8,500 BC patients with Long COVID, ME/CFS and fibromyalgia has cut several of its programs after the Medical Services Commission reduced per-patient fees and capped virtual group sizes.

The BC Centre for Long COVID, ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia (BC-CLMF) ended groups run by physiotherapists, counsellors and other care providers after the Medical Services Commission announced September 24 that virtual groups would be capped at 30 patients as of November 1, 2026, the Nanaimo News Bulletin reported on November 5.

The per-patient reimbursement fee was also cut. Once a group reaches 20 patients, the fee drops from $14.71 per patient to $11.42, the Nanaimo News Bulletin reported.

## What changed on November 1

Dr. Jane McKay, one of the clinic's physicians, told the Nanaimo News Bulletin that the clinic had prepared for the patient cap. She said the Ministry of Health never told the clinic about the fee reduction before the announcement was made.

"We are now down to a very barebones model that is a shadow of what it used to be," McKay said, as quoted by the Nanaimo News Bulletin.

The cut ended groups covering topics such as nutrition, occupational therapy, acupuncture and how to live with a chronic disease.

## The Ministry of Health's account

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health told the Nelson Star that the changes had been in development for more than a year, and that the clinic had been consulted. The Ministry said that in May 2026, BC-CLMF confirmed in writing it believed its model could work financially with a cap of 30 patients per group. The Ministry said the clinic did not pursue further discussions about possible supports after that point.

The Ministry did not reply to further questions about the fee reduction, the Nanaimo News Bulletin reported.

## Who uses the clinic

BC-CLMF offers virtual group sessions where patients meet with a physician, ask questions about their conditions and receive prescriptions after one-on-one assessments.

Kayli Jamieson, a research fellow at Simon Fraser University and team lead with LifeLineBC, told the Nanaimo News Bulletin there are no in-person Long COVID clinics in BC, and many primary care providers do not understand the illness. The announcement came two days after the provincial election was called, Jamieson said, making it harder to hold anyone accountable.

## What comes next

BC-CLMF will keep its core physician services running. Dr. McKay told the Nanaimo News Bulletin she hopes the incoming health minister will reconsider the fee reduction.

Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson's cabinet will be announced November 20, 2026, the same day the new government takes power. The name of the minister responsible for health care will be known on that date.

Residents with Long COVID, ME/CFS or fibromyalgia who want to follow the government's health care decisions can track the incoming government's promises at [/bc/provincial-2026/tracker](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.