Yes. To receive a medical consultation covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP), a formal referral is legally required. Your family physician, a walk-in clinic doctor, or another medical specialist must fax a referral letter directly to our office before an appointment can be scheduled.

Once our office receives the referral from your doctor, it is reviewed and triaged by our surgical team based on medical urgency. Wait times vary depending on the nature of the condition (e.g., acute hand trauma vs. elective reconstructive surgery). Our medical office assistant will contact you directly to schedule an appointment once the referral has been processed.

No. If you have a valid BC CareCard/Services Card and a formal referral from a licensed physician, your consultation regarding MSP-eligible reconstructive, breast, or hand and wrist conditions is 100% covered by provincial insurance.

Please bring a current list of any medications you are taking. If you have copies of recent X-rays, MRIs, or ultrasound reports related to your condition, please bring them along, though your referring doctor will typically fax these to us in advance.

Any procedure deemed medically necessary to restore function or repair tissue—such as carpal tunnel release, trigger finger surgery, skin cancer excision, or breast reconstruction—is fully covered by MSP.

However, provincial insurance typically does not cover the removal of benign conditions. This includes small lipomas, simple skin cysts, and benign moles, unless they meet criteria for significant pathophysiologic dysfunction. Your surgeon will explicitly clarify your coverage parameters and outline any potential out-of-pocket costs during your initial consultation.