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Audits deter up to $20 million a year in fraudulent or mistaken billing, according to a 2003 comptroller general report. The auditor general is expected to take another look at the audit program in the next year or so, according to health ministry spokeswoman Sarah Plank.

She said fraudulent or inappropriate billing can also be a patient safety issue since doctors billing for services not provided could be creating false patient records of phoney medical conditions or services never provided. That could compromise future care by other doctors.

MSP paid $4 billion to about 17,500 doctors and other health professionals last year who provided 93 million services. There are about 10,650 doctors who billed at least $25,000 on a fee-for-service basis. Doctors may also be paid through salaries, contracts or other arrangements.

Doctors and other health care providers who over-bill may be subject to disciplinary proceedings by their regulatory bodies. In a recent case, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. subjected Dr. Roy Alan Brown to a disciplinary hearing and reprimand for over-billing.

In addition to paying a fine of $25,000 and costs of $15,000 to the college, Brown is also obligated to repay the amount he over-billed, but that figure has not been disclosed. Brown was also given a three-month suspension, during which time he could not bill for services. Brown is a hospitalist at St. Paul’s Hospital. In 2014/15, he billed MSP $169,000 for his services. The year before, he billed about $263,000.