The Joint Collaborative Committees (JCC), a partnership between Doctors of BC and the BC government has announced retroactive increases to JCC rates that stem from the 2025 Physician Main Agreement (PMA).

The PMA included annual increases to all provincial sessional rates. As of April 1, 2025, these rates increased by six per cent; as of April 1, 2026, they increased another three per cent.

At its June meeting, the JCC co-chairs approved parallel increases to the JCC sessional rates to align with the PMA. As a result, any physicians who were paid JCC sessional rates since April 1, 2025, will be paid the difference retroactively as follows:

The JCC co-chairs have agreed to use one-time funds to supplement external agencies that hold JCC funds and execute JCC programs, including Facility Engagement-funded activities such as those managed by VPSA.

Payments to eligible physicians registered in the Facility Engagement Management System (FEMS) will be processed automatically within FEMS. The first wave of payments will be for physicians owed retroactive sessional fees for work undertaken during the 2025/2026 fiscal year; these payments will go out in the next week; expect them to take about five business days to complete. Sessional fees claimed between April 1 and August 31, 2026 will be proceeded on September 15 and take about five business days for completion.

“These retroactive sessional fees will be paid automatically to physicians who are eligible,” said VPSA President Dr. Adam Meneghetti. “This includes physicians who are part of our committees and task groups and physicians who have worked on VPSA-funded projects and initiatives. We are grateful to all members who contribute to making our association stronger and are pleased that these payments are being made.”

FEMS will be updated on September 1, 2026, and all sessional claims going forward will be paid at the new rate of $192.35.

• A new engagement activity called “JCC Sessional Rate Adjustment” will be created for the purposes of paying any adjustments to claims made from April 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026. Physicians will be added to the activity, a claim created and processed.
• Physicians who have been compensated through FEMS will receive a “top-up.” This amount is the difference between the sessional rate paid in FEMS and the new rate approved by the JCC.

During the payment process, FEMS will be shut down for approximately one hour. This is expected to take place by September 15, 2026.