04/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 11:59
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Primary health care is the foundation of Alberta's health care system, and family physicians and rural generalists are fundamental to Albertans getting the care they need when and where they need it. That's why Alberta's government is pulling out all the stops to stabilize, strengthen and improve Alberta's primary health care system.
Following extensive consultation, Alberta's government is pleased to introduce a new physician compensation model framework. When implemented, Alberta's government expects it will make Alberta a national leader in recruiting and retaining primary care physicians. The new compensation model will support family physicians in developing long-term relationships with their patients and ensure health care needs are met through all phases of a patient's life. It will also incentivise family physicians to provide care for more patients - so more Albertans have a primary care provider.
The new, modernized model will provide alternative physician compensation for family physicians and rural generalists who are currently remunerated through fee-for-service or alternative physician compensation models. It will include recognition of their unique work and will provide supports so physicians can provide comprehensive, lifelong patient care. It will also support family physicians and rural generalists to work within a team environment to ensure patients receive the right care when and where they need it.
"We've been working closely with our partners at the Alberta Medical Association for the last six months on a range of initiatives to strengthen primary health care, including the development of a new compensation model for family physicians that encourages comprehensive care. This will help improve patient access to primary care and help more Albertans access the care they need, where and when they need it."
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of HealthOther features of the model will include signing an agreement to provide comprehensive care, providing a certain number of hours of service, providing most services in-person rather than virtually, and committing to join the Central Patient Attachment Registry, a provincial system that captures the confirmed relationship of a primary care provider and their paneled patients.
Family physicians and rural generalists will be eligible to participate in the compensation model depending on the number of patients they have. Alberta's government has heard that doctors with small panel sizes work in a variety of different settings, and as part of the ongoing discussions about a future funding model, Alberta's government will work closely with the AMA on how to incentivize these doctors to join the new model. Discussions are ongoing to determine the minimum panel size.
"This is an extraordinary milestone for family and rural generalist medicine. The model will support sustainable family and rural practices so that the physicians who work in them can deliver the comprehensive care that they are uniquely trained and so proud to provide. I want to thank the AMA Strike Team committee that has laboured with the minister's team to get us here. I look forward to the next few months, focusing on getting the details right, but the heavy lifting has been done."
Dr. Paul Parks, president, Alberta Medical AssociationThe next step in this process is for the management committee to recommend rates that family physicians and rural generalists will be paid under the new model. The committee is the top governance body under the physician agreement between Alberta's government and the AMA. It will then go to the rates committee, which has 30 days to come to an agreement on rate recommendations once the management committee's proposal has been received. Final recommendations are expected to go to the minister of health by the fall.