Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange and AMA President Dr. Paul Parks. Photo courtesy Alberta government.

By Erika Rolling

Provincial Politics

Health Minister LaGrange reveals plan with AMA for new compensation model for rural and family doctors

Apr 17, 2024 | 3:26 PM

The provincial government has unveiled plans with the Alberta Medical Association on a new compensation model for rural generalist practicians and family physicians.

Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange says the province has heard the worries from Albertans of not being able to find a family doctor, or trouble getting in to see one.

LaGrange notes the Alberta government funded the AMA with $92 million at the beginning of April, benefitting approximately 3,000 doctors around the province, with transition funding anywhere between $24,000-$40,000.

“Recent data from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta indicates that we have added 500 physicians over the past year, but we also know there is more to do.”

She says her ministry and the AMA have been collaborating over the past six months to build a compensation model for family physicians and rural generalist practicians to “encourage lifetime comprehensive primary health care.”

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LaGrange says, while the details are still being worked out, these specified doctors will be eligible to participate in the compensation model depending on the number of patients they have

“The new model will support family medicine and rural generalist physicians to work within a team environment so the right provider delivers the right care to patients when and where they need it.”

“Other features of the model will include signing an agreement to provide comprehensive care. Providing a certain number of hours of service, as well as providing most services in person rather than virtually, and committing to join the Central Patient Attachment Registry.”

The province says the next step in the process is for the management committee to recommend rates the physicians and generalists will be paid under the new model. The decided upon rates will then go to a rates committee, which has 30 days to make an agreed decision on the recommendations given, once the management committee proposal is received.

“I am committed to making this happen as quickly as possible, and I know Doctor Parks is as well. Our goal is to ensure every Albertan has access to a primary health care provider when and where they need it. I believe this compensation model will provide the necessary supports, so family medicine and rural generalist physicians can provide Albertans with the lifelong care they need and that they deserve.”

AMA President, Dr. Paul Parks commented on the “momentous” joint announcement made Wednesday;

“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. Luanne Metz, Alberta NDP Health Critic, and David Shepherd, Alberta NDP MLA for Edmonton-City Centre, issued the following statements in response to the UCP’s announcement on family physician compensation:

Metz

“For years, the UCP have waged wars on family doctors that have undermined our overall healthcare system, and there were no amends made today.

“Alberta is in this situation because the UCP made changes to physicians compensation that made it nearly impossible for family doctors to keep practicing in the province. In January, 61 per cent of family physicians indicated they might have to close their practice within the year, and now family physicians likely won’t see any additional support from this government until fall at the earliest.

“Once again, valued frontline healthcare workers are being pushed to the brink because this government failed to act.”

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Shepherd

“Danielle Smith and her Minister aren’t offering any certainty or a single bit of relief for doctors today. Instead, they are telling family doctors to continue to sit back and wait. This doesn’t help doctors keep their clinics open, and doesn’t help Albertans find the care they need.

“At every step the UCP have dragged their feet and delayed action all while over 800,000 Albertans don’t have access to a family doctor.

“Minister LaGrange has ignored proposals on her desk that were submitted over a year ago. Other provinces took action to address their needs in health care staffing, and now Alberta is behind. This is unacceptable. Albertans need care when and where they need it, and the UCP continues to fail on this front.”

Parks said in a letter the target implication date of this new compensation model is Fall 2024.

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