Province says 'heavy lifting' done on new family doctor funding model, but negotiations continue
CTV
Progress has been made on a new compensation model for family doctors, with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) hopeful for a fall rollout.
Progress has been made on a new compensation model for family doctors, with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) hopeful for a fall rollout.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the province and the AMA have agreed on a framework for the new model that will help Alberta keep and attract family doctors.
The new blended model will allow some doctors to move away from the current fee-for-service model.
The current model, said the AMA, has left many family practices struggling financially under rising demand and inflationary pressures on overhead and administrative costs.
"They have to run these small businesses … They have to pay all the overhead for the staff, for their lease, everything," AMA president Dr. Paul Parks said. "Inflation has really, really taken off on those practices, while that funding hasn't kept up with it."
The new framework will include compensation based on panel size and complexity, as well as funds for other administrative costs and time spent indirectly on patient care.
"It has some payment for the kind of care that you do when the patient's not in front of you," Parks said. "My colleagues tell me how they look at labs at 10 o'clock at night if there's a critical lab for their family practice patients."
