New compensation model for nurse practitioners as more than 700k Albertans without family doc
Posted Apr 25, 2024 1:07 pm.
Last Updated Apr 25, 2024 1:11 pm.
Alberta hopes incentivizing nurse practitioners in the province with a new pay model will help support the more than 700,000 residents without a family doctor.
“We know that too many Albertans do not have access to a primary care practitioner and often when they are able to find a healthcare provider, they still have to wait weeks to get an appointment,” said Premier Danielle Smith. That’s just unacceptable.”
The province says it will pay nurse practitioners 80 per cent of what family doctors are paid if they want to practice comprehensive care.
“Compensation will be based on the number of patients they have, or their panel size. The minimum panel size is 900 patients and nurse practitioners will have two years to reach that number,” explained Health Minister Adriana LaGrange.
She acknowledges the extensive role that nurse practitioners play in the province, but says the 20 per cent difference in compensation is based on a difference in scope, with doctors performing surgeries and having different demands.
To be eligible for compensation through the $15 million program, nurse practitioners must meet several requirements, including committing to providing medically necessary primary care services, having a panel size of at least 900 patients, providing after-hours access on weekends, evenings or holidays, and accepting walk-in appointments as they build their panel up to 900.
The minimum panel size of 900 is consistent with the model B.C. uses.
The province says there will be a one-time incentive payment of $75 for each new patient, until the $2 million allocated for the panel growth incentive is reached in the current fiscal year.
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This new program is set up to incentivize nurse practitioners to take on more patients, the province says this, in combination with other incentives, including the Panel Management Support Program, will help the hundreds of thousands of Albertans who don’t currently have a family doctor.
Jennifer Mador, the president of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta, says she is optimistic for the future.
“This new compensation model is new for nurse practitioners, there will be some growing pains,” she said. “But I’m excited for the potential that this new model provides.”
Clinics, communities, and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) can partner with nurse practitioners who are just starting to practice by applying for one-time membership funding through the province. Each mentor is eligible to claim $10,000 during a practitioner’s first 18 months to ensure they can have a successful transition to practicising independently.
Nurse practitioners interested in practicing through this program can send expression of interest through Alberta Health, which will be evaluated. Those who meet the requirements will be sent an application.
A $2 million grant over the next three years will allow the Nurse Practioner Association of Alberta to help nurse practitioners through the application process, recruit nurse practitioners to participate in the program, and support them as they plan to become independent in an existing practice or set up their own clincs.
“We have a robust assessment of this program that we will be implementing at 18 months and then again at a further time point and a few times within the program to really look at that and make sure we’re getting it right,” LaGrange said.
A minimum of three to five spots will be set aside in the program for those working on First Nations reserves or Metis Settlements.
