Alberta introduces new pay model for family doctors

After months of deliberation, the Alberta’s UCP government announced a new pay model for family doctors on Thursday.

Premier Danielle Smith was joined by Health Minister Adriana LaGrange for the afternoon announcement that the province claims will attract more doctors to Alberta and keep existing physicians from leaving.

Compensation will focus on three billing components of patient interactions, panel size and time of direct or indirect care. It is for family doctors with a panel size of 500 or more patients.

The model was co-developed by the Alberta Medical Association (AMA).

“We have worked with the AMA to address the challenges that primary care physicians are facing,” reads a statement from LaGrange. “This model will provide the supports physicians need and improve patient access to the care they need.”

The model includes a $42 million investment to recruit more health providers and expand essential services, a rural and remote bursary program for family medicine resident doctors, and additional funding of $257 million to help “stabilize primary care delivery and improve access to family physicians.”

The province says the new structure incentivizes high patient numbers, providing after-hour care and enhancing team-based care.

Enrolment for the new pay model will start in January and be fully implemented by the spring of 2025, according to the province. The implementation will be contingent on at least 500 doctors being enrolled.

Earlier this year, a survey by the AMA found over 90 per cent of family doctors in the province were concerned that the viability of their practices were in jeopardy because of finances.

The same survey suggested more than 60 per cent of family physicians were thinking of leaving Alberta.

In April, LaGrange announced a new compensation model framework was coming, but doctors are still waiting for the final print.

The AMA has said that the delay in getting a deal done has had a negative impact on the healthcare system and access to physicians in the province.

“Family medicine is the foundation of our health care system,” says AMA President Shelley Duggan in response to the new model. “This model recognizes the extensive training, experience and leadership of primary care physicians, and we hope it will help Alberta to attract and retain more family medicine specialists who provide comprehensive care.”

Opposition NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman said the new compensation model is a good first step and “way overdue.”

“Although it is better late than never, this agreement should have been done back in May when the premier promised it would be signed within a couple of weeks,” she said.

“Hopefully, this will stop the further hemorrhaging of health-care workers who have had to close practices, move away from our province and even leave the profession.”

The province announced a tentative four-year agreement with resident physicians in October that will see wage increases of three per cent in each of the first two years, and two per cent in each of the last two years.

More details on the new compensation model for family doctors can be found here.

With files from the Canadian Press