Physician funding changes coming to Alberta
Posted February 21, 2020 8:36 am.
Last Updated February 21, 2020 8:37 am.
CALGARY (CityNews) – After months of negotiations between the Alberta Medical Association and the government on proposed changes to the physician funding model, no agreement has been reached.
Despite this, the government is going ahead with 11 proposed changes and a new funding model.
“They requested that those 11 be brought to the mediation table, and yet there were items that they refused to even to talk about at the mediation table,” said Health Minister Tyler Shandro.
This action means the master agreement between the association and the government is now over as of March 31, 2020.
The AMA Agreement was only part of the previous framework for physician compensation. Most of it is going to continue to be the same with the new Physician Compensation Framework. pic.twitter.com/qIhq9aeCxM
— Tyler Shandro ???????? (@shandro) February 21, 2020
The UCP government citing an impasse and a must move ahead scenario.
In a statement Thursday, the Alberta Medical Association said, “It became clear today that government is not interested in collaboration.” The AMA made several offers and significant moves throughout the negotiating process. We offered substantial short term savings, worth over 3 per cent – which equates to over $150 million in savings a year. We appreciate that there was still a way to go, but we had informed the minister that we were going to put another offer forward tomorrow.”
AMA's Response to the Government Announcement: "I write to you with great concern for our public health care system in Alberta. Today, the Minister of Health chose to terminate a viable contract with physicians before the end of term." https://t.co/S7qqsnpHVL
— Alberta Medical Association (AMA) (@Albertadoctors) February 20, 2020
Bill 21 was initially proposed in September of last year and maintains $5.4 billion in funding but aims to reduce the projected $2 billion in cost overruns annually.
NDP Health critic David Shepherd took aim at the bill and the UCP’s funding model.
“The results are going to be chaos in the healthcare system. Poor patient care, less access. All to pay for this government’s 4.7 billion dollar corporate handout.”
The Medical Association said they had plans to move towards arbitration, and the UCP says they’re still open to ideas, but none of them addresses the $2 billion overrun.
