At long last: Alberta announces new primary care physician compensation model

Alberta doctors can finally take a look at the new primary care physician compensation model the province announced Thursday afternoon—set to be implemented in Spring 2025. The Alberta Medical Association has been vocal for months about the lack of progress on a new model. Dr. Shelley Duggan, the association’s president, reacted Thursday calling it a “great day for Alberta’s health care system and our patients,” in her president’s letter that regularly goes out to members. She highlighted an upcoming info session on the new model to be held Jan. 8, 2025. A release from the province (view a video of the full press conference below) said the model seeks to encourage full-time practice and for doctors to take on more patients. To that end it provides compensation increases for the following:“Maintaining high panel numbers (minimum of 500 patients), which will incentivize panel growth and improve access to primary care for patients.Providing after-hours care to relieve pressure on emergency departments and urgent care centres.Improving technology to encourage using tools that help streamline work and enhance patient care.Enhancing team-based care, which will encourage developing integrated teams that may include family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, dietitians and pharmacists to provide patients with the best care possible.Adding efficiencies in clinical operations to simplify processes for both patients and health care providers.”“We have worked with the Alberta Medical Association to address the challenges that primary care physicians are facing,” said Minister of Health, Adriana LaGrange, in the release. “This model will provide the supports physicians need and improve patient access to the care they need.”The AMA has put together a "try-on" calculator feature so doctors can better see how they might fit into the new model.The province will also be providing pay increases for primary care docs working in the alternative relationship plan, as distinct from fee-for-service. “This includes those who provide inpatient care in hospitals and rural generalists. Alberta’s government is increasing this to ensure hospital-based family physicians and rural generalists also receive fair, competitive pay that reflects the importance of these roles,” noted the release. As to the primary care physician compensation model, doctors will be able to start signing up in January, with full implementation expected in the Spring, provided 500 doctors have signed on by then. “Family physicians have been anxiously awaiting this announcement about the new compensation model. We anticipate this model will allow many primary care physicians to continue to deliver comprehensive, lifelong care to their patients while keeping their community clinics viable,” said Dr. Sarah Bates, president, family medicine section of the AMA, in Alberta’s release. An overview of the plan from the provincial government can be found here.

At long last: Alberta announces new primary care physician compensation model

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