Cancellation of billing number restrictions for April part of ‘important progress’ made in Alberta talks

Calgary – A joint announcement from the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta government issued July 2 outlined the progress that has been made in discussions on high-priority issues, including the cancellation of the practitioner ID system, legislated to start April 2022 and aimed at managing the number and distribution of new billing physicians. “It’s positive that the billing number restrictions are not going into effect in 2022 as originally planned, and that is part of the go-forward approach to physician supply planning,” an AMA spokesperson told the Medical Post. “We are pleased that there will be opportunity to work toward a needs-based physician resource plan that helps to provide Albertans with access to the physicians they need.” The latest discussions and the announcement outlining healthcare priorities are seen as a positive step in rebuilding the relationship between the AMA and the government, which has been strained since Alberta physicians voted not to ratify a tentative compensation agreement in March, after more than a year of difficult negotiations. "We will have to see what can be achieved, but the announcement could start us toward a future productive working relationship within a negotiated agreement," said AMA president Dr. Paul Boucher. The announcement related to the practitioner ID system stated that the province will work with the AMA and physicians to build an implementation plan for the practitioner ID system, particularly with resident physicians and medical students who will be the most affected by the new system. They will also consider input of communities and the public, including through the Provincial Primary Care Network Committee’s Rural Sustainability Taskforce. “On this subject, as well as all discussions in general with government, we will be looking ahead in the next several weeks. We will be continuing to talk to physicians about their issues and concerns and talking to government about where there may be common ground. We’ll see where that leads us,” the AMA said. “More hard work lies ahead, but this is a pivotal step in rebuilding our relationship and moving toward reaching a provincial agreement,” said AMA president Paul Boucher in a letter to AMA members. “This is important progress and I thank the Minister and his team for working with us to reach this stage.” In addition to the cancelling of billing number restrictions in April, the announcement highlighted was the government’s commitment to funding physician support programs, with sign-off reached on physician support grant programs for 2021-22 including, the Physician and Family Support Program; Compassionate Assistance Program; Parental Leave Program; Physician Locum Programs; and Accelerating Change Transformation Team. The AMA said they considered this a positive development for doctors. “Creating stability in physician support programs is a help to physicians in their professional, personal and business owner roles,” the AMA told the Medical Post. Among the other areas of priority outlined in the announcement: a revised 2021-22 Continuing Medical Education program; establishment of a virtual care working group; an information-sharing agreement to allow the AMA access to non-identifying information relating to physician compensation and service utilization; and imminent discussions about post-pandemic mental health services and surgical recovery. The AMA said there “is value in all components” outlined in the announcement, and that patients, physicians, government and the healthcare system “will all benefit when we work together on important issues.” It said discussions will continue on the best ways to enhance virtual care (informed by a working group with AMA, Alberta Health Services and College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta); physician supply planning; and longer-term policy questions such as how to deal with the post-COVID care deficit.

Cancellation of billing number restrictions for April part of ‘important progress’ made in Alberta talks

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