Legal help for doctors to cost less in 2022

The Canadian Medical Protective Association has announced lower aggregate membership fees for 2022, with reductions ranging from 4% in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Atlantic provinces and the Territories to 45% in Quebec. On an individual basis, these lower fees translate to annual savings of between $48 for doctors in teaching or work-abroad humanitarian roles to just over $13,000 for Ontario physicians specialized in obstetrics. “These fee reductions reflect the CMPA’s commitment to the equitable allocation of medico-legal protection costs,” the CMPA said in an August 16 press release. “Each region is self-supporting and there is no subsidization between regions.” The CMPA, which counts more than 104,000 physician members, has four fee regions across the country, with the following average fee per member set for 2022: British Columbia and Alberta - $3,865, down 16% from 2021 or a total reduction of $17 million across the fee region Ontario - $5,781, down 20% from 2021 or a total reduction of $55 million Quebec - $512, down 45% from 2021 or a total reduction of $9 million Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Atlantic provinces and the Territories - $3,364, down 4% from 2021, or a total reduction of $1 million These average fees are different from actual individual fees, which are based on each member’s type of work and which part of the country they work in. The CMPA noted in its press release that its fee region in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Atlantic provinces and the Territories has the fewest number of members compared to other fee regions. This means that even one or two medico-legal cases can have a drastic impact on the region’s overall funded position, said the CMPA. “Therefore, we take a conservative approach when we set fees for this region,” it added. The CMPA cited strong returns on its investment portfolio, combined with a slowdown in the growth of medico-legal costs, as a key reason for the fee reductions. Since last year, members have received close to $140 million in membership fee credits. In 2022, reductions in membership fees will add up to almost $200 million. Read: Legal column: The thing speaks for itself

Legal help for doctors to cost less in 2022

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