Que. FPs must take mixed remuneration system in fall—or face penalties, says Legault

Quebec City–Quebec doctors are pushing back at a carrot-and-stick tactic Quebec premier François Legault outlined on June 11 about doctor remuneration. Most family doctors in the province work fee-for-service, but the government's plan is to move toward more capitation—one of the campaign promises the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) made during the 2018 election campaign. "I tell family doctors, in the fall, we will work very hard to change things," said Legault, leader of CAQ, in presenting his report on Quebec's last parliamentary session on Friday, Le Journal de Québec reported. But if the carrot doesn't work, Quebec will pull out the stick. "There is the second approach, which was (former health minister Dr.) Gaétan Barrette's approach, which is not necessarily bad, which was Bill 20, where there are penalties if a family doctor does not take charge of a minimum number of patients,” Legault said. “So we're looking at those two approaches. But it is not currently acceptable that there are so many Quebeckers who do not have a family doctor." Despite Bill 20's adoption under the previous government, the penalties provided for in Bill 20—up to 30% of a doctor's remuneration—have never yet been used. FMOQ denounces Understandably, the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) is none too pleased. Dr. Louis Godin, head of the FP union, told the Canadian Press that any change to their method of remuneration has to be negotiated or the government will find doctors blocking its path. "Doctors are really upset about this!" Dr. Godin said. "Of course, we will not accept coercion. The strong method: that does not work." Dr. Godin said the FMOQ is basically fine with a mixed mode of remuneration and capitation, but bringing this in is no trivial matter and should be done through negotiation. Currently, 81% of Quebecers have a family doctor, leaving around 700,000 patients without, and it's unreasonable to suggest they'll all find one within a year. Dr. Godin also told Le Journal that it's sad the leader of Quebec's government didn't instead thank doctors for their work during the COVID-19. "I would have expected the (premier) instead, to highlight the work of family physicians, like that of other health professionals during this pandemic period." It's also tiresome that the sitting government is returning to the playbook for the former health minister, Dr. Barrette, Dr. Godin added. “It's always the same threats. Let us stop. It's a recipe that doesn't work, threat and coercion. It is well proven, and I do not understand that it is brought out again.”

Que. FPs must take mixed remuneration system in fall—or face penalties, says Legault

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