Province says work is mostly done on new family doctor model

The Alberta Government says they have made progress on a new compensation model for family doctors, with the Alberta Medical Association.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the province and the AMA have agreed on a framework for the new model that will help Alberta keep and attract family doctors.

The current model, said the AMA, has left many family practices struggling financially under rising demand and inflationary pressures on overhead and administrative costs. The new model will allow some doctors to move away from the current fee-for-service model. The new model will also include compensation based on panel size and complexity, as well as funds for other administrative costs and time spent indirectly on patient care

Under a stabilization program starting earlier this year, only doctors with more than 500 patients were eligible, And concerns were made that smaller practices could be left out of the new model depending on the final minimum panel size. The Province said the new model is an attempt to make sure providers are able to join the new model.

The new framework will also include comprehensive care agreements, moving to more in-person appointments and commitments to the provincial Central Patient Attachment Registry.

In 2023, Premier Danielle Smith promised that every Albertan would have a primary health-care provider by the next election. Adriana LeGrange said Alberta added 215 family doctors and rural generalists in the past year.