This release was issued under a previous government.
The seven-year agreement was supported by physicians through a mail-in ballot voting process held this month and a final vote count held today. The agreement is based on the Memorandum of Understanding that was reached between government and the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) on April 15.
“We are very pleased that physicians voted in favour of this comprehensive agreement,” said Fred Horne, Minister of Health. “It marks the start of a new long-term relationship with the AMA that will ensure patient-centred care and a strong health system for years to come.”
“The physician vote in favor of the AMA agreement marks their continued commitment to making the health care system better,” said AMA president Dr. Michael Giuffre. “Under the agreement, physicians will have structured ways to contribute our ideas and expertise to improve the health care system. We will ensure progress continues in the future through cooperative work with our government toward health care innovation and to implementation of our agreements on various programs and physician compensation.”
The seven-year agreement includes:
- Zero per cent increases from 2011-12 to 2013-14, a 2.5 per cent increase in each of 2014-15 and 2015-16, and a Cost of Living Adjustment in 2016-17 and 2017-18;
- A one-time lump-sum payment totaling $68 million, to address various financial challenges faced by physician practices;
- Creation of a physician compensation committee to oversee compensation practices, including reviewing and adjusting relative payment rates, or fees;
- Commitment to an ongoing agreement that reflects the permanency of the relationship between Alberta Health and the AMA;
- Arbitration rights on annual percentage increase for fees and specific benefits;
- Recognition of the AMA as the ongoing representative of physicians for compensation negotiations;
- Commitment for Alberta Health and the AMA to continue to work together on how primary care evolves in the future;
- Commitment by Alberta Health to consult with the AMA on a new electronic medical records strategy for physicians; and
- Commitment to consult together on other matters outside the agreement, including on opportunities to find efficiencies and savings within the health system.
Our government was elected to keep building Alberta, to live within its means and to fight to open new markets for Alberta’s resources. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.
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