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The "voice of the AMA" – Published regularly throughout the year, the President's Letter informs you about Alberta Medical Association positions on key and complex issues in Alberta’s health care.
Read the November 22 President's Letter
As part of a cross-ministry effort by the provincial government, Alberta Health has invited the Alberta Medical Association to complete a survey on behalf of members. It relates to “legislative changes to safeguard freedom of expression for regulated professionals.”
Right now, the AMA is engaged in more advocacy than at any other time in our history. In the category of fact checking, we coordinated yesterday with section experts to respond to comments made by the premier in a news conference.
Here is AMA Fact Checkup – Issue 2. In this issue, we check and correct government on statements they have made.
Comments on the most recent President's Letter are enabled and welcome. You may also contact the AMA President by email at [email protected].
Below you will find previous issues of The President's Letter. For older issues no longer on the website, contact us.
In a year that in many ways has been so unusual, we sometimes forget that “the usual” continues, too. One of the important roles the AMA has always played in Alberta is providing physician input into the work of the Legislative Assembly around various acts and regulations. In recent months, a number of statutes have come up for scheduled legislative review and the AMA has been asked to comment on two of them.
Efficiently vaccinating Albertans against COVID-19 will be a monumental task that will only be accomplished with careful planning and intersectoral collaboration. In my January 28 President’s Letter, I shared with you some imperatives I see for success.
The development of COVID-19 vaccines has brought together some of the brightest minds around the globe and has made history by getting vaccines approved and to market within a year. The initial excitement and optimism surrounding the vaccine, however, has evolved into frustration due to limited supply and criticism over the staged roll out. It has been the topic of conversation in the media, around many dinner tables and of course within the profession.
As I’m sure most of you are aware, Alberta Health Services has indicated that stipends for contracted services will end. Implementation of this component of the Physician Funding Framework has been delayed, but as things stand today, many of the groups affected will see their contracts for stipend services end on March 31, 2021, or sooner.
As of February 5, more lab results will be accessible to Albertans through the My Health Records (MHR) portal. These lab results will be viewable through the My Personal Records (MPR) application, giving patients immediate and direct access to more of their own health information. This change will also serve as an additional safety net for patient care within the system.
Last week we welcomed in 2021. While the new year often sparks feelings of hope, I met the new year with a sigh of relief that 2020 was over. There is, of course, the optimism provided by the vaccine, but it is tempered by the prospect of a long year ahead that will involve many challenges related to the ongoing pandemic.
As this letter was completed, we were advised that Alberta Health has decided to postpone the implementation of new rates for Z codes, scheduled for January 1. The implementation of these reductions has now been postponed until April 1.
As discussions continue with government toward a negotiated agreement, new payment models are emerging and are being offered to physicians. This move toward new payment models seems to be accelerating, which has caused me to think about why alternative models matter in the first place.
As we settle into a new phase of restrictions to check the spread COVID-19, I wanted to write to you about the impact of the pandemic on patient care and the health care system. While the arrival of vaccines in Alberta is truly encouraging, we face a long road back to whatever the new normal will be.
Some of you may have seen the letter I wrote to Albertans urging them to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. This letter was published in both the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal this week.