Dear Members,
We’ve reached another important milestone in the journey toward full implementation of the Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM). Late last week, we received the signed Ministerial Order (member login required) to officially establish the PCPCM Clinical Alternative Relationship Plan for physicians.
For those of you who may be wondering why a Ministerial Order was needed – in Alberta, Ministerial Orders are a standard tool for implementing policy decisions that fall under the Minister’s authority. This is not a new or unusual approach. Past physician compensation models in Alberta, including fee-for-service schedules and alternative payment plans, have been formalized through similar processes.
Next steps for interested family physicians and rural generalists
Family physicians and rural generalists who are interested in moving to the new model must do the following:
- Complete the Expression of Interest form via the AMA member dashboard (member login required).
- Complete the application form that will be emailed to you from the AMA (Alberta Health’s Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM) Clinical Alternative Relationship Plan (ARP) Application).
To set the model up for success, Alberta Health requires at least 500 physicians to formally apply for the model before moving forward on its implementation. The good news is that the application process is fairly simple, and AH has extended the deadline to submit applications to March 14, 2025.
Completing the application process is a major step forward in getting the PCPCM up and running, and I’m excited to see this new compensation option finally coming together. The PCPCM will offer Alberta’s family physicians a more sustainable and rewarding approach to delivering high-quality patient care. The model more fairly compensates for time spent on comprehensive patient care, including chronic disease management, mental health support and preventive medicine — services that are often underpaid in traditional fee-for-service billing.
In closing, I want to reassure members that amidst what we are hearing regarding budgetary pressures in the health system and at Alberta Health, this has not and will not affect implementation of the PCPCM. All signals from government indicate their intent to move forward.
If you want to start billing under the new model in April, please ensure that you get your applications in on time. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please reach out to the PCPCM team at the AMA via PCPCM
Sincerely,
Shelley Duggan, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association