Dear Members,
The deadline for physicians to appeal Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) decisions about the Physician On-Call Program (POCP) has been extended to March 14. AMA staff have reached out to the program groups of which we are aware. We believe most who need to appeal have already acted, but if your group disagrees with the changes and has not yet appealed, we encourage you to do so. This extension provides more time for AHS to complete the review process, and we understand that they are unlikely to implement any rollbacks to POC programs on April 1 (as initially planned).
We also have word from the Management Committee that AHS-paid stipend programs will not end on April 1, pending completion of a report from the Stipend Working Group and review by the Minister.
The POCP, managed by AHS, has been underfunded since the previous government reduced its budget by $10 million in 2020. Additionally, about 100 physician groups perform on-call services outside of POCP, some receiving stipends from AHS, others not.
This week, I have proposed to the Minister that the government provide $38 million to supplement the current $93 million POCP, based on the AHS review of the program. These funds would expand POCP to include 75 new programs and reverse the 2020 rate reduction with a partial Consumer Price Index recognition (3%).
Many POCP physicians were concerned about the April 1 reduction in weekly remuneration from 24 hours to 14 hours, affecting their ability to provide essential services amid inflation and population growth. Some groups plan to lessen or remove their availability. We have sought legal advice for physicians who wish to end their availability obligations with AHS.
Albertans deserve timely access to life-saving medical/surgical services, and physicians deserve competitive remuneration. The AHS policy changes will reduce the number of physicians available on-call, increasing emergency department backlogs, patient distress, medical complications and possibly avoidable deaths. It will also harm Alberta’s reputation as a destination for medical professionals, with other provinces offering higher, much more competitive rates.
AMA representatives are working tirelessly to address these issues. Physicians on-call 24/7/365 deserve our support and fair treatment, as do their patients.
Sincerely,
Shelley Duggan, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association