Alberta’s government has announced a new physician compensation model aimed at bolstering the province’s primary health care system by attracting and retaining family physicians and rural generalists. This initiative follows extensive consultations and is part of a broader strategy to ensure Albertans receive necessary care timely and conveniently.
The new model proposes alternative compensation mechanisms for family physicians and rural generalists, who traditionally operate under fee-for-service or other alternative compensation frameworks. It seeks to enhance the ability of these professionals to develop enduring relationships with their patients, covering all aspects of healthcare throughout their lives.
“We’ve been working closely with our partners at the Alberta Medical Association for the last six months on a range of initiatives to strengthen primary health care, including the development of a new compensation model for family physicians that encourages comprehensive care,” stated Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health. “This will help improve patient access to primary care and help more Albertans access the care they need, where and when they need it.”
The model emphasizes comprehensive care agreements, in-person service provision, and a commitment to join the Central Patient Attachment Registry, which documents the confirmed relationships between primary care providers and their patients. Furthermore, eligibility to participate in this model will depend on the size of the physician’s patient panel, with ongoing discussions on the minimum required panel size.
Dr. Paul Parks, President of the Alberta Medical Association, described the new framework as “an extraordinary milestone for family and rural generalist medicine” that supports sustainable practices so that physicians can deliver comprehensive care effectively.
The next stages include the management committee’s rate recommendation, followed by the rates committee’s 30-day deliberation period to agree on these recommendations. The final rates are expected to be confirmed by the fall.
This model is the first in Alberta to recognize the extensive training, experience, and leadership of family physicians and rural generalists in providing comprehensive primary health care. With more than $2 billion in newly announced supports for primary health care, including over $2.3 billion expected in base compensation for 2024-25, $200 million over two years to stabilize the sector, and additional millions for panel management and Primary Care Networks, the government is committed to a robust overhaul of the system. A new primary health care division within Alberta Health is also planned to ensure efficient coordination and oversight of these services province-wide.