Many Primary Care Networks (PCNs) throughout the province were forced to cut back in recent years due to unpredictable funding, but a recent agreement in principle could help to repair the damage.
The agreement in principle between the provincial government and the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) allocates $181 million to physician compensation over a two-year period, including a $12 boost in per-patient funding for PCNs from $50 to $62.
This marks the first funding increase for PCN’s in eight years.
“We did have to cut back these past couple of years and that affected our patient care and has decreased access,” said Dr. Darrel LaBuick, board member with the St. Albert and Sturgeon PCN, adding if this sort of agreement was in place at that time, these cutbacks would have been avoided.
The per-capita funding goes towards supporting the primary care clinics in St. Albert and Morinville, through nurses, pharmacists, mental health psychologists and various other support staff, ultimately improving care and access to medical services.
He said even with the increase, he suspects PCNs are still being underfunded.
“The biggest thing that they do have to talk about though is long-term funding so we’re not living hand to mouth,” he said. “If we knew this type of funding was coming down the road, we could be much more strategic in how we can improve primary care.”
The agreement in principle comes after roughly one year of negotiations and commences April 1, 2011 and continues through to the end of the next fiscal year on March 31, 2013, with possible extensions for 2013-14.
The previous agreement expired March 31, 2011, with a replacement agreement in principle being signed that day, but not ratified.
“We were very frustrated and we needed to move forward and get an agreement and also address the issues that had been a problem,” said Dr. Linda Slocombe, president of the AMA.
In addition to the increase in per-patient funding, the $181-million contribution includes a 2.5-per-cent increase to physician fees each year as well as a cost-of-living adjustment on April 1, 2013 if no new agreement has been reached by then — something Fred Horne, Minister of Health and Wellness, said he doesn’t anticipate being a problem.
The agreement also includes a process for the AMA and Alberta Health Services (AHS) to provide input into the provincial health system, as well as a limited arbitration process for certain programs.
“We’ve been in a state of limbo for over a year now without an agreement. That’s not a good place to be so this agreement in principle, which hopefully will go forward into a final agreement, gives us a bridge into a stable environment for (doctors),” Slocombe said.
She said the agreement in principle is being presented to the AMA’s representative forum on March 31 with a final agreement to be reached shortly after. It will then be sent out to members for ratification, which could take up to six weeks.
“There has been no increase for the last eight years at all, so it covers the bare minimum of the cost-of-living increases over that time,” she said. “To really, truly move forward and bring in new innovations and expand the use of teams and expand the medical home for Albertans, it will require more money.”
She said discussions will be ongoing to determine future funding that will enable PCNs to maximize their potential, a discussion more easily facilitated by the agreement in principle.
“One of the keys to running a high-performing health system is to have a sound agreement, a sound understanding with the physicians who play such a pivotal role,” Horne said. “The top priority in health care in Alberta is stability and predictability in the health care system.”
The provincial government also directed $100 million of the 2012-13 budget to primary health and addictions and mental health.
