Progress on primary care compensation: Minister LaGrange

Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange issued the following statement on the significant progress being made to develop a new primary care compensation model in Alberta:

“As Alberta’s health minister, I am committed to securing primary health care as the foundation of the entire health care system, and family physicians are fundamental to our plan. I am proud of the significant progress we’ve made in building a fair and sustainable compensation model for primary care physicians, a commitment we began last October when I signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), Dr. Paul Parks. This is not just a policy – it’s part of our commitment to Albertans, ensuring that our health care system is equipped to deliver the best possible care to every Albertan.

“That is why, since December 2023, Alberta’s government has announced new funding of $257 million over the next two years to stabilize family physician practices and improve access to family doctors, with $157 million committed this year alone.

“In April, we announced a new primary care compensation model to be developed in close collaboration with the AMA.

“Alberta doctors are already among the highest paid in the country, and under this new model, we’ll be able to sustain that high level of compensation while improving access to primary care for patients.

“We knew from the start that developing a new physician compensation model would be a complex and time-consuming process. This work was never about quick fixes, and there is still a little more work to be done.

“I want to thank outgoing AMA president Dr. Paul Parks for his continued advocacy and for working so diligently with me and our teams to get us so close to finalization. I’m pleased to report that we are making significant progress on a model that will be financially sustainable and support both our physicians and Albertans well into the future.”