Health minister updates primary care compensation progress

By Medicine Hat News on September 21, 2024.

Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange spoke briefly Thursday in regards to ongoing work to develop the new primary care compensation model.

“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,” said LaGrange.

She continued on to say she is proud of the significant progress made in building a fair and sustainable compensation model for primary care physicians, which is a commitment that began last October when the minister signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of the Alberta Medical Association Dr. Paul Parks.

“This is not just a policy – it’s part of our commitment to Albertans, ensuring that our healthcare system is equipped to deliver the best possible care to every Albertan,” said LaGrange.

In December 2023, Alberta’s government announced new funding of $257 million over the next two years, which aims to stabilize family physician practices and improve access to family doctors, with $157 million committed this year in 2024.

“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,” said LaGrange, who explained they are looking to sustain the high level of compensation Alberta’s doctors currently receive while improving access to primary care for patients.

“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,” said LaGrange. “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.”

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