Lisa Johnson 13 hrs ago
The Alberta government and Alberta Medical Association are looking to get back to formal negotiations over a new agreement with the province’s doctors.
© Provided by Edmonton Journal Health Minister Jason Copping.
Minister of Health Jason Copping and Alberta Medical Association (AMA) president Dr. Michelle Warren issued a joint statement Thursday announcing that before returning to the negotiating table, both parties have agreed to work on “high-priority health-care system issues that will support system stability,” including addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying some changes to physician compensation, and increasing access to virtual care.
In a Thursday letter to members , Warren said discussions between the AMA and government “are entering a new stage.”
Last year, the government agreed to delay its planned changes in services stipends, fee reductions and AHS overhead policy after the AMA asked for the changes to be put off . Two virtual fee code changes bringing pay for virtual visits in line with in-person visits also came into effect Jan. 1.
Warren noted that progress on those and other issues paved the way for formal negotiations, which will take a different approach than in the past.
“There is still a difficult road ahead. I’m encouraged that we’ve set out in a spirit of collaboration and with hopes for a better relationship between government and the physicians of Alberta,” Warren wrote.
On Thursday, NDP Opposition health critic David Shepherd said in a statement he is pleased to see the potential return to formal negotiations almost two years after the UCP government tore up its agreement with doctors .
However, he added that as long as the government’s Bill 21 remains in effect, the government has the power to renege on any future contract.
“To enter these negotiations in good faith, the UCP must repeal these elements of Bill 21,” said Shepherd.
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
Minister of Health Jason Copping and Alberta Medical Association (AMA) president Dr. Michelle Warren issued a joint statement Thursday announcing that before returning to the negotiating table, both parties have agreed to work on “high-priority health-care system issues that will support system stability,” including addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying some changes to physician compensation, and increasing access to virtual care.
In a Thursday letter to members , Warren said discussions between the AMA and government “are entering a new stage.”
Last year, the government agreed to delay its planned changes in services stipends, fee reductions and AHS overhead policy after the AMA asked for the changes to be put off . Two virtual fee code changes bringing pay for virtual visits in line with in-person visits also came into effect Jan. 1.
Warren noted that progress on those and other issues paved the way for formal negotiations, which will take a different approach than in the past.
“There is still a difficult road ahead. I’m encouraged that we’ve set out in a spirit of collaboration and with hopes for a better relationship between government and the physicians of Alberta,” Warren wrote.
On Thursday, NDP Opposition health critic David Shepherd said in a statement he is pleased to see the potential return to formal negotiations almost two years after the UCP government tore up its agreement with doctors .
However, he added that as long as the government’s Bill 21 remains in effect, the government has the power to renege on any future contract.
“To enter these negotiations in good faith, the UCP must repeal these elements of Bill 21,” said Shepherd.
lijohnson@postmedia.com
twitter.com/reportrix
No comments:
Post a Comment