Element 12B: Primary Medical Care/Primary Care Networks Consultation Agreement

What/how

The AMA Agreement does not speak directly to the future of primary medical care and Primary Care Networks (PCNs). These items are addressed in the Primary Medical Care/Primary Care Networks Consultation Agreement.

This Primary Medical Care/Primary Care Networks Consultation Agreement commits the parties to develop a framework for PCN evolution, including consideration of how this evolution will link with the broader provincial primary care strategy.

The primary care Consultation Agreement deals directly with existing PCNs by:

• Establishing a PCN Committee to provide ongoing advice on policy and issues relating to PCNs. The PCN Committee is an advisory body reporting to the Minister of Health.
• Tasking the PCN Committee with review and provision of advice on changes to the PCN per capita funding amount on an annual basis. This review process contains provisions for non-binding dispute resolution.

While AHS is not a signatory to the Consultation Agreement, AHS representation is included on the PCN Committee.

You might ask

12B.1 What roles do established primary care structures within the AMA play in this Consultation Agreement?

• The Primary Care Alliance is directly involved in leading the PCN evolution project, generally known as PCN 2.0.
• The AMA’s PCN Physician Leads Executive will comprise the AMA’s membership on the PCN Committee.

12B.2 Why is the PCN per capita funding rate not included in the main AMA Agreement?

• The AMA Agreement is essentially limited to compensation for insured medical services. PCN per capita funding is generally provided for non-insured services and so falls outside of the AMA Agreement.

AMA Agreement document reference

• Primary Medical Care/Primary Care Networks Consultation Agreement.

Download the PDF of Element 12B: Primary Medical Care/Primary Care Networks Consultations Agreement