WCB Physician Services: new fee schedule, physician forms and guides
Financial incentives will continue in phases:
Over the course of the agreement’s term, all of the increases will build up to a 30% fee increase for same-day reports and a nearly 20% increase for on-time reports (see Definitions, below).
As a disincentive to late reporting (i.e., reports received after the on-time period), the agreement includes a late report fee reduction. As of April 1, 2016, it decreased to 90% of the current on-time fee and on July 1, 2016, it will decrease to 75% of the current on-time fee, with no further adjustment on April 1, 2017. (See Appendix “C,” below).
The report is received by WCB on the same-day as the completed examination, including up to 10:00 on the following business day.
Note: “Business Day” is defined as Monday through Friday from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59 MST each day, excluding the Employment Standards Code of Alberta designated holidays: New Year’s Day, Alberta Family Day, Good Friday, Victoria Monday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Remembrance Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and August 1 civic holiday).
“Examination Date” = day 0
Scenario A: Patient registers at 11:00 Monday. Physician sees patient and completes examination at 1300 Monday. For same-day status, WCB needs to receive the report by 10:00 Tuesday.
Scenario B: Patient registers at 23:30 Friday. Physician sees patient and completes the examination at 02:00 Saturday. For same-day status, WCB needs to receive the report by 10:00 Monday.
GP First Report – The report is received by the WCB within three (3) business days from the date of the completed examination, including up to 10:00 on the fourth (4) business day.
GP Progress Report – The report is received by the WCB within four (4) business days from the date of the completed examination, including up to 10:00 on the fifth (5) business day.
Specialist Consultation Report/Specialist Follow-up Report – The report is received by the WCB within four (4) business days from the date of the completed examination, including up to 10:00 on the fifth (5) business day.
Scenario: Patient registers at 19:00 Tuesday. Specialist sees patient and completes the examination at 22:00 Tuesday. In order for this Specialist Consultation/Specialist Follow-up report to be classified as an on-time report submission, WCB must receive the report by 10:00 the following Tuesday.
A report is considered late if it is received by WCB after the on-time reporting schedule applicable to the type of report: GP First Report, GP Progress Report or Specialist Consultation/Follow-up Report).
| Effective Dates | Report Submission | GP First Report | Specialist Consultation Report | GP Progress Report/Specialist Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 | Same-day | $65.86 | $80.50 | $40.02 |
| On-time | $63.69 | $77.84 | $38.69 | |
| Late | $57.32 | $70.06 | $34.82 | |
| April 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016 | Same-day | Plus COLA | Plus COLA | Plus COLA |
| On-time | Plus COLA | Plus COLA | Plus COLA | |
| Late | 90% of On-time | 90% of On-time | 90% of On-time | |
| July 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 | Same-day | Plus 8.75% | Plus 8.75% | Plus 8.75% |
| On-time | Plus 2.5% | Plus 2.5% | Plus 2.5% | |
| Late | 75% of On-time | 75% of On-time | 75% of On-time | |
| April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2019 | Same-day | Plus COLA | Plus COLA | Plus COLA |
| On-time | Plus COLA | Plus COLA | Plus COLA | |
| Late | 75% of On-time | 75% of On-time | 75% of On-time |
Didi Wimmer-Frank
Director, Contract Negotiations
Alberta Medical Association
T 780.482.0698 │ F 780.482.5445
didi.wimmer-frank@albertadoctors.org
