President's Letter archive

This archive includes five years of issues of the President's Letter. For older issues, please contact:

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Alberta Medical Association
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2024

April 17 - The PCCM will be implemented: Announcement today
April 15 - TFP payments, acute care, active advocacy
April 5 - Small patient panels matter, too
April 4 - Stabilization payments begin today
March 28 - Stabilization funds available - Family/rural docs
March 20 - RRNP retroactive payments will be made this week
March 19 - Positive signals - Improved CaRMS numbers and a commitment from the Premier
March 8 - Defining "competitive." Acute care advocacy.
March 1 - With a commitment, we move forward
February 15 - Countdown to Budget 2024
February 9 - $12 million in panel management support now available
February 7 - Good faith claims are now live
February 5 - Laboratory physicians ratify new agreement with Alberta Precision Laboratories
February 2 - The doctor-patient relationship is sacrosanct
January 31 - SOS: The urgency is real
January 25 - We need your voice
January 24 - Virtual care codes and CME update
January 23 - Family medicine crisis deepens. You can help.
January 10 - It's all about health workforce
January 4 - Diagnosis and treatment for acute care
January 2 - Enhanced virtual codes anticipated January 17: Be ready

2023

December 28 - Ad campaign. First action acute care crisis.
December 21 - $100 million in stabilization family and rural generalist care
December 18 - Keeping our foot on the gas
December 13 - Good faith claims restored
December 11 - Acute care, we are acting for you!
December 7 - We are taking care of your business
November 30 - Your voice will matter; physician leader openings; executive news
November 29 - Stabilization on the table, three things you need to do
November 23 - What is Primary Care?
November 21 - Moving fast to save family and rural generalist medicine practices
November 17 - We are advocating relentlessly
November 8 - Government’s announcement today about health system reform
November 3 - We are your voice
October 30 - Advocating for all members
October 24 - A promise made by MOU, a virtual care announcement
October 18 - MAPS final report released, AMA and Alberta government to strike an MOU
October 12 - Call to action
October 6 - The year ahead; repairing and rebuilding
October 5 - Thank you for the privilege of serving you
September 28 - RF supports next steps for Income Equity Initiative
September 27 - Minister's announcements
September 18 - Top-up for one-time payment coming
September 14 - Lab physicians: Fair treatment and due process
September 8 - We have a lot to talk about
August 31 - 2023-24 dues
August 21 - Lab physicians hope for stability in latest changes to lab services
August 17 - Family medicine crisis
August 16 - Second retroactive payment
August 11 - Stay informed about income equity
August 4 - Brief update on government discussions
August 1 - Introducing our new Executive Director
July 25 - ARPs - Joint working group underway
July 19 - Stabilizing practices, talking with government
July 11 - Urgent discussions with government
June 30 - Supporting Indigenous leaders, physician trust, safety and engagement
June 28 - SCA surveys members about Connect Care
June 13 - Contact with the new government
May 31 - Lab physicians: Essential services deserving attention
May 30 - Election over; no time to waste
May 24 - Parties respond to AMA questions
May 23 - Watch party leaders at AMA's health care town hall
May 19 - Hard times, anger, but we will remain united!
May 11 - Election issue 7 - Primary Care
May 5 - Election issue 6 - Drug Poisoning Crisis
May 1 - Celebrating National Physicians’ Day, initial thoughts on MAPS statement
April 28 - Election issue 5: Indigenous health
April 27 - Family medicine spots still unfilled in Alberta
April 24 - Funds offered through CII/CPAR Acceleration Grant now available
April 21 - Election issue 4: Rural health care
April 20 - JPAC Gratitude Program
April 11 - Election issue 3: Pediatric mental health still poor
April 6 - AHS payments need consistency and structure
April 3 - Year one allocation complete; new SOMB posted
March 31 - Election issue 2: Health Human Resources
March 30 - Members react re CaRMS
March 27 - Medical Liability Reimbursement top-up payments
March 27 - CaRMS numbers alarming
March 24 - Election program launches today
March 23 - 2022-23 CME Program now open
March 17 - MAPS virtual session
March 15 - Post- RF update
March 6 - Anti-indigenous bias
March 3 - The crisis is not over
March 1 - Budget response
February 27 - Health care in the provincial budget and election
February 24 - ARP retro payments
February 21 - MAPS announcement first reaction
February 20 - Board thoughts about MAPS
February 10 - How does the system work?
February 8 - Federal funding announcement
February 2 - Board digging into your issues
January 24 - MAPS Innovation Forum update
January 13 - Tracking the care deficit
January 6 - Recognizing our Past President
January 5 - First retroactive fee-for-service payments coming January 13
January 3 - Independent pharmacist clinics weaken comprehensive care

2022

December 23 - Thank you and well done
December 20 - Section 40.2 is struck down
December 19 - Special thanks to the Canadian Medical Association
December 15 - BCP rate goes up tomorrow
December 14 - One-time payment coming - Three things to know and do
December 6 - Alert! Apply by January 27 for 2021-22 CME expenses
December 5 - Repealing 40.2
December 1 - Effective December 1, daily cap on services is removed
November 24 - Program details you need to read
November 21 - Daily cap temporarily removed; lump-sum payment details
November 17 - Administrator replaces AHS Board
November 15 - Advocacy for continued precautions in virus season
November 10 - Quick update on Board activity
November 4 - Rep needed on AMA agreement committees
November 2 - A very short update: programs and payments
October 31 - Acknowledging all that you have done
October 21 - Airdrie: An urgent care situation
October 11 - The year ahead and my three priorities
October 6 - UCP leadership vote concludes today
October 4 - It has been an honour to serve you
September 28 - Members have ratified agreement
September 21 - UCP leadership candidates and thoughts on health care
September 19 - Advocacy for drug poisoning crisis; various voting reminders
September 9 - Members will vote on a potential agreement
August 31 - Board calls special RF
August 26 - Advocacy update and how you can assist
August 19 - PatientsFirst.ca data; thoughts on scopes of practice
August 12 - Health care questions for leadership candidates
July 29 - Alberta’s new leader needs a plan for health care
July 22 - What patients say about emergency departments and what it means
July 18 - Provincial leadership race is here
July 15 - Update on negotiations; the care deficit hangs on
June 24 - Roe v. Wade decision an attack on women’s right to health
June 21 - No changes to stipend programs on June 30
June 17 - Further progress toward income equity
June 14 - Care Deficit and Dermatology
June 1 - Parents need help; Alberta Cancer Care docs vote
May 30 - Negotiations, waiting patients, member survey
May 26 - AMA continues to advocate for physician and patient interests in Connect Care rollout
May 20 - Emergency Departments under strain; Something for patients
May 17 - Report from RF - Urgent care needed for system
May 12 - Heading into Spring RF; advocacy for care of the elderly
May 2 - Women's Health in the Care Deficit - Issue 2 in our series
April 11 - Please keep informed on negotiations
April 1 - Joint AMA-AH Statement: Any pending changes to payment rates or programs will be halted until negotiations conclude
March 30 - Providing care to Ukrainian evacuees and a negotiations webinar
March 27 - Stipend changes paused during AMA-AH negotiations
March 25 - Enhanced virtual codes improve access to mental health care
March 24 - A new phase of advocacy
March 18 - The RF: Negotiations, a webinar and income equity
March 2 - Move AHS overhead charges to the table
February 25 - Alberta budget; Engaging on negotiations, income equity and advocacy
February 16 - Enhanced virtual care codes news, negotiations update
February 10 - About restriction changes and negotiations begin
February 3 - Advocating to heal our health system and JPAC on the job
January 20 - Discussions with government enter a new phase
January 12 - Enhanced virtual care code bulletin now posted
January 7 - Alberta Health bulletin on virtual care code changes

2021

December 30 - Priority virtual care codes to increase
December 22 - Member survey results and an urgent Omicron meeting
December 15 - The care deficit: Preparing to seek solutions
December 10 - Stipends delay allows time for a comprehensive approach
December 3 - Z-code deadline delayed
November 25 - The value of appreciation
November 15 - Update on government negotiations
October 29 - Physicians on care deficit and a response from AHS
October 21 - Latest news on stipends
October 7 - A call for stronger measures to combat COVID-19
October 1 - Forging ahead: Inaugural thoughts from the new AMA president
September 29 - Outgoing thoughts on a complex year
September 27 - Alberta must act now: AMA calls for COVID-19 "fire breaker" measures
September 22 - Harm reduction; we can't afford to wait
September 15 - Update on Negotiations
September 14 - Wave Four: More measures needed and other issues
September 8 - Special RF info session; COVID-19
August 24 - News on discussions with government; vaccination policy
August 20 - Care deficit: Broad thinking will be required
August 11 - Paper on government discussions and a member survey
August 4 - Board meeting update and upcoming member engagement
July 30 - Significant concerns: Changes to COVID measures
July 16 - Masking in Community Clinics
July 9 - Patient’s access to lab results: the remaining 5% and your practice
July 2 - A joint announcement with government and continued member engagement
June 21 - Supporting physicians impacted by changes to AHS-paid stipends
June 11 - COVID-19 and our patients - a checkup
June 2 - What We Heard: Member Feedback on Tentative Agreement Package
June 1 - Residential Schools
May 28 - Rural Health Week
May 26 - Updates on key areas
May 21 - Further information on mask exemption order
May 14 - Mask exemptions, Building AMA strength from within
May 7 - New public health restrictions, AHS stipends
April 30 - Recognizing National Physicians' Day
April 19 - Discussion with Minister, federal COVID support
April 14 - Vaccine in community clinics, a shout out to Laboratory Medicine
April 13 - Reporting on feedback, fixing virtual care
April 12 - More eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine announced
April 1 - The No Vote + two days
March 30 - Members voted No on Tentative Agreement Package
March 6 - Ratification vote will proceed: It's up to you now
March 3 - Update on tentative agreement status
February 26 - A tentative agreement with government has been reached
February 19 - PFSP value, staying well and the importance of advocacy
February 12 - Voting now open for 2022-23 CMA President-Elect from Alberta
February 10 - Whistleblowers, seniors care: the AMA weighs in
February 7 - Leveraging all we've got in the COVID fight
January 28 - Vaccine: A forced pause, a chance for clarity
January 25 - AMA President's Letter: AHS and March 31: Access for patients, fairness for physicians
January 13 - More lab results coming online for patients
January 7 - COVID - We must stay the course

2020

2019

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