Decisions about our health system move quickly, and physicians must be part of the conversations that shape what comes next. Now more than ever, we encourage physician members across specialties to join an AMA committee. Applications close May 29.
Read the May 22 President’s Letter
Over the past several months, many of you have raised important questions about what expanded dual practice could mean for patients, physicians and the future of our publicly funded health care system — especially since Bill 11 (Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2)) was introduced.
An update on self-referred private pay diagnostic imaging and screening laboratory services and to encourage members to attend an upcoming information session on youth proxy access through MyHealth Records.
Dr. Brian Wirzba provides updates on three important areas of work underway at the AMA.
Reminder to complete the current AMA Pulse Survey regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) and the proposed Bill 18, the Last Resort Termination of Life Act.
Below you will find previous issues of The President's Letter. For older issues no longer on the website, contact us.
I am writing to share my concerns and the AMA’s response regarding a letter that was sent yesterday to physicians from Alberta Health Services. AHS is providing notice that on July 1, 2022, it will implement a framework “for assessing and recovering physician overhead costs that will be a consistent approach for AHS physician overhead across all zones, and in all facilities; urban, regional and rural. Note: Timelines are subject to pandemic response.”
Yesterday, government released its 2022-23 budget which featured substantial investment in health care. It is good to see government paying attention to health care in a concrete fashion. I also appreciate references made in budget documents to interest-based negotiations with physicians, and our common interests such as quality of care, health care sustainability and stability of physician practices.
Yesterday, Alberta Health released a bulletin informing physicians that effective February 15, 2022, all eligible claims for enhanced virtual care codes can now be submitted to AH’s claims system.
As I was writing this letter, the province’s changes to public health restrictions were announced. I did several media interviews on this announcement. Here is a post that we placed on the AMA’s Twitter feed with a link to an interview I did with Global News.
In our last survey we asked members what they want from the AMA. They expect representation and negotiations, but also want advocacy to explain the state of health care to Albertans. This includes advocating for sustainability of family medicine/primary care, the importance of the Patient's Medical Home and the serious situation in rural medicine where COVID-19 has worsened ongoing gaps in local health care teams.
Discussions between the Alberta Medical Association and government are entering a new stage and a joint statement will be issued today. Our ability to reach this point meant first addressing a number of matters that I’ve written to you about, e.g., virtual code changes (January 7), stipend programs delay (December 10) and Z-code and Alberta Health Services overhead policy (December 3).
The Alberta Health Bulletin for enhanced virtual care codes has now been published. I wrote to you on December 30 and January 7 regarding the new virtual care codes. Government agreed to implement these as a result of our recent discussions to address some priority issues in the system as part of exploring a return to negotiations and to stabilize physician practices.
I have heard from many physicians since the announcement of changes to virtual care code priority items (time for indirect care and complex modifiers). Like me, members were happy to hear the news that these codes will be available, but now urgently need the details in an accompanying Alberta Health bulletin.
I am pleased to tell you about some changes to virtual care fee codes that are coming into effect January 1, 2022. They will be announced today in a joint news release from government and the Alberta Medical Association.
In this letter: