Stipends and the AMA Master Agreement
The AMA Master Agreement provides physicians impacted by stipend arrangements a fair process to review all stipend payments. Please refer to Schedule 6 of the AMA-AH Agreement (beginning on page 46).
You may have already been approached by or are in discussions with AHS, or another health agency or organization, regarding a proposed alternative to your current compensation arrangement (as administered most often through a stipend). Agreeing to any alternative compensation arrangement before completing the formal, transparent and beneficial process outlined in Schedule 6 is entirely voluntary for physicians.
If you choose to enter into a new funding arrangement (such as an alternative payment arrangement) before the Schedule 6 process takes place, you lose access to that process. Because of this, moving forward without going through Schedule 6 should only happen when all physicians in your group fully support the decision.
If you have more questions regarding stipends and the process afforded to physicians under the AMA Master Agreement, we encourage you visit our web page AHS-AMA Stipend Working Group or contact the AMA.
AMA representation and support
AHS-AMA Stipend Working Group
An AHS-AMA Stipend Working Group (SWG) was formed in 2024 to review the current stipends paid by AHS to physicians, and develop and implement a process that is in keeping with the principles set out in clause 4 (b) of Schedule 6 in the AMA Agreement. The SWG will make written recommendations to the Management Committee (MC). The SWG is also able to review current programs, and any other programs as deemed appropriate.
The SWG is comprised of an independent chair, AMA staff and physician members, AHS representatives and Alberta Health observers (non-voting).