President's Letter archive

This archive includes five years of issues of the President's Letter. For older issues, please contact:
Manager, Website
Alberta Medical Association
Email: Webmaster
2023
- 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
- December 23 - Z-codes, AMA updates you need
- December 22 - Government review cARP & academic medicine plus AMA info session on stipends
- December 17 - Evidence of the COVID-19 care deficit
- December 11 - My letter to Albertans and a new tool to better understand members
- December 7 - COVID vigilance, vaccination survey and update on government discussions
- November 26 - COVID-19 Hard choices
- November 24 - Worth noting: Physician health, member engagement
- November 19 - Nominate an Alberta physician for CMA President-Elect
- November 13 - Representation and Support in Alternative Payment Arrangements
- November 3 - Sunshine List due this week: How to prepare
- October 29 - AMA response to CPSA consultation on job action standard
- October 22 - Honors for those who serve
- October 9 - Understanding physician supply numbers
- October 7 - Carrying the torch - Inaugural thoughts from the new AMA president
- October 6 - Final thoughts on a tumultuous year
- October 2 - Uncertainty and Instability: Join the AGM to learn our plans
- September 18 - CPSA consultation on job action standard is open
- September 17 - Exemption for Sunshine List
- September 16 - Update on correspondence with government
- September 11 - Release of Sunshine List regulations
- September 4 - You are invited!
- August 27 - Thank you, CMA
- August 21 - Correspondence with government
- August 12 - Mourning a loss together
- August 10 - Physician payments: Telling the public what’s involved
- August 6 - Possible changes to Health Professions Act: Self-regulation concerns
- July 30 - Reaching out to the Premier
- July 29 - An unprecedented and overwhelming vote
- July 27 - Bill 30
- July 24 - News on programs and other matters
- July 21 - Members: Do you have confidence in the Minister?
- July 20 - We are under attack
- July 17 - Representative Forum virtual meeting tomorrow
- July 16 - Minister letter to CPSA
- July 15 - Taking our story public
- July 9 - Your Practice, Your Plans: Your Results
- July 8 - No consultation with AMA on Bill 30 development
- July 7 - The Road, Bill 30
- July 3 - There is no room for systemic racism
- June 30 - Healthy Work Environments. Is Alberta on track?
- June 20 - PPE in the community: Just the facts
- June 18 - Good news regarding WCB and support for member wellness
- June 12 - WCB agreement: Exercise your right!
- June 4 - What the AMA offered: Real savings, real solutions
- May 28 - Tentative AMA-WCB agreement reached, ratification vote now open
- May 27 - Community access to PPE: physician concerns, principles
- May 22 - Facts worth repeating, myths worth busting
- May 19 - We Asked, You Answered
- May 15 - Exercise your right of representation
- May 8 - We are the AMA
- May 5 - In this together
- May 1 - Tell the UCP to get back to the bargaining table
- April 30 - Your Representation Matters
- April 27 - MLR: Setting the Record Straight
- April 24 - AMA Response to Provincial Announcement on Support for Rural Health Care
- April 21 - Myth Busters
- April 17 - Embattled
- April 9 - Our charter challenge for due process and fair negotiations
- April 7 - Top of Mind: Government Relations and Supporting Members and Albertans in COVID-19
- April 3 - Supporting each other through the storm
- March 30 - Government rejects call for delayed implementation of framework
- March 23 - Virtual care codes now available
- March 21 - Babylon: setting the record straight
- March 20 - Cyber-bullying, government discussion on virtual care and stipends
- March 18 - COVID-19 response: We need to stand together
- March 17 - Complex modifier change paused; other proposals remain to be implemented
- March 16 - Government discussions; COVID-19 and AMA support
2019
2018
- December 19 - About retroactive payments to physicians
- December 12 - AMHSP physicians – a vote and a new council
- December 6 - SOMB retroactive increases coming this week
- November 16 - An Act to Protect Patients
- November 1 - AMA legislation tabled today
- October 18 - Changes to AMA/CMA member dues
- October 1 - AMA-CMA relationship and conjoint dues
- September 25 - A new president's thoughts on the year ahead