Two new helpful tools for AMA members

June 16, 2015

Dear Member:

Under our mission statement, the Alberta Medical Association provides “leadership and support” for physicians’ role in providing quality care. Although we do many things that are externally focused in terms of advocacy, it’s equally important to assist physicians to conduct our businesses and practices efficiently and to keep us up to date with changes in our environment.

This letter is to inform you of two new member services that we hope will add value to your day-to-day world as members of the AMA.

Fee Navigator^®

The AMA has launched Fee Navigator^®, a web-based member service that will make billing information easier to use and understand for physicians and staff.

We have a very complex billing schedule in Alberta, one that can sometimes be overwhelming. Fee Navigator^® is the first of its kind in Canada, designed to help physicians understand the nuances of the Schedule of Medical Benefits (SOMB) and the proper use of fee codes.

Fee Navigator^® reflects the knowledge that AMA staff have amassed over many years of providing billing seminars, individual billing advice and developing billing tips for members. We have linked what we have learned to multiple relevant data sources about the SOMB and provided it all in a central tool. In addition to general understanding of the SOMB and its rules, by using Fee Navigator^®, you can also receive helpful advice about how to reconcile claims for various health service codes that have been reduced or refused.

Fee Navigator^® was piloted with a varied group of physicians from beginner to advanced technology skills, in rural and urban practices. Feedback from these testers helped us to refine the tool. Early adopters of Fee Navigator^® have commented that they instantly bookmarked the site on all their devices and are continuing to recommend it to their peers.

To access the Fee Navigator^® on your computer or smartphone, go to: www.albertadoctors.org/feenav. Add this as a bookmark or as an icon to your home screen for quicker access.

We plan to update the Fee Navigator^® regularly with helpful billing information.

News for Docs

Each of us is bombarded with information every day from every direction. (On that note, thank you, as always, for taking time to read the President’s Letter.) As physicians, we are affected by what’s happening in our province and country. Yet keeping up with provincial and national health care news and medical affairs can be a particular challenge.

That’s why the AMA has developed News for Docs, delivered Monday to Friday right to your email inbox. (Monday’s issue captures the weekend’s news). We scour news sources each day to provide you with a carefully curated batch of the most relevant political, economic and medical affairs news stories and leading opinion pieces from Alberta and across Canada. These items are prioritized for easy scanning and reading.

To subscribe to News for Docs, visit the subscription page: www.albertadoctors.org/media-publications/publications/news-for-docs.

We hope that Fee Navigator^® and News for Docs will add some ease and value to your everyday life.

As always, I’m happy to know what you think about these (or other) matters. Email president@albertadoctors.org or leave a comment below.

Regards,

Richard G.R. Johnston, MD, MBA, FRCPC
President