One-time payment

UPDATE! August 31, 2023

Under the agreement, approximately $45 million was to be distributed to eligible physicians as a one-time recognition payment. Initial payments were issued to eligible members starting in December 2022, as outlined below. As the participation window has closed, the remaining funds will be distributed as a top-up payment to all members who received their initial one-time payment. Top-up payments will follow the same distribution method as the initial payment. If you have any questions please contact Membership at:

December 2022

Work to implement the one-time recognition payment is under way and we are planning to issue those payments before the end of the calendar year. We’re still finalizing the grant agreement with Alberta Health to allow the payments to be made, but the eligibility and key criteria are included in the backgrounder below.

At this time, members can log into the AMA member dashboard on the AMA website and provide a bank account for the one-time payment deposit. Once logged into the dashboard, go to “AMA Agreement One-time Payment” and click on banking info to select a bank account from the drop-down list. Members who do not select a bank account in the dashboard, will receive a cheque by mail.

Members can also report additional earnings from eligible services:

  • Eligible services are “insured services” or publicly funded medically required services, or public health services paid by Alberta Health Services, from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
  • Your amount is calculated based on information provided to us by Alberta Health, that should reflect the total of payments made to you by Alberta Health and/or Alberta Health Services, from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
  • If you have additional income to report from eligible services not reported to us by Alberta Health, please log into “My AMA Dashboard” then complete the declaration form ("Income declaration").

In early December, we expect to email each member with their estimated payment amount based on the information provided by Alberta Health. Roughly 95% of members will receive the full amount based on the initial calculation, and members calculated to receive less than the full amount will have an opportunity to update their information before payments are issued. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.

Distribution mechanism for the one-time recognition payment

  • The payment will be roughly $4,100, with an initial payment planned before the end of the calendar year, and likely a second, top-up payment in the new year, once final participation numbers are known.
  • The one-time payment will be paid to physicians who:
    • were full practicing physicians (opted into the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, excluding resident physicians), during the April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, Fiscal Year and;
    • provided “insured services” or publicly funded medically required services, or public health services paid by Alberta Health Services, during the April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, fiscal year and;
    • are full members of AMA for 2022/23; or paid the non-member fee equal to full membership.
  • The payment amount for each eligible physician is based on the income earned for the eligible services noted above, from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, as follows:

Physician earnings on eligible service

Proportion of full payment

≥80,000

100%

$63,667.00 - $79,999.99

75%

$46,667.00 - $63,666.99

50%

$30,000.00 - $46,666.99

25%

<$30,000

0%

Other Information

  • The payment will be made directly to the physician and not to the business arrangement number that is associated with the Schedule of Medical Benefits.
  • Alberta Health will be providing the AMA with a list of physicians by income category so that the AMA can calculate each physician’s payment amount. Roughly 95% of physicians will exceed the $80,000 earning threshold based on Alberta Health billing data and will automatically receive the full payment. Alberta Health is working with AHS on a process to ensure eligible AHS income is also captured and reported.
  • Physicians on maternity/parental leave from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, are deemed to have met the threshold for full payment.
  • Physicians who have retired from practice or left the province are eligible for the payment if they satisfied the other criteria above (e.g., full AMA member and earned eligible income) from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.