Welcome to the Alberta Medical Association’s Section News – an opportunity for sections to report on their challenges and objectives. This service helps sections communicate with all AMA members as well as physicians in their own specialties. Your feedback is encouraged. Please contact Agnes E. McIntyre, Administrative Assistant, Section Services: T 780.482.2626; TF 1.800.272.9680; email agnes.mcintyre@albertadoctors.org.
September 2012
All sections � Guidelines to Billing Uninsured Services
booklet amended
The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) has amended the Guidelines to Billing Uninsured Services booklet to remove the fee distinction between primary care physician/specialist in family medicine and other certified specialists. • The revised guide is available for AMA members to download and/or print from the AMA website (login required). • A range of payments are now recommended for all services that previously showed a differential. The altered sections include: • Medical-legal services (pg. 8-9) • Medical-legal examinations for assault/sexual assault (pg. 11) • Witness rates paid by the Crown (pg. 12) • Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act (pg. 15) • Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program (pg. 27) The following sections were not amended: • Witness rates paid by the Crown – these fees are established by the attorney general in an Alberta Justice Policy Directive. • Alberta Children and Youth Services – these rates have been agreed to by the AMA and Alberta Employment and Immigration.
The revisions were made based on membership feedback about the College of Family Physicians of Canada designating family medicine a specialty. The issue was brought before the Board of Directors, who agreed that the electronic version of the guide should be amended. Future versions of the guide will support the board’s direction when dealing with all uninsured services fees. � Membership form issues
The AMA has recently mailed out the 2012-13 Alberta Medical Association/Canadian Medical Association membership packages. However, the AMA has indicated that there was an error in Step 5 – Join Your Section(s) on the AMA membership form, where the dues do not align properly with the listed sections. You can view the correct spreadsheet of dues online at http://www.albertadoctors.org/section_dues2.pdf. This will not affect online membership renewals or those who are on a pre-authorized payment plan. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kirsten M. Sieben, Team Leader, Membership and Benefits, by phone 780.482.0323, toll-free 1.800.272.9680 ext. 323, or by email kirsten.sieben@ albertadoctors.org.
Primary Care Alliance
2. Physician-led family care clinic (FCC) pilot – There have been indications on the part of government that they may be more receptive to listening to physicians in their plans to expand FCCs (e.g., the health minister’s request to meet with the PCA Board). With this in mind, the AMA plans to develop physician-led pilots that will receive support and assistance. The goal will be to illustrate that FCCs led by physicians can work with and complement PCNs. The AMA is currently conversing with Alberta Health (AH) with the aim to work collaboratively with them. Pending what we hear from AH, we will determine exactly how we will roll-out our process.
◊ Section of General Practice Dr. Ann R. Vaidya (Chair), President T 403.873.2352 F 403.873.2364 gppres@albertadoctors.org ◊ Section of Rural Medicine Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, President T 403.562.8804 F 403.562.2905 srmpres@albertadoctors.org ◊ PCN Leads Executive Dr. Allan L. Bailey T 780.962.9888 baileymd@telusplanet.net
Proposed process: Interested physician groups (including PCN groups) will contact the AMA to indicate interest in submitting a proposal. A guideline and template for proposals will be provided to these groups. The groups can identify desired AMA assistance in developing the proposal. Written proposals will be submitted (date to be announced soon). Proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee. We anticipate working with 5-10 groups in developing detailed proposals. 3. Continued development of activities that support the AMA’s primary care strategy, such as: Formalizing the position on formal attachment. Developing and communicating our position on accreditation for PCNs, FCCs and even individual physician clinics. Securing PCN funding and determining ongoing governance for PCNs.
The Primary Care Alliance (PCA), which includes the Section of General Practice, Section of Rural Medicine and the Primary Care Network (PCN) Physician Leads Executive, issues a joint Section News submission about current issues affecting general practitioners. All comments and feedback on the PCA Section News submission should be emailed to Ms Nella Papaianni, Manager, General Practice Liaison (nella.papaianni@albertadoctors.org). � PCA Board Meeting
Members of the PCA Board met on September 7. Items for discussion included: • AMA Primary Care Project and Action Plan o Board members reviewed and approved the AMA’s Primary Care Project and Action Plan. o The purpose of the plan is to build upon the AMA’s vision of, and strategy for, primary care while ensuring physician involvement and promoting communication. o The plan outlines three main priorities: 1. Community and public engagement strategy – Engaging the community is one way to ensure the longevity of PCNs and highlight the role of primary care physicians in providing care for Albertans.
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September 2012 Section News
o o
The PCA Board will oversee the continued development and implementation of the plan. The project and action plan is now available on the AMA website (https:// www.albertadoctors.org/about/ governance/business-plan-and-budget/ PrimaryCareActionandProjectPlan Sept2012FINAL.pdf). The PCA Board welcomes your feedback at primarycarealliance@albertadoctors.org.
Management, AHS; and Dr. Thomas W. Noseworthy, Associate Chief Medical Officer, Strategic Clinical Networks and Clinical Care Pathways, AHS joined the PCA Board meeting to discuss primary care issues, including FCCs, strategic clinical networks (SCNs), clinical pathways, discharge summary, C-CHANGE and closed loop referral. • PCA Board meets with Health Minister Fred Horne – The PCA Board had a very useful exchange with the minister and reiterated the PCA Board’s desire to work collaboratively with the government with respect to FCC development. The future of PCNs was also discussed and the role they could play going forward. The minister made no firm commitments but acknowledged some of the work undertaken by the AMA and usefulness of maintaining a dialogue. Following the minister’s meeting, further discussions have occurred with the Assistant Deputy Minister, Primary Care, Alberta Health. The AMA’s FCC process was shared with government with a formal request to work together versus separately on FCC expansion.
• Discussion paper – A Vision for Family Care Clinics – Responses to this report were evaluated. The feedback received was very positive. • Negotiations – PCA Board members received an update on the status of negotiations. • Governance – Terms of reference for the PCA Board and PCA Forum were received and approved. They will be forwarded to the October 19 PCA Forum. • Community Physician Information Sharing Framework – Community physicians are receiving requests to share patient information with various organizations while ensuring compliance with the Health Information Act. Members discussed and evaluated this issue. • Pharmacist prescribing – The board received a request from the Section of General Practice (SGP) to review the issues associated with pharmacist prescribing and provide feedback to the section. The board agrees that a strategy is needed to deal with the problems resulting from this matter, particularly in light of the government’s recent promotion of the role of pharmacists in prescribing medication. • Minister’s Advisory Committee on FCCs – At the time of writing, representatives of the PCA were at the meeting of the Minister’s Advisory Committee on FCCs. We will provide an update in the October issue of Section News. • Open discussion between Alberta Health Services (AHS) and PCA Board – The PCA Board’s relationship with AHS continues to be strengthened by open communication. Dr. Richard Z. Lewanczuk, Senior Medical Director, Primary Care and Chronic Disease
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PCN Physician Leads Forum
The PCN Physician Leads Forum (October 26-27) will feature several sessions, including: • Discussions around how PCNs can optimize their viability in a changing landscape. • PCN community engagement. • Current activities and strategies around primary care in Alberta. In addition, the Minister of Health has agreed to attend the forum to discuss the government’s plans for primary care. • PCN executive directors will be involved in the Friday sessions discussing PCN viability and community engagement. Register for the forum today. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Ertman by email – linda.ertman@ albertadoctors.org. Dates for the 2013‑14 forum have been revised due to scheduling issues. For 2013, the dates are March 8-9 and October 18-19. For 2014, the dates are March 7-8 and October 3-4.
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September 2012 Section News
Section of General Practice/ Section of Rural Medicine
• Nominating Committee Report – Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, president of SRM, was acclaimed to the RF as the nominating committee’s candidate for AMA president-elect. • Negotiations – Negotiations dominated discussions at RF. A strategic overview from senior AMA staff covered the current status of negotiations as well as an opportunity to provide feedback on next steps. A summary of a recent membership survey on negotiations as well as an advocacy and government relations assessment was also provided. • Other items for discussion included the AMA’s decision to seek intervener status at the upcoming inquiry into preferential access, AHS strategic clinical networks, and the report from the Health Law Institute on the management of physicians with health conditions. • Section of Chronic Pain – An application for the establishment of a Section of Chronic Pain was successful.
◊ Dr. Ann R. Vaidya, President T 403.873.2352 F 403.873.2364 gppres@albertadoctors.org ◊ Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, President T 403.562.8804 F 403.562.2905 srmpres@albertadoctors.org � Section Membership
We need your support – become a section member today! If you are not a member of either the Section of General Practice (SGP) or the Section of Rural Medicine (SRM), please complete Step 5 of your AMA membership renewal form to support your section with section membership. Revenue from section membership dues allows for increased leadership capacity in the areas of general/ family practice, and helps increase the sections’ visibility and influence within the primary care landscape. Both sections represent general/family practitioners and face common issues. With our cooperative efforts, we represent your concerns as a priority at the AMA Representative Forum (RF) and also bring them to the attention of the AMA Board of Directors and various AMA committees. Your dues also fund a wide range of work, from dealing with allocation increases to the Physician Services Budget to influencing the direction of negotiations.
Section of General Practice Dr. Ann R. Vaidya, President T 403.873.2352 F 403.873.2364 gppres@albertadoctors.org SGP Executive Committee
The SGP Executive Committee met on September 20. Agenda items for the meeting included: • A review of SGP’s financial statements. • Appointment of representatives on various general practice leadership groups, including the AMA Representative Forum (RF), Primary Care Alliance (PCA) Forum, General Practice Liaison (GPL) Executive and others. • Evaluation of SGP membership numbers and recent membership drive activities. • Assessment and development of strategies related to issues of pharmacist prescribing. • Plans for the SGP retreat (scheduled for November). The SGP received reports from the PCA Board, which included a review of the proposed AMA Primary Care Action Plan, as well as the GPL Executive.
For more information, contact Nella Papaianni, Manager, General Practice Liaison, by phone 780. 482.0676 or email nella.papaianni@albertadoctors.org. AMA Representative Forum
Delegates from the SGP and SRM attended the AMA’s Representative Forum (RF) on September 21-22. The September 28 AMA President’s Letter (https://www. albertadoctors.org/media/presidents-letter/plarchive/september-28-2012-pl) by new AMA President Dr. R. Michael Giuffre provides more detail of RF discussions and outcomes. Highlights include:
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September 2012 Section News
Section of Rural Medicine Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, President T 403.562.8804 F 403.562.2905 srmpres@albertadoctors.org
In addition, the SGP reviewed the allocation submission for 2013, which includes: • A new fee code for providing advice to pharmacists. • Billing for seniors in supportive living units. • Hospital billing codes, including a proposed change to the 03.03D fee code and a new transfer of care code for hospitalists.
Dr. Allan S. Garbutt becomes AMA
President‑Elect
At the AMA annual general meeting on September 22, Dr. Allan S. Garbutt, president of the Section of Rural Medicine, was acclaimed president-elect of the AMA. He will remain president of the Section of Rural Medicine until the section’s annual general meeting on January 26, 2013. At that time, Dr. Tobias N.M. Gelber will assume presidency of the section.
SGP annual general meeting
The annual general meeting for SGP was held on September 20. Dr. Ann R. Vaidya was acclaimed as president-elect and will be leading the SGP Executive Committee until September 2015. The members of the 2012-13 SGP Executive Committee are: • • • • • • • • • • • •
Dr. Ann R. Vaidya, President Dr. Dianne E. Brox, Past President Dr. Paul L. Toye, Treasurer Dr. Kathryn L. Andrusky Dr. Peter C. Jamieson Dr. Edward W. Papp Dr. Michael R. Poitras Dr. A. James Pope Dr. Fredryyka D. Rinaldi Dr. Patricia R. Smith Dr. Wendy L. Tink Ex-officio members (from the Section of Rural Medicine, Alberta College of Family Physicians, and the Primary Care Networks Physician Leads Executive)
2012 Tarrant Scholarship presentation
On September 19, the Section of Rural Medicine presented the Tarrant Scholarship to two medical students. The 2012 recipients are University of Alberta medical student Clark Svrcek and University of Calgary medical student Stephen Annand. Both demonstrated an interest in, and dedication to, rural medical issues in their undergraduate work. The scholarship provides a full year’s tuition for the recipients. Visit the AMA website to learn more about the scholarship and to read the biographies of the recipients (https://www.albertadoctors.org/about/ awards/tarrant). AMA Representative Forum (RF)
SRM RF delegates attended the fall session of the RF. Please see the joint submission in this issue from SGP/ SRM for details.
SGP Executive retreat
The SGP Executive retreat is scheduled for November 23-24. Members will participate in facilitated sessions with a goal to establish priorities that will guide the section in the coming year, and to evaluate the current primary care environment. AMA Representative Forum (RF)
SGP RF delegates attended the fall session of the RF. Please see the joint submission in this issue from SGP/ SRM for details.
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September 2012 Section News
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September 2012 Section News