NMA Vol. 22, No. 1, Spring 2003 |
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Volume 22. Number 1 Surina 2003 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER ! ► www.nlma.nf.ca NLMA's arbitration submission summarized Strong case made on behalf of province's physicians The final decision of an arbitration board appointed to resolve outstanding issues between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association on behalf of the physicians of the province is expected in the coming weeks. "After months of consultation with physicians, protracted and ultimately unsuccessful negotiations with government and a 17-day service withdrawal that triggered the arbitration process, a new agreement is now close at hand," said JsiLMA President Dr. John Haggie. \e arbitration board will deal with the macro and meso-allocations - that is the total global value of the agreement and the total percentage increase available to each discipline. The arbitration board will not determine the micro-allocations for general practitioners and specialist groups. That process is under way and involves consultation with each discipline and collaboration with the provincial government. Dr. Haggie said the NLMA presented a strong and compelling case to the arbitration board. "We presented sound arguments to support our positions related to fee-for-service and salaried physician issues." A summary of the NLMA's position on key items before the arbitration board follows. Inserts with this issue: • NLPDP - the NLMA has entered into a joint communications program to make physicians more aware about the programs and services of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. The introductory bulletin is included in this issue of Nexus. Breast Cancer Patient Retreat May 30 to June 2 Fee Increase The NLMA is seeking Atlantic parity for its fee-for-service members. That is, fee-for- service physicians in this province should be compensated at rates on par with their colleagues throughout the other Atlantic Provinces. The final offer of the NLMA prior to arbitration requested $45.8 million over three years. The Association made a case for $45 million in new funding for fee-for- service physicians - $35.1 million in year one, $4.9 million in year two, and $5 million in the final year. Essentially, this is 2002 parity with a three per cent increase for each year (2003, 2004 and 2005). Deficit Recovery/No Cap, No Thresholds The MOU contained provisions for a cap on global payments to physicians and individual income thresholds. Total global payments above a prescribed amount were to be recovered from physicians. Similarly, payments to individual physicians will be reduced or "prorated" when the physician's total annual billings reach prescribed amounts. These measures protect government while shifting the financial burden to physicians. Government has stated it is prepared to "write off" or not recover the current deficit under the global cap, an offer government values at $2.8 million. It is the position of the NLMA that the "recovery" of this money is an item covered in the MOU and JMC and therefore the calculation of the amount should be dealt with under those agreements and not by the arbitration board. Further, the NLMA believes that while government's offer to "write off" the deficit is in good faith, government is simply writing off the cost of medically necessary services already provided. The province would be paying for services which it is bound to provide and fund under the Canada Health Act. Arbitration documents Similarly, the Association strongly opposes the global cap and individual income thresholds and is arguing that both the cap and individual threshold be eliminated. ER Hourly Payment Rates The NLMA is seeking an improvement in the hourly rate paid to physicians providing on- site and off-site emergency room coverage. It is the Association's position that the physicians providing on-site services should be paid a rate of $125 per hour plus a premium of $15.63 per hour (or 12.5 per cent) for weekends, statutory holidays and hours between 12 midnight and 8 a.m. As well, the Association is requesting $30 per hour plus fee-for-service billings for physicians providing off-site ER coverage. See "Arbitration" on page 10... NEXUS defined: A connected group or series; a bond, a connection. NEXUS
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Title | NMA Vol. 22, No. 1, Spring 2003 |
Description | Nexus, Volume 22, No. 1 (Spring 2003) |
Transcript | Volume 22. Number 1 Surina 2003 NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER ! ► www.nlma.nf.ca NLMA's arbitration submission summarized Strong case made on behalf of province's physicians The final decision of an arbitration board appointed to resolve outstanding issues between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association on behalf of the physicians of the province is expected in the coming weeks. "After months of consultation with physicians, protracted and ultimately unsuccessful negotiations with government and a 17-day service withdrawal that triggered the arbitration process, a new agreement is now close at hand," said JsiLMA President Dr. John Haggie. \e arbitration board will deal with the macro and meso-allocations - that is the total global value of the agreement and the total percentage increase available to each discipline. The arbitration board will not determine the micro-allocations for general practitioners and specialist groups. That process is under way and involves consultation with each discipline and collaboration with the provincial government. Dr. Haggie said the NLMA presented a strong and compelling case to the arbitration board. "We presented sound arguments to support our positions related to fee-for-service and salaried physician issues." A summary of the NLMA's position on key items before the arbitration board follows. Inserts with this issue: • NLPDP - the NLMA has entered into a joint communications program to make physicians more aware about the programs and services of the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program. The introductory bulletin is included in this issue of Nexus. Breast Cancer Patient Retreat May 30 to June 2 Fee Increase The NLMA is seeking Atlantic parity for its fee-for-service members. That is, fee-for- service physicians in this province should be compensated at rates on par with their colleagues throughout the other Atlantic Provinces. The final offer of the NLMA prior to arbitration requested $45.8 million over three years. The Association made a case for $45 million in new funding for fee-for- service physicians - $35.1 million in year one, $4.9 million in year two, and $5 million in the final year. Essentially, this is 2002 parity with a three per cent increase for each year (2003, 2004 and 2005). Deficit Recovery/No Cap, No Thresholds The MOU contained provisions for a cap on global payments to physicians and individual income thresholds. Total global payments above a prescribed amount were to be recovered from physicians. Similarly, payments to individual physicians will be reduced or "prorated" when the physician's total annual billings reach prescribed amounts. These measures protect government while shifting the financial burden to physicians. Government has stated it is prepared to "write off" or not recover the current deficit under the global cap, an offer government values at $2.8 million. It is the position of the NLMA that the "recovery" of this money is an item covered in the MOU and JMC and therefore the calculation of the amount should be dealt with under those agreements and not by the arbitration board. Further, the NLMA believes that while government's offer to "write off" the deficit is in good faith, government is simply writing off the cost of medically necessary services already provided. The province would be paying for services which it is bound to provide and fund under the Canada Health Act. Arbitration documents Similarly, the Association strongly opposes the global cap and individual income thresholds and is arguing that both the cap and individual threshold be eliminated. ER Hourly Payment Rates The NLMA is seeking an improvement in the hourly rate paid to physicians providing on- site and off-site emergency room coverage. It is the Association's position that the physicians providing on-site services should be paid a rate of $125 per hour plus a premium of $15.63 per hour (or 12.5 per cent) for weekends, statutory holidays and hours between 12 midnight and 8 a.m. As well, the Association is requesting $30 per hour plus fee-for-service billings for physicians providing off-site ER coverage. See "Arbitration" on page 10... NEXUS defined: A connected group or series; a bond, a connection. NEXUS |