There is NO doubt COVID is a nightmare, so why are AB docs being torn in multiple directions fighting with gov’t? If it were just financial, unlike @shandro, docs could wait until post-pandemic. But the Nightmare goes FAR beyond the finances: welcome to AB docs’ “Elm Street” 👇
1) Lack of Fair Process - aka Good Faith, which Every worker has rights to.
a) Bill 21 - introduced PRIOR to AMA negotiations even started; gov’t preemptively gave Cabinet supposed authority to unilaterally end negotiations/mediation & tear up AMA’s active contract on Feb 20.
a) Bill 21 - introduced PRIOR to AMA negotiations even started; gov’t preemptively gave Cabinet supposed authority to unilaterally end negotiations/mediation & tear up AMA’s active contract on Feb 20.
1) b) Binding Arbitration refusal - alongside Bill 21, effectively denies AB docs our Constitutional Right of Association. As docs cannot strike, access to a 3rd-party conflict resolution process is guaranteed under law. Docs persist in requesting & @shandro persists in denying.
1) c) AHS contract negotiations - “held” as a media strategy, doc stipends still unilat being “reviewed” by AHS. AMA has requested a formal representation during this & other AHS negotiations. AHS’ response? E-mailing “sign or begone” contracts w/ 2 wk deadlines directly to docs.
1) d) Bill 10 - not an exclusive worry of docs, given ill-advised & destructive cuts imposed by @shandro, plus significant questions raised about personal/professional conduct... granting unilat power to this Minister of Health is extremely concerning. Check (& balances) please!
2) Balance of clinical vs financial decision-making and processes
a) Unilat de-listing of med services - by invoking Bill 21, apparently @shandro no longer feels he has to “consult” with med professionals. So, Senior’s Drivers & Good Faith claims may only be the FIRST de-listed
a) Unilat de-listing of med services - by invoking Bill 21, apparently @shandro no longer feels he has to “consult” with med professionals. So, Senior’s Drivers & Good Faith claims may only be the FIRST de-listed
2) a) (cont) This is frightening for both docs wanting pts to have access to clinically indicated services AND for pts who should have reassurances that political/partisan decisions shouldn’t influence what is covered or not. As it now stands, @shandro feels he alone will decide.
2) b) Unilat changes to billings - now voided by Bill 21, AMA & gov’t USED to have a process to review billing codes/rules (again, balancing political/financial & clinical). @shandro claimed sole authority so now can change codes whenever & however. With ??patient consequences.
2) c) NO predictability of income - on Mar 31, AB Health snuck in some billing rule changes w/o consulting OR notifying AMA. Apparently, process/notice are no longer necessary. Docs’ clinics are sm businesses: it is totally NOT viable to operate without SOME prediction of income.
3) Financial Mess - as has been reported, the billing changes as of Mar 31 are Extensive and require docs to re-learn multiple new codes. Billings are getting rejected all over the place. This is all totally unnecessary stress/workload at a time when docs need to focus on COVID.
3) (cont) Not only do docs have NO idea when or what their income might be at this point, it is highly doubtful AB Health knows the impact either. Rather than considered or incremental changes, @shandro threw the kitchen sink at docs. NO one knows the $$ results of ANY of this.
3) (cont) But again, the UGLY truth is @shandro et al don’t care. If they cut too much = budgetary “hero”. If they cut too little = they proclaimed the authority to cut whenever/however, rpt as needed. Even pandemic “extra spending” means nothing as the next cuts can cover that.
3) (cont) This ALSO means “maintaining the health budget” is easily do-able... as @shandro can just keep coming back to pick docs’ pockets. The fact that docs have staff, rent, etc to cover & that NOWHERE else in Canada does such a “quicksand of uncertainty” exist, don’t matter.
So... this Nightmare is now the Reality for AB docs. THIS is why docs are seriously going to leave.
Ask yourself: who WOULD keep a job that has no contract, no acknowledged recourse/rights, no predictability of income, no certainty to cover expenses? And above all, NO respect.
Ask yourself: who WOULD keep a job that has no contract, no acknowledged recourse/rights, no predictability of income, no certainty to cover expenses? And above all, NO respect.
Yes, the cuts are devastating, with docs predicting losses of 20-60% based off of billings submitted previously. But the denial of physicians’ rights under the Constitution, and to ANY individual’s need for respect & predictability.
It is a Nightmare of #shandemic proportions.
It is a Nightmare of #shandemic proportions.
