Alta. physicians mull latest changes

Early returns on fee changes aimed at preventing rural doctors in Alberta from withdrawing some services show some physicians ready to continue their work while others are turning thumbs-down.

Ten family doctors have announced they will keep delivering care and babies in the Lac La Biche hospital given the changes announced last week by Health Minister Tyler Shandro.

“Due to the recent amendments and changes by the government — we can continue to provide uninterrupted medical care,” says a Facebook post from the doctors at the Associated Medical Clinic.

But nine doctors from the Associate Clinic in Pincher Creek say they are moving ahead with a plan to withdraw hospital services in 90 days — which they feel is enough time to get patients through the COVID-19 crisis.

Samantha Myhr was one of seven doctors who gave notice last week that they would stop practising at the Pincher Creek Health Centre.

Myhr said Shandro’s announcement tipped the balance for her two remaining colleagues, who were trying to decide whether to still work at the hospital.

“Friday’s (announcement) has united us,” Myhr said in an interview Tuesday. All, she said, are going to withdraw.

She said the issue is not the benefits, but rather the lack of trust in a government that she said has given doctors no meaningful say and no cost certainty.

Shandro rolled back changes he imposed in March that resulted in doctors from numerous rural areas announcing that they would no longer be working in emergency rooms or delivering babies.

He announced he will once again allow doctors to charge for overhead while working in government-run facilities. He also ditched a plan to reduce the provincial contribution to doctors’ medical liability plans.

Myhr is one of the leaders of the Rural Sustainability Group, which has been surveying rural doctors and trying to draw attention to the fee changes.