Rein in health minister, premier urged
Doctors’ association says Horne’s behaviour ‘untrustworthy’
The association representing Alberta doctors took its dispute with the provincial government to a personal level Friday, calling on Premier Alison Redford to rein in the “untrustworthy” behaviour of Health Minister Fred Horne.
In separate letters to both Horne and Redford, Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Michael Giuffre also slammed the minister’s recent call for doctors to help him decide how to reduce their fees by $275 million this year.
He said the unexpected request was just one of several instances in which Horne had “misled” physicians during negotiations that now appear to have no end in sight.
“I have repeatedly raised with your minister my serious concerns about his actions and the negative effect they will have on patient care,” Giuffre said in the letter to Redford.
“The AMA respectfully requests that you instruct Minister Horne to cease his untrustworthy behaviour toward Alberta’s physicians.”
Horne called the AMA’s personal criticism “offensive and disappointing.” He said he spoke to Redford on Friday about the letters, but that the premier had no intention of becoming involved in the dispute. “I don’t think personal attacks, and I don’t think scaring patients is the answer to this,” he said. “… I think the answer lies at the negotiating table, but it comes with recognition there are some budgetary constraints.”
The major constraint is that the province has frozen the total budget for physician compensation at $3.4 billion this year. However, Horne recently introduced a new wrinkle by saying $275 million in fee reductions must also be found to ensure the budget has enough money to pay up to 300 new doctors.
The minister had asked the AMA to respond by Friday with suggestions on how to achieve the savings. Though that deadline has now passed, he said the association still has some time to reconsider before he is forced to make a decision.
“It’s disappointing they have chosen not to participate,” Horne said. “It’s not my desire to make a unilateral decision, but it is my responsibility to work within the budget. I’m hopeful Dr. Giuffre’s attitude might change … but there will come a point where I have to have a plan as to how I’m going to stay within the budget.”
However, Giuffre said doctors have no interest in participating in Horne’s process, calling the minister’s demand unfair, arbitrary and confusing. He said the province has not explained how it arrived at the $275-million figure or what types of fees and services they want to “cherry pick” for cuts. Giuffre said the demand for fee reductions is the third example of how Horne has corrupted negotiations that have dragged on close to two years. He said doctors are angry because they feel the government is unwilling to compromise and instead simply wishes to impose an agreement.
“We have a three strikes and you’re out scenario,” he said. “We’d like the premier to instruct minister Horne to get back to the table or (appoint) someone who can return to the table and get the job done.
“If the minister comes back to the table, we have a very good chance of coming to some sort of compromise.”
The AMA has said the government’s current stance will lead to a loss of income for physicians, driving some out of the province and others to close their practices.
Giuffre said that will cause disruptions for patients, which is why his organization is taking the fight to the public. The association is asking patients to call their MLAs, and say they are also ready to initiate legal action accusing the province of improper bargaining behaviour.
Horne said he does not yet have a deadline in mind, but later indicated he would like to have a plan in place by April 1. He said physicians can continue to be paid without an agreement since they are essentially “contractors” rather than unionized employees.