Provincial government announces more money for doctors

The provincial government says it is investing $39.6 million to pay family doctors more and create incentives to get more Nova Scotians off the province’s ‘Need a Family Practice’ list.

Premier Stephen McNeil made the announcement on March 19. He was joined by Dr. Tim Holland, president-elect of Doctors Nova Scotia, and Dr. Heather Johnson, a family doctor from Bridgewater.

“We value the dedication of our family doctors to their profession and to their patients,” said Premier McNeil. “We want to thank Doctors Nova Scotia for working with us to develop incentives aimed at supporting our family doctors and attracting new ones, while improving access to care for more Nova Scotians.”

As part of the investments, $13.9 million will go toward increasing compensation for fee-for-service and alternative payment plan family doctors.

The government will increase the basic office visit rate for patients under 65 years of age from $31.72 to $36.00. The basic office visit rate for patients 65 years and over will increase from $40.26 to $44.54. These are the two most commonly billed fees, used by family doctors who see patients from their roster.

Family doctors under alternative payment plan contracts will also receive an increase consistent with the overall increase to fee-forservice rates.

“Doctors Nova Scotia worked with government to provide some immediate short-term solutions to help stabilize the primary care system in Nova Scotia,” said Dr. Manoj Vohra, president, Doctors Nova Scotia. “We believe this is a positive first step toward working together to begin addressing issues in the health-care system - both short and long term.”

In working with Doctors Nova Scotia, government has also de- veloped incentives to support family doctors in using technology and taking on more patients, where they can.