A new physician services agreement between the province and New Brunswick Medical Society is intended to improve access to primary care.
Premier Susan Holt called the agreement a “major milestone” in the government’s efforts to deliver on the Liberal health plan.
“By caring for the people who care for New Brunswickers, we are strengthening team-based family health care, improving access to services closer to home and making our province a place where doctors want to build their careers,” Holt said.
Members of the New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) voted in favour of a four-year agreement worth about $270 million.
The agreement covers all doctors working in the public health system and includes general economic increases of up to 12.5 per cent over the four years.
It also includes new compensation models that reward physicians for patient attachment, timely access and participation in team-based practice.
The largest increases in remuneration will be available for doctors who choose to work in a collaborative care model.
Health Minister John Dornan said the collaborative approach is being incentivized because it’s been proven to deliver more co-ordinated, timely and reliable access to primary care.
The collaborative care approach involves multiple health-care professionals working together to address patient needs.
“Communities across New Brunswick need more health-care workers,” Dornan said. “This new agreement makes significant, necessary investments in pay and support for physicians, which will position the province to be competitive on a national level.”
NBMS president Dr. Lise Babin said the agreement represents a landmark investment that will improve the province’s capacity to support physicians and their patients.
“This agreement will transform primary health care in New Brunswick through innovative payment models for physicians, targeted investments in support of collaborative care clinics, and clear accountability frameworks that will help ensure the increased funding is tied to patient attachment and timely access to care,” Babin said.
Further details will be shared once the agreement has been signed.
