The Arbitration Award:

In Years 1 to 3 of the arbitration award, family doctors will see a series of one-time payments based on their billings in that year and the normative increase our specialty receives.  These calculations are still being finalized between the OMA and the Ministry.  

The normative increase in Year 4 will be allocated by changing the Schedule of Benefits (SOB) fee codes as well as other intra-sectional funding allocations, for all specialties, including family medicine.  Sections have been asked to start analyzing cost implications for their specialty’s proposed SOB fee code changes, which can include changes to existing codes, or even proposed new codes.  This is a monumental task that will be undertaken by a special working group within the Section Executive.

Appropriateness Working Group (AWG):

The OMA Negotiations Committee is preparing for Round 2 of proposals for the bilateral AWG.  With a longer lead-time than Round 1, we anticipate being able to tap into the insights of frontline family doctors.  We will again work closely with the OMA, since much of this work is similar to the negotiations process and therefore subject to confidentiality provisions. 
 

Achieving equitable income for all doctors:

The OMA will be exploring an alternative to the current CANDI relativity methodology.  During the summer, OMA will be consulting widely, and your Section is creating another working group to focus on developing a fair solution. 
 

Changes to governance of the OMA Board and Council:

SGFP delegates participated in the OMA governance renewal session on May 3 which dealt with the restructuring of OMA Council and the Board.  Broader consultations will occur over the next 6 months.  As the largest specialty within the OMA, your Section aims to ensure family medicine influence remains strong within a reconfigured OMA. 

Sharing success and progress at the SGFP Annual General Meeting (AGM):

More than a hundred frontline family doctors from across Ontario registered to participate by videoconference to join SGFP leaders and delegates at our AGM this past weekend. We received positive feedback on our work to inform and support family doctors in relation to the emerging Ontario Health Teams (OHT).  Critical to our members’ needs will be the ability for our members to communicate and develop strategy with each other within a secure online platform. Your Section has been working diligently with OMA staff to develop an updated platform which is on the cusp of being released to the membership.  Look for an exciting update in June from the OMA and SGFP about this initiative.

Your SGFP team:

Throughout my tenure with the Section, I have been fortunate to work with an exceptional team whose members serve as your representatives within the OMA.  They are listed in this mailing and I encourage you to get to know your representative(s).  Some of our colleagues, however, are moving on and to them, I would like to give a special ‘thank you’ for the dedicated years of service and commitment they have contributed to our specialty and to our Section.  These individuals include Dr. Chris Jyu (Member-at-Large), Dr. Lisa Habermehl (District 10) and Dr. Chris Pinto (District 11).  Additionally, I’d like to thank my immediate predecessor, Dr. Asad Razzaque for his contributions to the work of the Section. 

Connect with us, with your questions and comments

Each of these issues will affect family doctors over the next months and years, and your SGFP Executive is listening to you and advocating on your behalf.  Send us an email to share your insights and views.

Dr. Allan Studniberg, MD Chair, OMA Section on General and Family Practice