NLMA President Dr. Cynthia Slade (NLMA)
The province’s Medical Association is calling on the leaders of all the political parties to commit to extending overhead funding for independent nurse practitioners to all physicians who deliver medically-insured services in the community.
The provincial government recently announced a pilot project that will provide overhead funding exclusively to independently practicing nurse practitioners to help cover business expenses including clinic space, equipment, supplies and administrative support.
The NLMA says it advocated for similar overhead support for community-based medical clinics during recent contract negotiations, but says government made it clear it would not provide overhead support to community-based physicians operating outside the provincial health authority.
President Dr. Cynthia Slade says they support the pilot for nurse practitioners, but are “deeply concerned” that physicians continue to be excluded from similar overhead support despite the fact that they’re facing similar costs.
The Medical Association says, unlike other independent health care professionals in the community, physicians cannot adjust their fees to reflect rising overhead costs as their compensation is determined by MCP.
They see that as a signal from government of a shift toward replacing family doctors in community care, and they believe it undermines existing community clinics where independent nurse practitioners and physicians are already working together.)