Alberta Grants Nurse Practitioners Ability to Establish Clinics Using $15M Funding Model
Alberta is rolling out a new compensation plan that would enable nurse practitioners to earn 80 percent of what family doctors make as part of a new $15 million program. The goal is to address gaps in the healthcare system by connecting more residents with a primary care provider.
The decision to have nurse practitioners receive 80 percent of a family doctor’s income was based on the assumption that nurse practitioners would take on 80 percent of a physician’s duties, explained Ms. LaGrange.
“This is the first funding model that directly parallels what our physician counterparts have received,” remarked Jennifer Mador, president of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta (NPAA). She noted that the funding offers an entrepreneurial opportunity for nurse practitioners to operate their own clinics.
Nurse practitioners must meet specific criteria to be eligible for the program, including providing necessary primary care services, working towards a patient list of 900 within two years, offering after-hours access, and accepting walk-in appointments as they expand their patient base.
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The government anticipates that once fully operational, the program will assist around 45,000 patients.
“We predict that up to 50 nurse practitioners may engage in the nurse practitioner Primary Care Program this year,” Ms. LaGrange revealed, emphasizing that 45,000 patients is a significant number that will tackle accessibility concerns.
According to a government news release, at least three to five positions will be set aside for nurse practitioners working in First Nations reserves or Metis settlements.
Premier Danielle Smith mentioned that the NPAA has been awarded a $2 million grant for the next three years to aid nurse practitioners in getting started, including assistance with applications, staff recruitment, and planning for the establishment of team-based clinics.
The program offers up to $10,000 annually to help primary healthcare providers manage a growing patient load, incentives through the rural remote and northern program to encourage practice in rural regions, and a one-time payment of $75 for each additional patient beyond the 900-patient panel.
“Moreover, clinics, communities, and primary care networks can collaborate with nurse practitioners who are new to practice by applying for one-time mentorship funding,” added Ms. LaGrange. “Through this funding, $10,000 is available for mentors during each nurse practitioner’s initial 18 months to ensure a smooth transition to full practice.”
Ms. Mador highlighted that the fusion of nursing and biomedical training enables nurse practitioners to serve as the only immediate option for meeting today’s and tomorrow’s primary care demands.
