Negotiations, fees and contracts

The SMA is the voice of physicians in Saskatchewan. From health-care reform to health issues, the association promotes quality health-care practices and health services and advocates for a quality health-care system for Saskatchewan patients and physicians.

Negotiations and contracts The SMA represents members in both negotiating contracts and administering negotiated contracts. It is the sole bargaining agent for fee-for-service physicians in negotiating with the provincial government. It also provides a number of services to groups and individual physicians working under or considering salary and contractual arrangements, including negotiation support, representation, economic and legal advice and dispute resolution.

Fees The SMA is responsible for the distribution of fee-for-service increases among the various specialty groups, known as the intersectional allocation process. The SMA and the Ministry of Health, through the conjoint Payment Schedule Review Committee, are responsible for the establishment of new fees, and modernizing and updating the fee schedule through changes in fee code rates, assessment rules, fee code descriptions and clarification of appropriate billing protocols and any other facets of the payment schedule.

Billing advice and assistance in communicating with the Ministry of Health, in regard to the payment schedule for insured services provided by a physician, is also available to all members. The SMA publishes the SMA Fee Guide for uninsured services and provides advice and assistance with billing outside agencies such as the Workers’ Compensation Board, SGI and Ministry of Justice as well as out-of-country residents.

For more information, contact:

Marcel Nobert, Executive Director, Physician Services & Benefits Email: marcel.nobert@sma.sk.ca

Mark Ceaser, Director, Economics Email: mark.ceaser@sma.sk.ca

Dr. Mahli Brindamour, paediatrician, Saskatoon