The Department of Health and Community Services has filled a new Manager of Physician Relations position, which will help strengthen its relationship with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA).
NLMA members, including individual physicians, clinics, and physician groups with questions regarding the department’s Medical Care Plan (MCP) adjudication can now contact Mr. Gerard Power, the new Manager of Physician Relations, to receive additional information, such as:
- Timely information on MCP adjudications;
- Clear reasons on decisions to adjust or reject claims; and
- Guidance on how physicians can avoid future adjustments.
Mr. Power has been employed as a manager with MCP for the past seven years and has an extensive background in financial services, legislation, health policy and operations in the public sector. He can be reached at GerardPower@gov.nl.ca or 709-729-1011.
The position is part of the Shared Agenda for Family Medicine, which addresses issues related to the retention of the province’s family physician workforce. The agenda, created earlier this year, outlines plans for:
- Physician recruitment and retention;
- Family care teams;
- Human resource shortages; and
- Emergency medicine services.
Both the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and NLMA recognize the value and importance of adjudication of MCP claims and the importance of compensating doctors for the insured service they provide to patients.
Quotes
“We all know the valuable role physicians play in our province’s health care system. The new Manager of Physician Relations will help to ensure that physicians receive clear, timely correspondence on decision-making, and guidance on adjustments related to MCP. We look forward to working with NLMA membership to ensure answers are provided in a timely fashion to assist with billing and other enquiries, thus reducing administrative burden for physicians.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Improving physician recruitment and retention includes addressing systemic issues within the health care system that our members tell us are contributing to administrative burden and burnout. The NLMA looks forward to collaborating with the new Manager of Physician Relations to improve processes within the MCP claims and audit system, which will help physicians practice more efficiently so they can spend more time with patients.”
Dr. Gerard Farrell
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association
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Learn more
Provincial Government and NLMA Sign Shared Agenda for Family Medicine
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