Alberta Health Services Managed Risk Agreement
Alberta Health Services Managed Risk Agreement: Understanding the Basics
The Alberta Health Services Managed Risk Agreement (AHS MRA) is a contractual agreement between Alberta Health Services and physicians in the province of Alberta, Canada. This agreement provides a financial incentive for physicians to deliver high-quality care in a cost-effective manner.
The AHS MRA was introduced in 2011 and has since been revised multiple times. The current agreement is in effect from April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022. This agreement applies to physicians who bill the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) fee-for-service method and includes both primary care and specialist physicians.
The primary goal of the AHS MRA is to encourage physicians to provide efficient and effective care while improving patient outcomes. The agreement achieves this goal by providing financial incentives for meeting specific targets related to the provision of care, such as timely access to care, appropriate test ordering, and effective management of chronic diseases.
The AHS MRA incentivizes physicians to manage risk by rewarding them for meeting specific targets. These targets are established by the AHS and are based on evidence-based clinical guidelines. The targets vary according to physician specialty and are designed to reflect the unique needs of each specialty.
One of the key features of the AHS MRA is that it emphasizes the importance of continuity of care. This means that physicians are encouraged to provide ongoing care to their patients rather than referring them to a specialist for every minor issue. The agreement rewards physicians for providing comprehensive care that encompasses both prevention and treatment.
The AHS MRA also includes measures to promote collaboration between physicians and other healthcare professionals. For example, physicians are encouraged to work with pharmacists to ensure that patients receive appropriate medications and to collaborate with other specialists to provide coordinated care.
In summary, the Alberta Health Services Managed Risk Agreement is a contractual agreement between the AHS and physicians in Alberta, Canada. The agreement provides financial incentives for physicians to deliver high-quality care in a cost-effective manner. The AHS MRA incentivizes physicians to manage risk by meeting specific targets related to the provision of care. It also emphasizes the importance of continuity of care and promotes collaboration between physicians and other healthcare professionals.