Funding

As a result of the negotiations between Alberta Health and the Alberta Medical Association for 2008-2011, the Physician Office System Program (POSP) received funding in the following areas:

1. Funds to reimburse physicians for electronic medical records (EMRs)
2. Funds to migrate physicians to new EMR solutions, including change management services and data management
3. Transition allowance funding
4. POSP funding

This funding is currently in place until March 31, 2013.

POSP uses an invoice-based reimbursement model to fund physicians for their EMRs. The physician is required to pay the full amount (100%) to the vendor. POSP will reimburse the physician for 70% of eligible invoiced costs as follows:

• Physicians using a VCUR 2006 system receive a maximum of $740 per month, including GST.
• Physicians using a VCUR 2008 system receive a maximum of $35,000 (70% of $50,000), including GST, per physician unit. The cost is calculated over five years, which starts the date the physician signs a contract with a qualified service provider (EMR vendor).

Physicians who transition from their current EMR to a VCUR 2008 EMR solution may also be eligible for a transition allowance, which is one-time funding meant to partially recognize the temporary loss in productivity and the time investment that will accompany a transition to another EMR solution.