Dialogue Volume 13 Issue 4 2017 | Page 24

BUDGET 2018

Fee increase proposed

More resources needed to address unprecedented volume of complaints

After reviewing the proposed budget for 2018 , Council is recommending a $ 100 fee increase to renew an independent practice certificate . This increase , if approved , would bring the fee to $ 1,725 . The fee increase is required to ensure the College has the resources to fulfill our statutory obligations . The College has a mandate to register qualified physicians , investigate complaints , and ensure physicians are providing quality care to their patients throughout their career . If the proposed fee is approved by Council next February , the average increase per year for the 2013-2018 period will be 2.25 %. For most of the years within the past five , the rate was below inflation . Council understands the financial challenges currently facing physicians , but it is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the College can fulfill its statutory duty in a timely manner . This means having the necessary resources in place to operate a robust regulatory system that can continue to govern in the public interest . The College has always been committed to responsibly managing our financial resources , and as noted , only modest fee increases have been implemented over the past five years . In fact , one year there was no fee increase at all . We have made process changes and implemented cost-saving efficiencies wherever we can – such as reducing resources to address non-urgent matters . Plans are under development to derive further savings in 2018 . This work to find efficiencies , enhance processes and streamline our operations is ongoing .

The scope of the College ’ s work is set by legislation and we do not have the option to narrow our focus in response to increasing costs . We continue to face an unprecedented volume of cases and significantly , an increase in the number of complex and time-consuming investigations . Over the last several years , the number of investigations has been steadily climbing – in the last year alone there was a 13 % increase in the total caseload , with a 45 % increase in the more complex Registrar ’ s Investigations . And as of October , there were more than 108 open discipline matters – an unprecedented number .
Other external drivers which impact the College ’ s budget include those numerous issues that arrive at the College and require – based on risk , public safety , stakeholder relationships or direction by government – concentrated work efforts across the organization to achieve the optimal outcome . Recent examples include the work necessitated by Bills 87 and 160 . The College is committed to being transparent about its finances and its resource requirements to operate programs . The Finance Committee regularly provides detailed reports to the public Council meetings and all Committees and College programs report regularly on College activities and benchmarks .
MEDICAL REGULATORY AUTHORITIES A FEE COMPARISON
Licensure / Renewal Fees
2018
CPSA
$ 1,960
CPSPEI
$ 1,900
CPSS
$ 1,880
CPSNS
$ 1,850
CPSNL
$ 1,850
CPSM
$ 1,780
CPSO
$ 1,725
CPSBC
$ 1,680
CMQ
$ 1,520
CPSNB
$ 600
NT
$ 250
YK
$ 250
NU $ 250
The College is required , to set fees in the form of bylaws , and to circulate all by-laws to the membership . Below is the proposed amendment .
By-Law No . 116 Subsection 4 ( a ) of By-Law No . 2 ( the Fees and Remuneration By-Law ) is revoked and the following is substituted : Annual Fees
4 . Annual fees for the year beginning June 1 , 2018 , are as follows : ( a ) $ 1725 for holders of a certificate of registration other than a certificate of registration authorizing postgraduate education and other than a certificate of registration authorizing supervised practice of a short duration ; and
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DIALOGUE ISSUE 4 , 2017