The Ministry of Health has finalized the 2025 Physician Master Agreement (PMA) and has begun publishing approved compensation rates. As a result, some physician compensation models are now ready for implementation, while others remain pending until further provincial decisions are completed.
Rates Being Implemented
The following compensation models have finalized rates and are approved for implementation:
- Sessional (SES) rates
- After-Hours Premiums (AHP)
- New-to-Practice (NTP) contracts
- Anesthesia Provincial Template (APT) contracts
- Medical On Call Availability Payments (MOCAP)
- Call Back payments
- Joint Collaborative Committee Payments (Health System Redesign, Physician Quality Improvement Initiative)
Retroactive Payments timeline
Physicians paid under these models will receive retroactive compensation for eligible services provided prior to implementation, back to the applicable effective date of the rate increase.
Island Health expects retroactive payments to be calculated and processed beginning in September.
Rates Pending Provincial Approval
Physicians working under the following arrangements will continue to be paid at 2024/25 rates until further notice:
- Standard Alternative Payment Subsidiary Agreement (APSA) contracts
- Hospitalist Provincial Template (HPT) contracts
- Over-the-Range (OTR) contracts
- Salary Agreements for clinical services
Why Have These Rates Not Been Finalized?
While the PMA includes general compensation increases, final rates for Service Contracts and Salary Agreements depend on decisions by the provincial Allocation Committee, which is responsible for determining any additional practice category adjustments.
The Ministry of Health has advised all Health Authorities not to implement interim rates until the Allocation Committee process is complete. Provincial decisions are expected by March 15, 2027.
What Happens Next?
March 2027(anticipated)
- Allocation Committee decisions are expected to be finalized.
- Updated SC and SAL rates will be published by the Ministry of Health.
Following Publication of Final Rates
- New rates will be implemented for affected Service Contracts and Salary Agreements.
- Eligible retroactive payments will be processed.
- Additional guidance will be provided to physicians and Health Authorities.
Key Message: If you are compensated through a Sessional, After-Hours Premium, New-to-Practice, or Anesthesia Provincial Template arrangement, implementation of your updated PMA rates will begin in September 2026, with retroactive payments expected to follow in the next month.
If you are compensated through a Service Contract, Salary Agreement, Hospitalist Provincial Template, or Over-the-Range arrangement, you will continue to receive payment at 2024/25 rates until final provincial rates are established through the Allocation Committee process, currently expected by March 2027. Any approved increases will be applied retroactively once final rates are released.
No action is required from physicians at this time. Island Health will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available from the Ministry of Health.