Doctors Nova Scotia, the Department of Health and Wellness and Nova Scotia Health  recognize the need to stabilize primary maternity care (PMC) services across the province by putting in place a more equitable and competitive funding model that accurately reflects the staffing needs of each facility. This model provides coverage for all unattached patients as well as for those patients whose care provider is unavailable at the time of delivery.

Physicians working in the IWK PMC, where the service delivery model requires 24/7 on-site coverage, will now be paid through a group APP model. The funding for the IWK PMC model will come into effect retroactive to Sept. 1, 2019.

The contract also provides access to a regional funding model for South Shore, Cumberland, St. Martha’s, Yarmouth and Cape Breton Regional Hospitals. While the details and terms of the model are under development, the funded on-site hours will vary by site and will depend on the number of deliveries and number of obstetricians at each site. Physicians will be paid through a combination of a daily stipend, category 1 facility on-call and the ability to bill FFS for all services delivered outside of the stipend hours. An initial $500,000 will be available retroactive to Oct. 25, 2019, and an additional $200,000 will be available effective April 1, 2020.

Under the 2023 Physician Agreement, physicians working under the Primary Maternity Care (PMC) payment model will benefit from increased facility on call rates. The PMC model will also will be available to any regional hospital (Kentville, Cape Breton, Truro, New Glasgow) that wishes to convert to this alternative payment model, if all parties are agreed it is in the best interests of the system.

For more information, refer to Schedule H of the 2019 Master Agreement.