Statement on disclosure of Medicare payments to New Brunswick physicians

The Society recognizes the importance of public disclosure of Medicare payments to New Brunswick physicians. Transparency and accountability in the use of public funds are essential, and government has a responsibility to clearly report how provincial health-care dollars are allocated, including payments made to physicians for medically insured services.

It is important, however, to clarify that the figures reported for individual physicians more often than not represent the gross income for the services provided by their clinics and do not represent personal income. Many physicians in New Brunswick are small business owners who must cover expenses such as office rent, staff salaries and benefits, medical equipment, and professional insurance. In a fee-for-service model, increases in gross physician income usually equate to increased access to care as physicians build up their practices, hire new resources and offer more services to their patients.