More than 20 doctors exceeded $1 million in earnings, says health department report
A new report from New Brunswick’s Department of Health has revealed that more than 20 doctors had earnings in excess of $1 million each last year.
Based on the information, which was gathered and reported five years after the province’s auditor general started pressuring authorities to publish physician earnings, the highest-paid physician was Miramichi Hospital radiologist Stewart MacMillan, according to CBC News.
MacMillan reportedly got paid between $1.5 million and $1.55 million in 2016, which the Department of Health said constitutes gross earnings — that is, it does not take into account expenses such as staff salaries or rent that some doctors may have to shoulder.
In 2012, New Brunswick’s Auditor General Kim MacPherson recommended publicizing doctors’ billings, among other measures after finding out that some doctors were either overbilling Medicare or double-billing for services.
There were reportedly 24 New Brunswick doctors who got more than $1 million last year, the vast majority of whom were specialists. Among these doctors, there were:
Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbec, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, said billing figures often reflect workloads, which in turn have been affected by a physician shortage. She noted that 91 positions are open across the province, including radiology positions in certain areas.
“'Some of these physicians are probably working way too much and that's responsible for the numbers that you're seeing,” she told CBC News.
Murphy-Kaulbec also estimated around a third of earnings goes toward expenses for doctors who operate on a fee-for-service basis. While she was admittedly concerned about people’s reaction to the numbers, she stressed the importance of keeping medical graduates within the province through competitive salaries.
The latest data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information has New Brunswick at seventh place out of ten provinces in terms of doctor earnings, with average salaries pegged at $302,123.
The figures can now be made public because of legislative changes that the province made in 2015, according to Health Minister Victor Boudreau. While he declined to comment on whether doctors were being overcompensated, he shared Murphy-Kaulbec’s focus on keeping wages competitive.
A committee is being set up to review medical fees as part of a four-year agreement with the New Brunswick Medical Society, Boudreau said.
“Some would say there are some fee codes that are too high because of technological advances,” he said. “There may be other fee codes that are too low.”
Related stories:
Ontario doctors wage legal fight against billing information disclosure
Health Minister Philpott promises action against double-billing doctors
Based on the information, which was gathered and reported five years after the province’s auditor general started pressuring authorities to publish physician earnings, the highest-paid physician was Miramichi Hospital radiologist Stewart MacMillan, according to CBC News.
MacMillan reportedly got paid between $1.5 million and $1.55 million in 2016, which the Department of Health said constitutes gross earnings — that is, it does not take into account expenses such as staff salaries or rent that some doctors may have to shoulder.
In 2012, New Brunswick’s Auditor General Kim MacPherson recommended publicizing doctors’ billings, among other measures after finding out that some doctors were either overbilling Medicare or double-billing for services.
There were reportedly 24 New Brunswick doctors who got more than $1 million last year, the vast majority of whom were specialists. Among these doctors, there were:
- 10 radiologists
- 6 ophthalmologists
- 2 general surgeons
- 2 family doctors
- 1 cardiologist
- 1 gastroenterologist
- 1 dermatologist
- 1 paediatrician
Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbec, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, said billing figures often reflect workloads, which in turn have been affected by a physician shortage. She noted that 91 positions are open across the province, including radiology positions in certain areas.
“'Some of these physicians are probably working way too much and that's responsible for the numbers that you're seeing,” she told CBC News.
Murphy-Kaulbec also estimated around a third of earnings goes toward expenses for doctors who operate on a fee-for-service basis. While she was admittedly concerned about people’s reaction to the numbers, she stressed the importance of keeping medical graduates within the province through competitive salaries.
The latest data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information has New Brunswick at seventh place out of ten provinces in terms of doctor earnings, with average salaries pegged at $302,123.
The figures can now be made public because of legislative changes that the province made in 2015, according to Health Minister Victor Boudreau. While he declined to comment on whether doctors were being overcompensated, he shared Murphy-Kaulbec’s focus on keeping wages competitive.
A committee is being set up to review medical fees as part of a four-year agreement with the New Brunswick Medical Society, Boudreau said.
“Some would say there are some fee codes that are too high because of technological advances,” he said. “There may be other fee codes that are too low.”
Related stories:
Ontario doctors wage legal fight against billing information disclosure
Health Minister Philpott promises action against double-billing doctors
