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Table 2 : Comparison of Provincial Fee and CPI Increases
Province 2010 2011 2012
Alberta |
Fee Change ( Average ) |
4.63 % |
3.85 % |
3.92 % |
|
CPI Change |
0.99 % |
2.44 % |
1.11 % |
British Columbia |
Fee Guide Increase |
2.42 % |
1.80 % |
2.38 % |
|
CPI Change |
1.34 % |
2.37 % |
1.12 % |
Manitoba |
Fee Guide Increase |
3.36 % |
3.49 % |
3.30 % |
|
CPI Change |
0.79 % |
2.96 % |
1.60 % |
New Brunswick |
Fee Guide Increase |
2.00 % |
2.00 % |
3.00 % |
|
CPI Change |
2.11 % |
3.54 % |
1.67 % |
Newfoundland & Labrador Fee Guide Increase |
6.00 % |
6.00 % |
4.50 % |
CPI Change |
2.44 % |
3.41 % |
2.06 % |
Nova Scotia |
Fee Guide Increase |
2.04 % |
2.50 % |
2.52 % |
|
CPI Change |
2.16 % |
3.81 % |
1.96 % |
Ontario |
Fee Guide Increase |
2.43 % |
2.00 % |
2.54 % |
|
CPI Change |
2.46 % |
3.09 % |
1.42 % |
Prince Edward Island |
Fee Guide Increase |
2.07 % |
2.27 % |
2.00 % |
|
CPI Change |
1.88 % |
2.93 % |
2.03 % |
Quebec |
Fee Guide Increase |
2.90 % |
1.60 % |
2.40 % |
|
CPI Change |
1.23 % |
3.05 % |
2.11 % |
Saskatchewan |
Fee Guide Increase |
4.07 % |
3.00 % |
3.01 % |
|
CPI Change |
1.37 % |
2.78 % |
1.56 % |
( certainly a federal government view ) and announced reductions in the federal government transfer payments to some provinces and territories ( beginning in fiscal year 2017 / 2018 ). The ARTA Retiree Benefits plan faces the same challenges as the publicly funded health programs , including the continued escalation of the cost of health care services , products , and supplies . The downturn in the economy and the consequential decrease in revenue will result in an increase in these challenges to provincial and territorial governments as well as to ARTA . ARTA needs to continue to focus on ways to enhance value and manage costs within the health services sector in which it operates .
With the recent dramatic drop in the price of oil , the Alberta government estimates a $ 7 billion budget shortfall in the next fiscal year . This shortfall may mean some structural changes in publicly funded health care — possibly in the areas of revenue generation ( increased or new taxes , or the return of Alberta Health Care premiums that are possibly cost shared by employers and their employees ), in the area of benefit coverage
( maybe a change in eligibility for seniors coverage to an older age — perhaps age 67 ), or a new provision mandating second payor coverage under the Alberta Blue Cross Coverage for Seniors health plan for an Albertan 65 years of age or older who has some employee coverage under an employersponsored benefit plan .
This provincial review will almost certainly mean an increased focus on the cost of professional fees and the level of health care remuneration paid in Alberta compared to other provinces and territories .
The cost of dental benefits will be viewed through this cost management lens to a greater extent by all benefit plans in 2015 . The average dental fee increase on January 1 , 2015 , was 3.15 %, which suggests a weighted cost impact to ARTA ’ s actual claims cost of about 3 % that in turn would suggest a 3 % rate increase for dental benefits on September 1 , 2015 .
In preparation for the anticipated dental fee increases on January 1 , 2016 , we will recommend cost-saving initiatives to ARTA ' s Health and Wellness Benefits Committee that will ensure that the current dental benefit plans will be more sustainable in the longer term . We will also work with ARTA to open a dialogue with the Alberta dental professions regarding these issues . news & views SPRING 2015 | 41