Not all rules are written in the Medical Governing Rules List, but that does not mean they don’t still exist. The Alberta Health Physician’s Resource Guide contains additional rules and guidelines that need to be adhered to. This guide, that was recently updated in Aug 2020, has a section specific to Lloydminster physicians that are registered in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The guide clearly states in section 4.9 “Physicians based in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan can only bill Alberta Health for services provided to Alberta residents. Health services provided to Saskatchewan residents must be billed to the Saskatchewan Provincial Health Plan.” There are no exceptions to this rule for any specialty, it is the same for all physicians.
If a Lloydminster physician chooses to bill for their Saskatchewan patients in Alberta, the system will not know which physicians are registered in both provinces and the claims will pay. If these claims are ever reviewed the physician will not be compliant with this rule and is likely to face repercussions.
How can a physician in this situation maximize their income? The key is knowing the rules and fee guides for both provinces. This is where Sherritt Services Inc. comes in, we have billing specialists experienced and trained for both Alberta and Saskatchewan. This is the best way for Lloydminster physicians to maximize their billings while keeping their time free for the most important task...patient care!