Arbitration Award: Family Medicine Highlights
Dear SGFP Members,
Late last week the OMA received the arbitrator’s decisions on the outstanding items for the 2024-28 Physician Services Agreement. The parties had already agreed to many changes for family medicine. The outstanding decisions for family medicine included:
- FHG: Increase to existing premiums
- FHO+: Continuity of care measure
- FHO+: Managed entry
- Community Overhead Fee
- Annual Increases Years 2-4
It is worth noting that the decisions on family medicine were guided by a strong emphasis on retaining existing family physicians and attracting new ones to comprehensive, longitudinal care. The arbitrator underscored the importance of implementing measures that would meaningfully boost patient enrolment and improve access to care, goals that shaped the recommendations.
FHG Premium Increases
The OMA proposed that the premium be increased from 10% to 20%; the arbitrator agreed. Effective April 1, 2026, the FHG premium will be increased to 15%, and April 1, 2027, it will be increased to 20%.
FHO+ Continuity of Care Measure
The arbitrator stated that measuring continuity of care provided by FHO physicians is appropriate and consistent with the structure and purposes of the FHO model. He also emphasized the evidence concerning the importance of continuity of care.
A minimum in-basket continuity threshold of 75% has been established (government wanted a higher number: 80%). FHO physicians whose rosters fall below the threshold for two or more quarters will have a 15% discount applied to their capitation payment(s) until they meet the threshold again. We do know there will be notification and an opportunity to improve before being penalized. There is not a lot of clarity yet on how the threshold will be calculated; the SGFP and OMA are working to better understand the details. We will work closely with family physicians to support the implementation of the FHO+ model, including guidance around this continuity measure.
FHO Managed Entry:
For managed entry, this will continue on the terms agreed by the parties for Year 1: Unfilled FHO positions arising under the previous PSA will be carried forward and the managed entry restrictions will not apply to physicians entering the FHO model from the FHG model.
Community Overhead Fee
The arbitrator was not persuaded with the proposed overhead fee of $5 per in-person community visits.
Annual Increases Years 2-4
Annual increases were more modest that we had advocated for at 2.8% in Year 2, 2.5% in Year 3, and 2% in Year 4.
The full (24-page) arbitration decision is available, as are the agreed upon issues. OMA is hosting an OMA Live Event on September 30 to answer members questions about the arbitration decision. Finally, watch for sessions co-hosted by the SGFP and OMA on implementation and billing, the first to be held on FHO+ in November.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Dave Barber
Chair, SGFP
Other Resources
AFHTO Power of Primary Care Conference – October 23–24, 2025, Toronto.
Connect with 500+ leaders, clinicians, and partners to share ideas, celebrate innovation, and strengthen collaboration. Over 40 themed sessions, 30+ poster presentations, and 33 exhibitors.
An inspiring panel including a panel on “What Success Actually Looks Like When 100% of Ontarians Have Quality Primary Care,” featuring Jane Philpott, Denis Tsang, Leslee Thompson, and more.
Early-bird registration closes October 3, 2025.
Learn more and register here:
https://www.primarycareproud.ca/
Resource Sharing:
If you have information about a news item, policy, survey or event you wish to share with SGFP members, please review the criteria and provide the following required information for us to include in this section of the newsletter. Please send this submission to: ChairLetterSGFP@outlook.com