Calgary & Area Physicians Association (CAPA) dues payment policy and process

Revised November 2005

Payment of CAPA dues is mandatory with appointment to the medical staff of the Calgary Health Region (CHR) as per Article 3.1.4 of the medical staff bylaws.

Full dues: $275.00

Exception dues (Categories #1 – 4): $150.00

Exception dues (Category #5): see explanation below

The only criteria for exception to the payment of full dues are as follows: (Exceptions #1 & #2 require documentation for acceptance):

Exception categories

1.       Away from practice for six consecutive months or more during the fiscal year. This is restricted to being on sick leave, maternity leave, educational leave or sabbatical. (Documentation – copy of CHR approval of leave form signed by department head) form available on the CHR website.

2.       First year of active practice – post certification. (Documentation – copy of Royal College of Physician and Surgeon (RCPSC) certificate).

3.   Appointment with the CHR became effective after October 1 of the current fiscal year (2006/07).

4.   Over the age of 65 as of April 1 of the appropriate fiscal year.

5.   Associate appointment – exception dues are applicable for each appointment to a maximum of $275.00 per year, $150.00 – initial payment, $125.00 – secondary payment.         

**If the associate appointment is for a full year one (1) payment of $275.00 is to be paid by April 1, 2006 .

**NOTE: Working part-time, using regional resources requiring a medical staff appointment over the course of the whole year or portion thereof does not qualify as an exception.

Late dues payment procedure

The first dues invoice for the appointment year will be sent out at the end of the calendar year, approximately November/December each year (notice #1), stating that CAPA dues for the upcoming appointment year (April 1- March 31) are due on April 1^st. All payments will be deposited upon receipt.

Reminder notice (notice #2) will be sent out at the beginning of April to physicians who have not submitted payment or responded.

Reminder notice (notice #3) a final dues notice will be sent out at the end of April for those who still have not responded, stating that this is the final notice and giving the final date for payment (May 30^th). This letter will be copied to the clinical department head.

If dues are not paid by the due date, as indicated in the three reminder letters CAPA is required to forward the physician’s name to the CHR medical advisory board (MAB). MAB then forwards those names on to the CHR board to lapse the physician’s medical staff appointment until the dues are paid. It is the responsibility of the department head to resolve this issue with their staff members prior to the necessity to suspend the appointment.  

Physicians new to the region who apply and receive approval of their appointment by the CHR board following the beginning of a new fiscal year (April 1) will receive a dues invoice indicating that mandatory CAPA dues payment is now required and is to be paid no later than three months from the date of the mailing of the initial request for payment. Notification will be sent to their clinical department head if payment is not received by the deadline date indicated on the notices. Further action as indicated in #4 above will be taken if the dues are not received by the noted deadline date.