New Brunswick's Doctor Payment System Explained

In New Brunswick, Canada, the average salary for a medical doctor is $237,865 a year, with some sources placing the figure slightly lower at $216,373 per year. The average salary range for a medical doctor in the province is between $157,942 and $302,564. Doctors in New Brunswick are paid through salaries, fee-for-service billings, or a combination of the two. The province has about 1,900 practising physicians, with the majority earning less than $400,000 per year. However, the number of physicians earning more than $1 million continues to grow.

Average salary for physicians in New Brunswick

The average salary for physicians in New Brunswick, Canada, is around $216,373 per year, with salaries ranging from $157,942 to $302,564 per year. The average hourly rate for physicians in the province is $114.

According to data from Horizon Health Network, the average yearly salary for physicians is approximately $207,779, which is 20% below the national average. The Horizon Health Network's salary range for physicians is between $75,286 per year for a Physician Assistant and $358,637 per year for an Ophtalmologue. The average hourly pay for a General Practitioner is $143, while an Emergency Medicine Physician can expect to earn around $183 per hour.

The average salary for a Family Medicine Physician in New Brunswick is $94,353 per year.

Doctors' earnings vs. salaries

Doctors' earnings in New Brunswick, Canada, can vary significantly depending on their specialisation, experience, and other factors. The average salary for a physician in the province is around $216,373 per year, but this can range from $157,942 to over $300,000.

In 2022, the majority of doctors in New Brunswick earned between $80,000 and $399,999. However, there were a few outliers, with the three highest-paid doctors earning nearly $2 million each. These top earners were specialists, including diagnostic radiologists and an ophthalmologist.

The average pay for a medical doctor in New Brunswick is $237,865 per year, but this can vary depending on location within the province. For example, in Grand Falls, the average salary for a medical doctor is $235,000, while in St. Stephen, it is $244,000.

It is worth noting that these figures represent gross earnings and do not take into account expenses that doctors may have, such as staff salaries, rent, and other overhead costs. Additionally, some doctors may work on a fee-for-service model, where a portion of their earnings goes toward expenses.

Overall, while doctors' salaries in New Brunswick can vary widely, the province recognises the importance of offering competitive wages to attract and retain medical professionals.

Highest-paid doctors in New Brunswick

Physician salaries in New Brunswick vary widely, with some doctors earning over $1 million per year. The average salary for a physician in the province is $216,373 per year, but this number can be much higher for certain specialists or those in high-demand fields.

In 2021, the highest-paid physicians in New Brunswick were Dr. Stewart MacMillan, a radiologist in Miramichi, and Dr. Sunita MacMullin, a family physician in Sussex. Both doctors billed the province between $1.65 million and $1.699 million during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Dr. MacMillan had previously been the top-billing doctor in the province in 2016, earning between $1.5 million and $1.55 million that year.

Other high-earning physicians in New Brunswick include Dr. Martin Finnegan, a diagnostic radiologist at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, who earned between $1.65 million and $1.699 million in 2018, and Dr. Robert Javidi and Dr. Kenneth Roberts, ophthalmologists who were the third and fourth-highest-paid physicians in the province in 2020.

It is important to note that these figures represent gross earnings and do not take into account expenses such as staff salaries, rent, or equipment that doctors may have to pay out of their earnings. Additionally, the majority of physicians in New Brunswick are considered small business owners, which means they are responsible for a significant amount of operating costs.

Doctors' expenses

The province has about 1,900 practising physicians, with the majority earning less than $400,000 per year. However, the number of physicians earning more than $1 million is growing. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, the three highest-paid doctors earned just under $2 million each. These top earners were two diagnostic radiologists and an ophthalmologist.

It is important to note that the figures released by the Department of Health represent gross earnings and do not take into account the expenses incurred by doctors, such as staff salaries and rent. As a result, the net income of physicians may be significantly lower than the reported gross earnings.

Physician compensation transparency

The release of physician earnings data in New Brunswick was prompted by calls for transparency and accountability from the auditor general, Kim MacPherson, in 2012. MacPherson's recommendations came in response to findings of overbilling and double-billing for services by some doctors. The Health Minister, Victor Boudreau, supported the move towards transparency, stating that it was a "huge step" in that direction.

The New Brunswick Medical Society's president, Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, acknowledged the importance of competitive salaries to retain medical graduates in the province. She also highlighted that gross payments to doctors do not reflect their actual income, as they often have significant expenses, including staff salaries and rent.

The compensation for physicians in New Brunswick varies based on their specialization and workload. Radiologists and ophthalmologists tend to be among the highest-paid, while family doctors can also earn seven-figure salaries. The province's commitment to transparency in physician compensation is a positive step, providing insight into the earnings of medical practitioners and ensuring accountability in the healthcare system.

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