The medical act at the heart of the dispute concerned the infiltration under fluoroscopy, which allows the joint to be seen while the procedure is being performed.
According to RAMQ, more than 150 radiologists overcharged $17 million.
Dissatisfied, the clinics stopped infiltration services for their patients with pain and inflammation for a few months last year.
Her case was due to be heard before the Arbitration Board this summer after being postponed by a few months.
However, Radio-Canada has learned that FMSQ and RAMQ have reached an agreement in recent days.
The FMSQ and RAMQ have decided to settle the matter amicably and without admission from either side, RAMQ spokeswoman Caroline Dupont said via email.
“Indeed, there was an agreement in principle between the FMSQ and the RAMQ regarding the dispute over the arthrographies […] which arose from a dispute over the interpretation of the billing manual for medical specialists. »
– A quote from Caroline Dupont, RAMQ spokeswoman
However, neither the RAMQ, nor the FMSQ, nor the Association des radiologistes du Québec would say whether any amount would be paid out of the 17 million, which was by far the highest sum requested in recent years.
The terms of the agreement reached between the doctors and the RAMQ are confidential, FMSQ spokeswoman Charline Onillon replied via email.
Nevertheless, this agreement is satisfactory for all parties involved. […] She adds that it reflects the new reimbursement terms that have been negotiated regarding tariffs for infiltrations under fluoroscopic guidance by radiologists.
It must be said that RAMQ has intensified control measures for the administration and control of physician compensation in recent years, following the release of a damning Auditor General’s report in 2015 and a follow-up report in 2018.
Last year, for example, the Régie integrated almost 10,300 control rules into the healthcare billing system, while in 2020-2021 it was more than 8,400, an increase of almost 23% according to the latest RAMQ annual report.
Over the past year, this system has rejected a total of more than $140 million for billed items that did not meet the terms of the compensation agreements. About 13,500 workers have suffered at least one refusal to pay, it says.
Millionaire Doctors
Quebec has nearly 700 radiologists throughout Quebec. According to the latest RAMQ data, in 2021, 76% of radiologists received nearly $1 million in median total compensation.
This is the highest paying specialty.