Eight of the 10 physicians who billed the most to Alberta Health last year were radiologists, but the group representing those practitioners insists the multi-million-dollar billings don't come close to representing their take-home pay.

The radiologists on the top 10 list of Alberta Health documents billed between $4.6 million and $3.6 million last year.

But Dr. Robert Davies, the Calgary-based president of the Alberta Society of Radiologists, noted doctors billing those amounts have to pay for equipment and staff out of that amount.

"The gross billing totals that you see there are for a whole physician practice and are not a doctor's salary, not by a long shot," he said. "In radiology, we really do have huge staff and equipment costs that actually take 70 to 80 per cent of billings on average, and this is quite different than most other doctors groups."

The highest-paid doctor on the top 10 list was an ophthalmologist who billed $4.9 million. Alberta Health did not provide the names and locations of the physicians.

Most high-earning employees of the government and agencies, boards and commissions had their salaries revealed last week under new salary disclosure laws. But that type of individual disclosure still hasn't taken place for most physicians.

Alberta Justice is currently working on how to disclose the pay of physicians who are paid through fee for service. Many doctors pay overhead for offices and staff.

Davies's organization is sensitive about how radiologists' mulit-million-dollar billings might look to the public. So the group has hired Canadian Strategy Group, a lobbying firm owned by former Conservative lobbyist Hal Danchilla of Edmonton, to provide communications advice on the issue.

Talks are also underway between Alberta Health and the Alberta Medical Association on how to rein in physician compensation. Davies said he doesn't want the radiologists' billing numbers to be a factor.

"We do have some concerns that the sunshine list could be used as political fodder in those talks and we want to make sure that we're prepared to speak effectively to that so that patient care isn't harmed," he said.

The provincial lobbyists registry indicates Canadian Strategy Group will talk to officials with Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services and MLAs on "the unique and distinguishing" aspects of a radiologist's practice. CSG is also giving radiologists advice on how to respond to questions about the issue.

A spokesman for Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said a meeting with the department won't occur until negotiations are concluded with the AMA.