How Alberta’s Private-Public Surgery Model May Work Without Violating Federal Funding Rules

How Alberta’s Private-Public Surgery Model May Work Without Violating Federal Funding Rules

Alberta’s move to allow a parallel private surgery system alongside the public health system has raised concerns among opposition and advocacy groups, who say it violates federal health-funding rules. Premier Danielle Smith announced the proposal on Nov. 19, saying that letting surgeons perform privately funded surgeries during their off-hours will shorten public wait times without added costs to taxpayers. The opposition NDP and a number of adv…

Alberta faces backlash over leaked plan to let doctors work in public and private systems

EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare is raising alarms after leaked documents showed the Alberta government is considering legislation that would let doctors work in both the public and private systems at the same time. The draft plan would allow physicians to charge patients directly for services normally covered under medicare while also billing the public system. Alberta currently requires doctors to opt out entirely if they want to charge privatel…