Alberta launching new surgery funding model

Officials say the first year will be used to evaluate the system, including monitoring readmission rates and other quality-of-care measures, before considering expansion to private providers and additional procedures.

They also say physicians can still choose to practise entirely in the public health system, or entirely in private settings.

An expression of interest process for physicians will open June 22, followed by a formal application process later this summer.

The province also cited a report called ‘Delivering the Benefits of Mixed Practice to Alberta Patients: Lessons from Europe.’

But the Opposition NDP say this is another case of the UCP moving toward privatization of health care, wherein Albertans will pay for surgeries in public hospitals for the first time.

“Albertans need access to care when and where they need it. Albertans want ambulances that are there when they call, emergency rooms they don’t have to wait in for hours, and access to a family doctor,” said Sarah Hoffman, Shadow Minister for Hospitals and Surgical Services.

“Instead of addressing the very real priorities of Albertans, this UCP government is taking further steps toward an American-style, for-profit, privatized health-care system. Today’s announcement does not increase the number of physicians, expand workforce capacity, or address the longest surgical wait times – driven by complex procedures like cancer surgeries.”

The group Friends of Medicare also chimed in Thursday, saying there is zero evidence this strategy will increase capacity or shorten wait times.

“It just creates a way for the wealthy to jump the queue, while the rest of us wait longer or are forced to go without,” said Executive Director Chris Gallaway.

“In fact, as Albertans have repeatedly seen, this government’s failed privatization strategy has already reduced public capacity to life-saving surgical care. This will only further undermine our publicly delivered health care.”

Gallaway said this is the moment for Albertans to speak up loudly to say no to what he calls “American-style, two-tiered health care.”

(Canadian Press, with files from Pattison Media added)

by Canadian Press, w/ files from Pattison Media

Alberta launching new surgery funding model

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