Alberta launches dual practice, public-private health-care model

The Alberta government introduced its dual practice health-care model on Thursday, which is slated to begin in September.

Physicians will, in effect, charge for surgeries in both the private and public systems by working in both. However, family physicians are not eligible, except for those with anesthesia or surgical assistance experience.

The surgeries allowed are accredited by Alberta’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Those include hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, select ear, nose and throat procedures, gynecology, dermatology, plastic surgery, and invasive surgeries like hernia repair.

Emergency and life-saving services, such as cancer care, will remain publicly funded.

The province says the dual-practice framework will enable surgeries to take place in accredited chartered surgical facilities and hospitals.

Physicians will also have to spend time working in the public system, which Acute Care Alberta will determine, along with checking for further adjustments as needed to “protect public system capacity.”

“Doing more of the same will not reduce Alberta’s surgical wait times. Dual practice is one of several reforms that will help expand surgical capacity, improve access to care and ensure Albertans can get the procedures they need sooner,” said Premier Danielle Smith in a news release.

The province says this will improve access and expand care options for Albertans, all while attracting and retaining physicians.

“It’s important we get this right, which is why we have built strong safeguards and only allowed specified surgeries to protect access to the public system. We will closely monitor dual practice and make changes if needed to ensure shorter waits, more choice and better access for Albertans,” said Adriana LaGrange, minister of hospitals and surgical services.

The Alberta NDP slammed the changes, saying it does nothing to increase the number of physicians, expand the workforce, or address long-time surgical wait times.

“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, the 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.”

The NDP’s Sharif Haji, the shadow minister for primary and preventative services, asked: “If there has been spare capacity this whole time, why have we not filled those operating rooms with public surgeries to reduce wait times?

“The government can’t answer these questions because they don’t know the answers. Instead, driven by blind ideology, they continue to break the public health system that Albertans need.”

Physicians can still choose to practise in either the public or private system. Meanwhile, an expression of interest process will open on June 22, which will be followed by an application process slated for later in the summer.

The province says it continues to comply with the Canada Health Act and its own public health guarantee, ensuring “no Albertan will ever have to pay out of pocket for medically necessary care.”