EDMONTON — Last week, a provincial audit of Alberta clinics charging membership fees was released, finding that paying members are receiving better access to more thorough care than non-paying patients. While the report found no “significant cases” of patients paying for insured services, it was concerningly unable to rule out the possibility that extra-billing is occurring.
“Report after report has shown that clinics charging membership or access fees for care is a pervasive issue in Alberta, yet they have been allowed to persist for decades,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “The Premier ran her election on a public health care guarantee, repeatedly promising Albertans that no one would have to pay out of pocket for access to a family doctor or medical treatment. Since then, her government has refused to stop clinics from charging patients, while raising health care costs again and again.”
The audit launched in 2023 following a Calgary clinic informing patients they would be charging thousands of dollars to access primary care services. 13 clinics were reviewed, including 4 which provided members-only services, though as of April 2024 Alberta’s health ministry had identified over 40 clinics across the province advertising membership fees for services.
Health Canada has said that membership clinics charging patients for preferential access to care services are in breach of the Canada Health Act, and in 2023, warned that Alberta could face cuts to federal health transfers if it were to continue to allow the practice. However, the federal government has so far neglected to take action to enforce compliance regarding these kinds of clinics. And despite significant outrage from Albertans, the UCP government voted down provincial legislation that would have finally banned access fees and members-only medicine in Alberta.
“There’s no two ways about it: paid access to better or faster care is two-tier health care, full stop,” said Gallaway. “It’s time for our governments to finally take much-needed action to end this practice and to ensure that all Albertans have timely access to the care they need, not just the most wealthy among us.”
Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange’s office has said they would be reviewing the report recommendations, but has not indicated what changes—if any—are being considered.
The audit found that the patient rosters of physicians at membership clinics are 75% below average—just 232 new patients per physician, compared to an average of 965 in public clinics.
“At a moment when Alberta continues to struggle to recruit and retain physicians and other health care workers, and when upwards of 650,000 Albertans are without a family doctor, it’s crucial that we’re making the best possible use of the limited human resources we have available,” concluded Gallaway.
Friends of Medicare encourages everyone in Alberta to add their voices to the call to end access fees and membership-only health care in our province.
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