A medical clinic in Calgary that plans to charge patients for faster access to a family doctor would be violating medicare laws, according to Health Canada. The federal agency warns that Alberta could lose federal transfer health payments if the issue is not addressed. Premier Danielle Smith says that if rules are being broken, action will be taken. Health Canada emphasizes that access to primary health-care services should be based on medical need rather than one’s ability to pay. The Marda Loop Medical Clinic is at the center of the controversy, offering free services one day a week and charging annual membership fees for the other four days. In response, Health Canada has written to Alberta officials, stating that the ability to purchase preferential access is not in line with the Canada Health Act.
For a fee, patients at the Marda Loop Medical Clinic will receive expedited access to the clinic physician, along with additional perks and services such as extended sessions, at-home blood tests, and discounts on related services. Health Canada has informed Alberta officials that the ability to charge for preferential access goes against the Canada Health Act, and it is working with the province to ensure that patients continue to receive necessary services without charges. Provinces have multiple options for addressing breaches of medicare laws, including amending legislation or making policy changes. Failure to rectify the issue may result in a deduction from federal health transfer payments to the province or territory.
Premier Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange have issued a statement expressing concern about the fee plan and stating that they are investigating the Marda Loop program. They emphasize that insured health services, including seeing a family doctor, will not require out-of-pocket payment. The owner of Marda Loop Medical Clinic, Dr. Sally Talbot-Jones, has not provided a comment on the matter. Advocacy organization Friends of Medicare and Alberta’s Opposition NDP have called for the fee plan to be stopped, as it undermines the public health-care system and access to primary care.
Access to a family doctor is crucial as they serve as the gateway to specialized testing and treatment. If there is a bottleneck in accessing family doctors, it will have a ripple effect on the entire system. Professor Fiona Clement, a health policy specialist at the University of Calgary, highlights the challenge of finding a new family doctor when there are limited options and affordability is a concern. Primary care is essential for overall health, and losing access to a primary care doctor leaves patients with limited options, such as walk-in clinics or emergency rooms.
Premier Smith has faced criticism for advocating that Albertans should pay out of pocket for some medically necessary services to sustain the healthcare system. However, she has since pledged her government’s commitment to medicare and ensuring that no Albertan has to pay out of pocket for doctor visits or necessary medical treatments.
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