Alberta Premier Ralph Klein announced Tuesday that the province's new plan for health care — its so-called "Third Way" — will start immediately.
Among the reforms Mr. Klein announced at a press conference, Albertans will be able to use secondary insurance to help pay for podiatry and chiropractic services beyond what is covered by Alberta health care.
By September, the province would allow patients in hospitals to choose special accommodations above the standard hospital room and to choose enhanced medical goods and services beyond what doctors decide is medically necessary.
Regional health authorities will be able to charge for those special services and accommodations, Mr. Klein said.
"I don't think it's two tier," Mr. Klein said. "I guess it's subjective."
Under the reforms, medically necessary services will continue to be provided, but the choice for "enhanced services" will be available within Alberta. The basic levels of service would be determined by the Department of Health, Mr. Klein said.
"Choice is a matter of principle. People have choice right now, only they go someplace else, and money goes out of the system," Mr. Klein said. "If you want a hip replaced right now and you want an enhanced hip, you have to go to the United States or you have to go to England or you have to go to India."
Mr. Klein said a choice in medical services would relieve expanding health-care costs, which have now reached $9.1-billion annually in Alberta.
"Do you think that $9.1-billion is peanuts? That's why we need change in the system," Mr. Klein said. "Every premier and every health minister in every jurisdiction in this country, including the Prime Minister, agrees that the status quo is not acceptable."
Mr. Klein said the province would continue to expand on the reforms laid out Tuesday.
"There's nothing cast in stone. We have put this paper out to be consultative with Albertans and we'll continue to consult with them," Mr. Klein said. "(These reforms are) building on a solid health care system we have now, pushing the boundaries and the frontiers on some of these kind of delivery systems and continuing to work towards health renewal."
