Alberta Doctors Can Now Bill Public and Private

Alberta's government has announced that its new dual practice health model will commence rolling out in September. This model permits certain physicians to practice within both the public healthcare system and private facilities. An expression of interest process for eligible doctors is scheduled to open on June 22, with formal applications following later in the summer.

To qualify for dual practice, physicians must first dedicate a specified number of hours to the public system. The province asserts that these hour requirements, along with other protective measures, will safeguard public healthcare services. Premier Danielle Smith has indicated that this initiative is intended to help alleviate patient wait times.

Regulations for the program were developed after consultation with healthcare professionals. While the exact number of public hours required will vary by specialty and location, failure to meet these obligations will result in the loss of dual practice status. Eligible procedures include those at non-hospital surgical facilities, such as carpal tunnel release and certain laparoscopic surgeries, but notably exclude cancer surgeries and procedures for life-threatening conditions. Family doctors are generally excluded unless they possess subspecialties in anesthesia or surgical skills.

The province is considering future expansions to include dual-practice private surgeries within public hospitals, particularly in operating rooms that are underutilized. Doctors operating under the dual practice model will be mandated to maintain distinct records for their private system activities and conduct mandatory reporting to the provincial government.