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Alberta Clinics Charge Membership Fees, Offer Longer Appointments
31 Jul
Summary
- Audit finds no illegal billing, but membership clinics serve fewer patients
- Clinics provide more comprehensive care to members than non-members
- Government reviewing recommendations to enhance regulation of clinics
In 2023, the Alberta government launched an audit of medical clinics that had switched to a membership model and were charging annual fees of up to $5,000 for families and $2,000 for individuals. The audit, which reviewed 13 such clinics, found no evidence that physicians were intentionally breaking the law by charging patients for medically necessary care that should be free.
However, the report revealed that the membership clinics were serving significantly fewer patients than public clinics, with an average of 232 new patients per physician compared to 965 in public clinics. Additionally, members of these clinics were receiving more service units per visit, suggesting they were getting longer and more comprehensive appointments than non-members.
While the audit did not find any major instances of illegal billing, it did highlight some grey areas where patients were receiving both insured and uninsured services during the same appointment. The report made policy recommendations for the province to ensure these clinics are more regulated and to address these overlapping services.
As of August 1, 2025, the Alberta government is reviewing the audit's recommendations, and legislative changes are possible. The Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister's office stated that membership clinics operate as private businesses within the publicly funded health system, and they are pleased the audit found no significant non-compliance.
