Health Canada says a medical clinic in Calgary that soon plans to charge its patients a fee to gain faster access to a family doctor would violate medicare laws.
The federal agency says Alberta risks losing federal health transfer payments if it doesn’t do something about it, but Prime Minister Danielle Smith says if rules are being broken they will act.
“Canadians should have access to primary health care services based on medical need and not on their ability or willingness to pay,” Health Canada said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Government of Canada does not support a two-tier health care system where patients can choose, or be required, to pay membership fees to access primary care services provided at clinics, or gain expedited access to those services.”
The issue surrounds the Marda Loop Medical Clinic, which has told its patients that starting next week, it will still see patients for free one day a week. The other four days will be dedicated to patients who pay annual membership fees like $ 2,200 for an individual and $ 4,800 for a family.
For this money, the clinic promises faster access to the clinic’s doctor, along with other benefits and services, including extended sessions, home blood tests and discounts on related services like physiotherapy.
Health Canada said it has written to Alberta officials to inform them that “the ability for patients to purchase preferential access is inconsistent with the Health Canada Act,” the statement said.
“We are working in collaboration with the province of Alberta to ensure that clinic patients continue to receive necessary medical services free of patient fees.”
Health Canada said provinces have several options when violating medicare laws, including changing legislation or making programs and other policy changes. However, she said that if the problem is not fixed, “a mandatory deduction for federal health transfer payments to the province or territory should be taken.”
Later on Tuesday, Smith and Health Minister Adriana LaGrange issued a statement saying they are investigating the Marda Loop program.
“The Alberta government would be extremely concerned if this clinic charged fees for services that are provided and offered expedited access to a family doctor, at the expense of other patients who had to wait longer,” Smith and LaGrange said.
“We have directed Alberta Health to investigate this specific clinic to ensure compliance with all legislation. If any discrepancies are found with the relevant legislation, we will take appropriate action.
“Albertans don’t pay out — of-pocket for health services provided like a visit to the family doctor or a visit to the hospital-that won’t change.”
Dr. Sally Talbot-Jones, the owner and physician of the Marda Loop Medical Clinic, did not respond to requests for comment.
Friends of Medicare, An Alberta-based advocacy organization, and Alberta’s Opposition NDP have said the province should stop the fee plan.
“Using a loophole to charge a membership fee to restrict that access or grant priority access is unfair. It goes against the Canada Health Act and the spirit of what our public health care system is supposed to be,” said Chris Galla, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
“If this is allowed and they get on with it, other clinics will look to do the same. This undermines our public health care system and undermines access to primary care.”
NDP health critic David Shepherd said Given that the family doctor is the gateway to referrals for more specialised testing and treatment, a further lockdown would have an exponential effect on the rest of the system.
Fiona Clement, a professor specializing in health policy at the University of Calgary, said there aren’t many family doctors taking on new patients, so it would be difficult for a patient to find a doctor if they can’t afford to pay or choose not to pay the membership fee.
“Primary care is the cornerstone of our health care system and health for many people,” Clement said.
“If you lose your primary care physician and can’t find a new one, you don’t have many options when you’re sick. You need care, so you’re either doing walk-in clinics, emergency care clinics, the emergency room. It’s not great.”
Smith has faced concerns about comments she made before becoming prime minister last fall, such as advocating in numerous interviews and in an academic policy paper that Albertans should pay out — of — pocket for some necessary medical services-such as visiting a family doctor-to ensure the system can remain stable for the long term.
Smith, however, has promised that her Conservative United Party government is committed to medicare.
Her mandate letter to LaGrange last week urged the minister to improve the system “within the pillars of the Canada Health Act and, importantly, in line with our government’s Public Health Care guarantee that no Albertan will ever have to pay out of pocket to see their doctor or receive necessary medical treatment.”
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