Opposition parties last week charged that an internal document leaked to the media is evidence of the Alberta government’s plan to privatize some parts of health care delivery after the next provincial election.
The document, Alberta’s Health Legislation: Moving Forward, is dated July 12, 2010 and contains two phases for implementing proposed changes to the healthcare system, including the new Alberta Health Act, which became law last week.
Phase two of the strategy mentions giving health providers the ability to “opt-in and opt-out of the public health system.” The document also mentions the consideration of “private insurance options for limited health services” and suggests regulations could enable and regulate the scope and operation of private insurance.
Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky has repeatedly said the government is not planning to introduce more private healthcare delivery.
“Absolutely not. I don’t understand why critics are talking so much about privatization when we are not. The premier has given a guarantee that we’re going to have the best performing, publicly-funded health system in Canada and I’m pledged and charged with delivering on that commitment,” he said during a press conference last month.
Both the Liberals and the NDP have accused the government of trying to introduce more private health care delivery in the province.
Dave Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said the contents of the leaked document should make Albertans ask some pointed questions about the government’s intentions.
"Albertans must demand that Mr. Zwozdesky and Mr. [Ed] Stelmach come clean on what they mean by private health insurance, de-listing of services, the opting in and out of health professionals and queue jumping, as outlined in the July 2010 briefing document,” he said in a statement.
Eggen also pointed out the government’s continued avoidance of the term “publicly delivered health care,” something he said is consistent with their push for privatization.
With health care now eating up between 40 to 50 per cent of taxpayers’ money, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult, said Dr. John Church, an associate professor in the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health.
“We now have evidence that within the next 10 years, that could jump to 70 per cent,” Church told the Gazette on Thursday.
“That’s the crunch that’s coming and the public just doesn’t seem to really be understanding that. Governments are looking at all possible options for trying to address that,” he said.
Currently in Alberta, private insurance is prohibited for publicly funded services. However, services such as routine eye exams and dental care not covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) can be covered by private insurance.
According to Church, delisting more services is one option governments might consider in trying to curb health care costs.
“Hypothetically the government could convince the Alberta Medical Association that a bunch of stuff has to come off the list that’s currently on there and once that’s off the list, then it’s fair game to the private market,” he told the Gazette.
One statement contained in the leaked document states “there is no evidence that private insurance negatively impacts a public health system,” but Church says there is evidence to the contrary.
“Certainly there is good research that it does not lead overall to a reduction in costs. All it does is it shifts costs away from the government directly back onto individuals or under private insurers,” he said.
According to Church, some areas of concern regarding private insurance include patients buying their way to the front of the line, also known as queue jumping and private companies providing both basic and enhanced services, the latter at an additional cost to patients.
One of the biggest problems, Church said, is that private insurance companies are primarily concerned with maximizing profits.
“They’re interested in making profits for their shareholders, not in paying out benefits to the people they insure,” he said.
“If you are a sick person or someone who even looks like they might be getting sick, you might not be able to get insurance. That does not bode well for all the people out there who have chronic health conditions.”
Although Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky verified the authenticity of the document, Church cautioned that PowerPoint presentations are notoriously devoid of content.
“We have no idea what was actually said in relation to any of those bullets,” he noted.
“We have no idea who was saying it and because there is a bunch of pen marks, scratching stuff out, we don’t even know if that’s the final presentation.”
