The Alberta government appears poised to introduce new legislation. This amendment will free non-Medi-Cal residents to use their own money to pay for other diagnostic and preventive tests, including MRIs, CTs, and full body scans. Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange emphasized that this initiative represents a significant modernization effort aimed at addressing the limitations within the current health-care system.
Alberta’s public health care system only covers a fraction of the currently available diagnostic procedures. That in turn leads to the widespread practice of high wait times for patients. Consider Isabelle Cliche, a 47-year-old mother of three with a suspected brain tumor from Calgary—she wouldn’t be seen for an MRI appointment until August 2027. Premier Danielle Smith trumpeted the new plan as focused on getting the most out of the province’s diagnostic capacity. She pointed out the need to motivate residents to access preventive care.
What the federal government has done is very clear. If a privately purchased test identifies an important condition, patients will be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket costs. In addition, physician-prescribed procedures will remain at no cost and be given priority at all public and private facilities. This proposal has received strong pushback from health professionals worried about how it might affect the public health-care system.
Concerns from Health Professionals
Dr. Paul Parks, president-elect of the Alberta Medical Association’s section of emergency medicine, expressed outrage. That doing so would risk demolishing the public health system he has invested in building. He reported that Alberta’s diagnostic services are a huge choke point. It’s not really a lack of machines, the fundamental problem is a lack of skilled technologists.
“This will have major ramifications and will absolutely collapse our public health-care system, and will absolutely set up a system where those that have resources and money are gonna get much better and faster care,” – Dr. Paul Parks
Dr. Parks further highlighted that private pay access to MRI services can help decrease wait times. What it doesn’t do is address all the workforce challenges that are driving these delays. He called out the issue of technologists gravitating towards private facilities due to the greater work environment. As a result, their public hospitals are some of the most understaffed.
“Right now, we can’t get techs to work in our hospitals because it’s more difficult work, it’s after hours, it’s weekends,” – Dr. Paul Parks
Dr. Eddy Lang, an ER doctor with the initiative’s Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care, identified the most significant warning bell about the initiative. He thinks it can lead to more jobs in the private sector, but more private-sector jobs likely wouldn’t lead to any major improvements in preventive care.
“But don’t tell me that you’re going to prevent hospitalizations and cancers down the road by offering this service. That is only true in a very, very select number of conditions,” – Dr. Eddy Lang
The Government’s Vision for Preventative Health
With her announcement, Minister LaGrange painted a picture of deepening Alberta’s preventative health-care services by improving access to diagnostic tests. She explained that when residents do seek medical care, it is often after a health issue has developed into a major concern, making treatment more complicated.
“We want to see a flood of investment and health professionals into Alberta to strengthen our preventative health-care system for Albertans right across the province,” – Adriana LaGrange
The government plans to consult various stakeholders on the proposed changes and develop legislative and policy amendments needed to implement this new approach. Advocates should look for updates on the progress of these initiatives in the first half of 2026.
Mixed Reactions to Private Pay Expansion
As with many aspects of expanding private payment options to whole categories of new diagnostic tests, public opinion is sharply divided. Renaud Brossard, vice-president of communications at the Montreal Economic Institute, was very positive about what this could offer. He suggested that expanded private testing would take the burden off public facilities.
“Every single time someone goes to a private testing facility, well, that’s one less person that’s waiting in line in one of those public facilities,” – Renaud Brossard
Critics including the American Academy of Family Physicians and Families USA argue that this move could worsen inequities in access to care, further disadvantaging those with lower incomes. An Alberta Health Services spokesperson addressed questions about workforce shortfalls. Finally, they insisted that expanding private services would lead to the creation of far more new private and public sector jobs.
“Of course, there are shortages; all growth increases demand for workers, which sometimes cannot be met immediately,” – Alberta Health Services spokesperson
The spokesperson emphasized that funding new public facilities or expanding budgets for family physicians typically results in job creation and workforce growth over time.
