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EDMONTON — Alberta has introduced a sweeping health bill that proposes major changes to drug coverage, physician rules, food safety and health card requirements, while Opposition critics argue the legislation pushes the province toward greater privatization.
Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025, was tabled Monday as part of the province’s broader restructuring of the health system into four agencies. The bill updates several laws and introduces a dual practice model that would allow some specialists to work in both the public and private systems. Family doctors would not be permitted to participate in the private stream for now, though the government says that could change through a ministerial order.
Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said the bill makes “bold changes” that will help retain physicians, improve oversight and modernize the system. She said restrictions would apply to specialty physicians working privately, including the number of years they must work in the public system first, limits on specialties eligible to offer private services and rules on the amount of time a doctor can spend in private practice. Private options would not exist for emergency care, surgeries, cancer treatment or other procedures covered under the public plan.
LaGrange emphasized that publicly funded services will not be reduced and said no Albertan will pay out of pocket to see a family doctor. Before receiving private care, patients would need to be informed about public alternatives, fees and the physician’s status.
The bill also proposes to make private insurance plans the first payer for drug coverage, with public plans acting as the payor of last resort. Employers would be required to maintain health benefits for employees 65 and older who remain actively employed. The government estimates the changes could save between $35 million and $54 million a year. Since 2020, Alberta has recorded an average of more than $5.5 million in overpayment claims annually. Bill 11 adds penalties for systemic non-compliance, including the ability to suspend a physician’s ability to bill the public plan and financial penalties for third parties involved.
Additional changes would bring in health card renewals, allow cards to be seized if tampered with, and enable information sharing with other ministries. Plans to integrate health card numbers into driver’s licences or identification cards would begin in 2026. The government is also broadening eligibility criteria for the chief medical officer of health and enabling multiple deputy chief medical officers. Amendments to the Public Health Act would strengthen food safety oversight, establish a public health investigation team and expand penalties for non-compliance.
Amendments to the Health Information Act would expand electronic information sharing between custodians, clarify when health information may be used and support the province’s ongoing shift to an acute care service model. Related updates to the Provincial Health Agencies Act would formalize Alberta Health Services’ transition into a hospital-based acute care provider.
Opposition criticism focused heavily on the dual practice model and drug coverage reforms. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the bill marks another step toward “American-style” for-profit health care and accused Premier Danielle Smith’s government of dismantling Alberta Health Services while pursuing privatization efforts that have not improved care. He said the bill risks creating situations where Albertans pay out of pocket for treatment and argued it does not reflect what voters were promised.
NDP critic Sarah Hoffman said allowing more private practice options “Americanizes” the system and makes it less accessible. She said Albertans take pride in a public system that provides care based on need, not ability to pay.
The government says Albertans will continue to have access to the full suite of publicly funded services, and that the bill supports a more flexible, modern and accountable health system.
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