Alberta goes Private - health care option

On the same day that Klein "threw in the towel" for same-sex marriage, the Ab Govt.has passed legistlation allowing "private health care" as an option alongside the public system

What we need to watch for is any signs that the public system is being weakened ON PURPOSE , to make the private system more 'attractive'.
[ Its been happening for awhile now...]

The Friends of Klein [any corporation with an investment proposal] are happy with today's health care announcment.

However, the citzens might worry about:
- any complications at the private centres will be mean taking the patient to the public hospitals where the public system will pay for fixing it up.
- Doctors and staff leaving the public system, or possibly 'told' to leave in any number of ways, to create problems with public services and to give the private system more employees to choose from.
- lower wages for support and nursing staff at the private facilities. Interesting the the Doctors will get MORE money by working in the private facilities, but the underlings will get less than before. Elitism at work; you will 'want to be them' or be left out.


-----
just a few quotes about the saga of introducing private health care in Alberta:

Alberta's Minister of Health Halvar Jonson states:
"But the government was NOT trying to pave the way for private health care — just the opposite in fact!"

Alberta Health spokesperson Mr. Garth Norris. Norris stated:
"Bill 37 is not about giving the Minister of Health the power to approve private, for profit hospitals in the province ..."

We should drop Ralphie off at the US border...Naked and bleeding. If he wants to be an American so badly, let them take care of him.

And this is why Health must remain a provincial issue. If Manitoba wants to run a single socialist system...that is their business.

ABsolutely, Jay. One of the best things is that now people without employer provided insurance will be able to buy this insurance, which provides for upgrading of rooms, getting a surgery over and above the basics, etc. This insurance from some employers has been in effect for years now, so it is about time.

What I like is if you want, say a hip replacement, you now have the option of the basic replacement hip provided under the Alberta Health Care system,or you can pay the difference for an upgraded model, and you can do it in Canada instead of having to go outside the country. That is a vast improvement.

Of course, all the naysayers will be out in full force, so watch for the sky to fall. Of course it won't but that won't stop the usual bleating. It's about time Ralph followed through with his commitments. His approval rating just got higher.

Despite the rantings of the left, there is nothing radical in these proposals. It is a baby step, nothing more, even the feds had no problems, which proves there is nothing "bad" in this. Maybe the left should take a pill and see what happens.

My big concern with this is what will happen to the doctors? I'm guessing that the private health care clinics will pay the doctors more than the current clinics, so what's to keep the doctors all from running to work for Private Health Care?

What will that do to waiting times??

For the poor, the waiting times will increase. For the rich they will decrease. That's consistent with all of Klein's policies.

I figured the idea was that the people with money would go to the private clinics, thus not be waiting for medicare, and thus waiting times go down for the average joe. Which does make sense, but not if all the doctors run off to make more money with the private firms.

Government commits $ 1.4 billion of surplus on additional beds, facilities across province

... Access to health care across the province will improve as a result of an injection of $1.4 billion in funding approved today for 20 capital projects. The announcement means additional bed capacity will be provided in the form of new buildings and renovations and expansion of existing facilities. A total of at least 657 new and upgraded acute care beds and 85 new long-term care beds will be added across the province.

"Our government's plan for the surplus is to use surplus dollars on priorities that benefit Albertans today and tomorrow. This $1.4 billion commitment from the surplus to health care in Alberta is an historic step toward securing a bright future for the health system and those who use it," said Premier Ralph Klein.

The Calgary Health Region will receive $662 million for six projects including the new Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre and an expansion to add 140 new beds to the Peter Lougheed Centre. Capital Health Region will receive $647 million for ten projects including redevelopment of the Royal Alexandra, University, Misericordia and Grey Nuns hospitals in Edmonton to provide over 450 additional beds.

"Government is using the unbudgeted surplus to help build Alberta's future," said Health Minister Iris Evans. "As I travel across this province, people say they are impressed with the quality of care they receive - it's just the access to the system they're sometimes concerned with. By adding capacity like this, we're showing our commitment to taking concrete action on reducing wait times."

Lethbridge Regional Hospitals will receive $44 million for redevelopment. A further $65 million will go to renovate and expand health facilities in Edson, Barrhead, Viking and High Prairie. The High Prairie project will see the existing facility replaced on a new site.

"This funding enables us to use current surplus revenues to provide a legacy for future generations and shows our commitment to providing quality public health care at the same time," said Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Lyle Oberg.

This announcement is part of the Alberta government's three-part plan to invest in the future using this year's surplus. More than 75 per cent of surplus dollars are being spent in priority areas like infrastructure, and saved in endowment funds like the Heritage Savings Trust Fund. A smaller part of the surplus - $1.4 billion - will be given back to Albertans through the 2005 Resource Rebate Program.

Surplus dollars invested in infrastructure this year are in addition to the province's $9.2 billion, three-year capital plan, a commitment unmatched in the rest of Canada.

...I was pleased with the announcement made by the the provincial government.....the 1.4 billion spending on health care is welcome.....

....the new health center going up in Calgary is good news ....and I understand there is a large amount being allocated for a Strathcona county hospital (Edmonton suburb).

Do you have a source for that, Hank, or is just a Klein press release? I find it odd that you posted an uncredited story that has no apparent input from the opposition parties without comment. At best it's shoddy journalism. At worst, it's nothing but spin.

Are all of those beds for the average person, or are they private and semi-private and only available for a fee?

Are those beds going to be fully staffed, or is the button at the side of the bed just there for appearance?

Since Klein was largely responsible for breaking the healthcare system in Alberta, do you really feel comfortable for lauding him for fixing it now? That's kind of like a drunk driver offering to pay to have your car fixed after he kills your family, isn't it?

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...in-050712.html

Yeah, thought so. Help for the wealthy. Same old story from King Ralph.

Good for Ralph. If folks in Canada want to keep the inefficient system of a surgery waiting list, then let those folks suffer the consequences of not making it to their surgery.

Others have a right to not be a part of this wait game. If they want to pay for private insurance or surgery costs, it is their right. They should not suffer the consequences of a health care system that doesn't work.

...its been announced Rev...you want to hear opposition criticism....go find it yourself.....

....there has been talk about approporiate "staffing" but other than that...you are simply out to find any detail and discredit the whole announcement.... what do you think, everything is crystal clear perfect.... hummm Manitoba is perfect? ....if anything Winnipeg and Manitoba is far from utopia....lol ....compared to Alberta.

...what is it about talking health care reform and a 2 tier system that brings out your hate.....all you do is compare to a US system and state that privatization is bad....wake up children...

...there is a whole world out there...and many European countries have the 2 tier system, that makes Canada's look like ****.....the general public has wait times only dreamed about in Canada....while the wealthy are able to buy private insurance and purchase what they please.... i honeslty don't understand your ignorance...

The last survey found we had the shortest wait times in the country, Hanky. That survey included Alberta.

What was the source, Hanky? I just want to know if you think that was journalism or if you understand that it was political advertising.

There has been talk about a lot of things. I want to know the details because the devil, as they say, is in the details.

.....actually I rememeber Ontario being the shortest followed by Manitoba and Alberta... however the wait times of these three province's were very close and fluctuate from year to year.... I beleive the maririmes were the worst...not to mention how the 1.4 billion will shorten wait times in Alberta.....

......the fact is that the funds will be allocated....thats the point of the post...

...funny....with all your nutbag thoughts about freetrade....it seems the detail were the first thing you ignored......you were clinging to some statement you read in a Mel Hurtig book...


....but whatever it don't matter, you live in Winnipeg and don't have a say in Alberta or its elections. So bugger off I mean you don't see me attacking your little province....do you...

ahh Manitoba's a cute province

Obviously you missed the latest survey.

No, the fact is that tried to fob off cheap political spin as journalism.



Still trying to deny that fact, are you? Funny how you are completely incapable of refuting it.

Now crawl back into whatever red-necked hell you slimed your way out of, Hanky.

....actually Rev you gotta provide facts supporting your statement, you simply say something and back it up by telling someone to read some book...... what are you a child.

....in regards to the free trade agreement I actually provided you with FACT's and a Canadian governmet site....now unless you are able to give facts to support the freetrade statement... <snip: inappropriate>

...buy the way I look forward to seeing your next wave of university grad's in Alberta...

...and do you have anything to say to this...or I guess it dosen't fit the NDP agenda...so it mush be branded as neo con.....

sheesh........grab a little class hank. You is giving Calgary a really bad name.

Hey, Hanky, you still haven't said what your source was for your bull**** Ralphie propaganda. What's the matter, embarrassed by your source?

Oddly enough, in the real world, citing a book as a source is the way things are done, Hanky. Why are you afraid to name your source?