Updates

Alberta is proposing legislation to let residents pay out-of-pocket for diagnostic and preventive tests, for example, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and full-body scans, without needing a physician’s order. Currently, private diagnostic options are limited, and public wait times can stretch months or years. The reform responds to concerns about unused system capacity, rationing of publicly funded procedures, and delayed detection of health issues. The government argues that expanding private-pay options will modernize health care, attract investment and professionals, ease pressure on public resources and improve early detection. Features include reimbursement if a privately purchased scan reveals a significant condition, while physician-ordered tests remain fully covered. Critics, including the Alberta Medical Association, warn the policy could worsen inequities, drain technologists from hospitals, and create a two-tier system. Supporters counter it will reduce wait times and expand choice. Outcomes are unknown, with legislative updates expected in 2026.