Overview
- Bill 29, introduced Monday, would let Albertans self-refer and pay out of pocket for private diagnostic and screening tests.
- The government says physician-ordered, medically necessary tests will stay publicly covered and will be prioritized ahead of any privately paid scans.
- Key details, including which tests qualify, how reimbursement would work, and when rollout begins, will be set in coming regulations, with officials signalling a phased start.
- Minister Adriana LaGrange cast the province as the payer of last resort for any reimbursements, a shift from last year’s message that life‑threatening findings from private tests could be reimbursed.
- The bill also allows pharmacies to keep a limited supply of certain opioid agonist medications to speed access to treatment, with a focus on rural, remote and Indigenous communities.