Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

Well it gave them something more worthwhile to think about, than staring at their phone or texting, or playing silly games.

I mostly thought about how bored I was. I learned about kindness and duty from everyday family life not from church or Sunday school.

[cSpooge]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...loop-1.6917091


looks like they may not be able to do what they said they were going to do in their letter i.e offer faster access to paying patients.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I guess I am relating it to a lack of kids going to Sunday School where the Christian idea of serving others is drummed into their heads.

Oh boy... I can see where this is ending up. Cheese where are you?

Holy ok boomer post! lol

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Holy ok boomer post! lol

I think it's likely there's some shade being thrown at a changing demographic to Canada's population, as well, if you know what a I mean.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by belsarius

It's easy for people to point at Euro countries and try to say "see, privatization works" while ignoring that they also spend way more public money than us.

Those same people tend to just want to open the door to US style privatization, for their own benefit, also ignoring that the US also spends way more public money than us.

Originally Posted by GGG

That’s gross, this isn’t two tier health care. It’s government subsidized queue jumping.

That’s what two-tier healthcare is and always has been. Some places just make the jump a lot smaller.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I think that many young ambitious people, who have the potential to become doctors, just don't want to end up working for the government, and dependent of them for their income.

You literally think people are turned off from becoming physicians because even though many of them make great money with rewarding jobs it's being paid by the public purse that's the issue? Even though many of them are private corporations or working in private practice?

Was this statement signed, sealed and delivered by the Western Standard?

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

You literally think people are turned off from becoming physicians because even though many of them make great money with rewarding jobs it's being paid by the public purse that's the issue? Even though many of them are private corporations or working in private practice?

Was this statement signed, sealed and delivered by the Western Standard?

Such a rewarding job of showing up every day to a waiting room full of coughing, hacking, drug seeking complainers, followed by creating a financial grift to pay your bills.
Forgive him for shedding light on the realities of a dream job.

I bet some days being a garbage man would be more rewarding.

[Ozy_Flame]

Your post makes even less sense.

Again, why would working for the government keep people from becoming physicians?

This statement literally assumes people won't choose this career path unless they work in private practice, which makes no sense in Canada because even then many private practices are still participating in the single-payer system.

And are you suggesting physicians are grifting the system and stealing money?

Please, so go on.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by yoho

such a rewarding job of showing up every day to a waiting room full of coughing, hacking, drug seeking complainers, followed by creating a financial grift to pay your bills.
Forgive him for shedding light on the realities of a dream job.

I bet some days being a garbage man would be more rewarding.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaahahhahahahah ahahahhahahahaha

[Scroopy Noopers]

Yes, high paying city jobs with great benefits are often rewarding. They are competitive positions for a reason.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...loop-1.6917091


looks like they may not be able to do what they said they were going to do in their letter i.e offer faster access to paying patients.

Membership fees at private clinics are considered patient charges under the Canada Health Act and raise concerns under the accessibility requirement of the act, officials said.

At the time of the analysis — between November 2019 and June 2020 — there were 14 private clinics in Alberta with a range of membership fees and private payment. During that same period, there were 24 in Ontario and 30 in Quebec.

A spokesperson in the federal health ministry said other clinics in Calgary and Alberta charging membership fees could also expect such a response in the future.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by edslunch

How do you implement these other country solutions given the constraints in your second paragraph?

We probably can’t. I don’t expect the health care capacity crisis in this country to be fixed. Over the next 20 years it will become common for those who can afford it to take medical vacations and have procedures carried out overseas. And the rest of us will complain and blame our political enemies for ever-increasing wait times.

I’d be curious to hear opendoor’s suggestions for increasing resources. What’s the political path to Canada reaching substantially higher levels of public health spending? We could follow Japan’s lead and run massive, historically unprecedented budget deficits year after year. Or adopt Northern European taxation models - but which political party is campaigning on raising the GST to 15 per cent and across-the-board income tax hikes, and what are their odds of getting elected on such a platform?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Membership fees at private clinics are considered patient charges under the Canada Health Act and raise concerns under the accessibility requirement of the act, officials said.

At the time of the analysis — between November 2019 and June 2020 — there were 14 private clinics in Alberta with a range of membership fees and private payment. During that same period, there were 24 in Ontario and 30 in Quebec.

A spokesperson in the federal health ministry said other clinics in Calgary and Alberta charging membership fees could also expect such a response in the future.

I think those fees shouldn't be allowed.

But it makes me crazy that "other clinics in Calgary and Alberta" can expect to receive that response.

If something is illegal in Calgary it should be illegal in Toronto and Ottawa as well.

[GordonBlue]

Analysis -
Converting doctor's offices to premium clinics could spawn a new health-care crisis

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ysis-1.6917832

News that a Calgary medical clinic has solicited "member" fees from its patients will no doubt shock many Albertans, regardless of their ability to pay for enhanced care.

some Alberta clinics have been charging patients thousands for premium services since well before Premier Danielle Smith's tenure.
The trend predates UCP predecessor Jason Kenney. And the NDP's Rachel Notley. In fact, you can go back five premiers into the Tory dynasty.

But there's something that seems to set the Marda Loop Clinic apart, that many Albertans will reasonably find unsettling.
What appears to be different or novel in this case is that Marda Loop is an existing clinic that's switching over to premium-pay service.

And the doctor at Marda Loop suggested others would be tempted to follow.

Talbot-Jones told CBC that because of high overhead and growing pressures, she and other clinics have considered exploring new economic models.
"A lot of doctors are facing bankruptcy in their clinics," the doctor said. "I follow Facebook groups where lots of doctors all over the country, they're all seeing the same thing."

The College of Family Physicians of Canada voiced such a dual warning with its statement on Marda Loop:
"Charging patients for access goes against the principles of Canada Health Act, but is symptomatic of the pressures amid the crisis facing family doctors."

The private-only boutique clinic model has been around for years, but has never taken off. Marda Loop's hybrid solution, taking existing patient lists and demanding charges, stood to spread more widely, if permitted.

[Ozy_Flame]

"Talbot-Jones told CBC that because of high overhead and growing pressures, she and other clinics have considered exploring new economic models.
"A lot of doctors are facing bankruptcy in their clinics," the doctor said. "I follow Facebook groups where lots of doctors all over the country, they're all seeing the same thing.""

Exactly what I suspected.

The docs don't want to do this, but they have to make themselves profitable.

The current model for family docs is failing, and the government isn't doing enough to ensure it is a stable and funded area of medicine.

This has nothing to do with ideological motives for privatization of healthcare, it is reactionary and intended to cope with the exist anemic model of funding, bill codes, and operational support.

This is all on the current government.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I guess I am relating it to a lack of kids going to Sunday School where the Christian idea of serving others is drummed into their heads.

You don't need to go to church to find God. I found Jesus down at the glory hole.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

"Talbot-Jones told CBC that because of high overhead and growing pressures, she and other clinics have considered exploring new economic models.
"A lot of doctors are facing bankruptcy in their clinics," the doctor said. "I follow Facebook groups where lots of doctors all over the country, they're all seeing the same thing.""

Exactly what I suspected.

The docs don't want to do this, but they have to make themselves profitable.

The current model for family docs is failing, and the government isn't doing enough to ensure it is a stable and funded area of medicine.

This has nothing to do with ideological motives for privatization of healthcare, it is reactionary and intended to cope with the exist anemic model of funding, bill codes, and operational support.

This is all on the current government.

As the article notes, it’s happening across the country. So by current government, do you mean the federal Liberals?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

As the article notes, it’s happening across the country. So by current government, do you mean the federal Liberals?

Nope. Feds provide funding and general direction. Provinces provide execution.

Here's a breakdown of the province vs. federal:

Provincial Responsibilities:

Healthcare Delivery: Provinces are responsible for managing and delivering healthcare services to their residents. This includes operating hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, as well as hiring healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses.

Health Insurance: Each province provides its own health insurance plan for its residents. These plans cover essential medical services, such as hospital stays, physician visits, and medically necessary procedures. The specifics of coverage can vary between provinces.

Healthcare Regulations: Provinces regulate healthcare within their borders, including licensing healthcare facilities, approving medical treatments, and setting healthcare standards.

Federal Responsibilities:

Canada Health Act: The federal government enforces the Canada Health Act, which outlines the conditions that provinces must meet to receive federal funding for their healthcare systems. The Act ensures that healthcare in Canada is accessible, comprehensive, universal, and publicly administered.

Transfer Payments: The federal government provides financial support to the provinces to assist in funding their healthcare systems. These transfer payments are made through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) and the Canada Social Transfer (CST). The CHT is specifically designated for healthcare, while the CST supports social programs, including education and social services.

National Healthcare Initiatives: The federal government initiates national healthcare strategies and programs, such as those related to disease prevention, public health, and health research. They work collaboratively with the provinces on issues that require a coordinated, nationwide approach.

Regulation and Oversight: The federal government plays a role in regulating specific aspects of healthcare, such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and food safety. They also oversee health-related agencies and organizations, like Health Canada, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs and medical devices.

Indigenous Health: The federal government is responsible for providing healthcare services to Indigenous peoples living on reserves and in Inuit communities through Indigenous Services Canada.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

None of that is contrary what I said: Health care spending is increasing because demand and costs are increasing. So the next time someone comes out with the familiar refrain that we’ve been cutting health care funding in this country or province, you could chime in with those stats to disabuse them of that myth.

It’s also worth noting that most of those countries have older populations than Canada. And the European ones have higher tax rates than Canada - and higher taxes for everyone, not just higher for the wealthy.

The biggest barrier to Canada funding health care at European levels is an unwillingness of Canadians to be taxed at European levels.

I don't know how common that refrain actually is...far more common to me seems to be "throwing more money at it won't fix it".

Which is backed up by the notion that we are spending more than ever, which may or may not be true depending on how you factor inflation and/or population growth, but it definitely does not consider what healthcare actually looks like and how it is used compared to past decades (when medicine was pretty much just for old people are pregnant women)

The options are in fact:
- throw money at it
- reduce breadth and depth of service (which is effectively what we do with long wait times)

[CliffFletcher]

From the article you linked:

Talbot-Jones told CBC that because of high overhead and growing pressures, she and other clinics have considered exploring new economic models.
"A lot of doctors are facing bankruptcy in their clinics," the doctor said. "I follow Facebook groups where lots of doctors all over the country, they're all seeing the same thing""

So by ‘current government’ do you mean the current provincial governments of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, etc.?