Status: Bill 30 introduced July 6, 2020
Ministry responsible: Health

Overview

Bill 30, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 would change nine pieces of health legislation to ensure the government can meet its health-care commitments to strengthen public health care so all Albertans have access to high quality, sustainable, person-centred health services.

Key changes

If passed, Bill 30 will update or repeal the following legislation:

Health Quality Council of Alberta Amendment Act

  • Support and strengthen the work of the Health Quality Council of Alberta to focus on person-centred care, in addition to patient safety and health service quality.
  • Provides clarity that the HQCA reports to the Minister of Health, increasing coordination and accountability.

Health Professions Amendment Act

  • Changes will increase the number of public members appointed to regulatory college councils, complaint review committees and hearing tribunals to give Albertans a stronger voice and greater role in professional oversight.
  • The number of public members will increase to 50% of each group’s membership up from 25%.

Health Care Protection Amendment Act

  • Renames the Health Care Protection Act to Health Facilities Act to better reflect the act’s role in regulating independently operated health-care facilities that provide services within the publicly funded health system.
  • Streamlines the review and approval process for chartered surgical facilities, reducing red tape and administrative burden so current and new chartered surgical facilities can provide more publicly funded surgeries and help reduce surgical wait times as part of the Alberta Surgical Wait-Times Initiative.

Alberta Health Care Insurance Amendment Act

  • Modernizes legislation so physicians have more options in how they are paid, including making it easier for physicians to enter into Alternative Relationship Plans for compensation.
  • Allows government to contract with a range of organizations to operate medical clinics.

Regional Health Authorities Amendment Act

  • Clarifies the role and responsibilities of Alberta Health Services as the single health authority in Alberta and Covenant Health as a strategic partner and the largest provider of faith-based health-care services.

Hospitals Amendment Act

  • Changes the requirements of membership for the Hospital Privileges Appeal Board so that it will be easier to appoint and keep qualified members to review grievances brought forward by medical staff against hospital boards.

Public Health Act

  • Amendments clarify that COVID-19 quarantine requirements require all international travellers to quarantine for 14 days while the related orders from the Chief Medical Officer of Health are in effect.

Health Governance Transition Act

  • Repeals the act which helped AHS take over responsibilities for cancer treatment, mental health and addiction services for the province, when the Alberta Mental Health Board, Alberta Cancer Board and the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission were dissolved.
  • Other legislation is being amended to ensure the Alberta Cancer Foundation continues its role in fundraising to support cancer care, prevention and research across the province.

Provincial Health Authorities of Alberta Act

  • Repeals the act which is no longer necessary, since nine former regional health authorities, the Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Cancer Board were disbanded in 2009 when AHS became the province’s single health authority.

Next steps

If passed, most amendments will come into force upon receiving Royal Assent. Others will come into force upon proclamation and one other will come into force April 1, 2021.

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