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Part of New and proposed legislation

Streamlining the health care system for Albertans

Bill 55 further supports the government’s work to refocus the health care system to ensure patients receive care when they need it the most.

Status: Bill 55 was introduced on May 1, 2025

Ministry responsible: Health

Overview

Bill 55, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, addresses outstanding health care system refocus policy items and ensures that all components of the system can fully transition under the refocused health care system. Key changes would strengthen health foundations by streamlining governance functions, such as bylaw approval and board member appointment processes, clarify public health’s role in the refocused system, and ensure legislation accurately reflects how hospitals will be managed and operated.

Additionally, amendments will enable front-line public health services responsibilities to transfer to Primary Care Alberta, with some key functions like policy development, public health inspections and the medical officers of health moving to Alberta Health.

During public engagement sessions held across the province over the last year, Albertans and health care workers stressed the importance of and the need for a consistent, strategic approach to public health that the current organizational structure does not facilitate.

Key changes

Amendments are proposed to the Provincial Health Agencies Act, Public Health Act, Protection of Persons in Care Act and Health Information Act and will result in the repeal of portions of the Hospitals Act. As well, new regulations for each of the new provincial health entities will be developed.

Changes would enable key policy shifts, including:

  • updating the oversight and governance for health foundations
  • ensuring hospital governance aligns with the health system refocusing direction
  • reorganizing the governance and planning for public health services
  • Repealing references to ‘regional health authorities,' ‘health region’ and ‘Alberta Health Services’ in legislation (to be proclaimed in fall 2025, after AHS’ functions and responsibilities as the regional health authority have transitioned to other entities).

  • Public Health Act

    Proposed amendments to the Public Health Act include transitioning responsibilities for public health services to Primary Care Alberta, with some key functions moving to Alberta Health.

    Other key functions like policy development, public health inspections and surveillance will be moved to Alberta Health, and the province’s medical officers of health will move into the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

  • Protection of Persons in Care Act

    A proposed amendment to the Protection of Persons in Care Act will provide additional capacity by allowing delegation of the director’s authority to an employee of the Department of Health to render decisions into allegations of abuse and is part of Alberta Health’s commitment to provide timely service and to protect vulnerable adult Albertans in care.

    Alberta Health will hire permanent departmental staff with the appropriate qualifications to accept the delegated duties of a person at the director level.

  • Health Information Act

    The Health Information Act is also being amended to provide the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services with further authority to enable it to fulfil its mandate as the sector ministry for continuing care.

Next steps

If passed, Bill 55 will come into effect upon royal assent.

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