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Alberta.ca Account
Part of New and proposed legislation

Supporting a world-class health care system

Bill 11 would empower health care professionals and support improved health outcomes for Albertans.

Status: Bill 11 was introduced on November 24, 2025.

Ministry responsible: Primary and Preventative Health Services

Overview

If passed, Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), would modernize practice rules for physicians, drug coverage and health cards while implementing administrative changes to meet the needs of Albertans.

The amendments introduced in Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), would reflect the government’s commitment to implementing a refocused health care system that recognizes the province’s evolving needs, empowers health care professionals, and supports improved health outcomes for Albertans.

Key changes

Proposed amendments would bring changes to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act, Health Insurance Premiums Act, Health Information Act, the Public Health Act, and the Provincial Health Agencies Act.

  • Alberta Health Care Insurance Act

    Changes to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act would:

    • modernize rules that outline how physicians participate in Alberta’s publicly funded Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan to give physicians more practice flexibility and encourage innovation
    • allow Alberta employers to offer their employees access to private health services from a physician through their health plans
    • improve the coordination of drug coverage between public and private plans, ensuring that private plans are fully utilized while preserving public coverage for those who need it most. Government’s role would shift to that of payor of last resort
    • protect older Albertans from losing employer-sponsored health benefits solely due to age. Employers could not terminate or reduce health benefit coverage for employees 65 years and older who are actively employed
    • deter health care providers and clinics from following improper billing practices and making inappropriate claims
    • strengthen accountability and transparency while generating cost savings by introducing penalties for systemic non-compliance in billing practices
    • reflect the sector-based governance system and incorporate relevant content from the Hospitals Act 

  • Provincial Health Agencies Act

    Changes to the Provincial Health Agencies Act would:

    • align with Alberta Health Care Insurance Act changes and support the legislative framework for the operation of approved hospitals

  • Health Information Act

    Amendments to the Health Information Act would support team-based care, governance for shared health information, privacy and data-driven innovation.

    The proposed amendments are consistent with the government’s implementation of a refocused health care system that connects care pathways and ensures access to seamless, fully informed health care for Albertans. They would:

    • support a whole patient approach by enabling effective information sharing between health care providers and between government ministries to support common or integrated programs and services
    • establish standards to mitigate privacy and security risks while introducing new requirements to support the changing health care landscape

  • Public Health Act

    Proposed amendments to the Public Health Act and forthcoming amendments to the Food Regulation, Food Retail and Foodservices Code, Institutions Regulation, and the creation of a new Public Health Investigator Regulation would:

    • improve food safety across all food establishments by strengthening food safety training structures and increasing transparency of food inspection reporting
    • enhance the enforcement of food safety legislation to ensure there are processes in place to address egregious or repeated non-compliance
    • result in the legislative framework needed for future initiatives to further improve awareness and trust in Alberta’s food safety system

Modernizing health cards

Amendments to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act, Health Insurance Premiums Act, and Health Information Act would include measures to confirm health cardholders continue to be eligible for Alberta health care insurance coverage and reduce health card misuse. Proposed amendments would include:

  • a health card renewal process
  • a new offence for tampering with or using a tampered health card
  • provisions allowing for a health card to be seized, surrendered or its access terminated
  • information sharing with other ministries so they can produce the cards and provide for their use

Advancing a new era of health care

Work is continuing to implement the new era of health care in Alberta that reflects the needs of Albertans. Proposed amendments to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act and the Provincial Health Agencies Act would support operational changes to implement previously announced objectives such as modernizing hospital governance to reflect the refocused health system and transitioning Alberta Health Services to a hospital-based acute care service provider. 

The proposed amendments would also result in the repealing of Part 3 of the Hospitals Act, the only remaining part of the Hospitals Act, as all relevant provisions would be moved into the Provincial Health Agencies Act and the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act.

Next steps

If passed:

  • Amendments related to modernizing practice rules for physicians would come into force upon proclamation planned for spring 2026.
  • Amendments related to drug coverage would come into force upon proclamation planned for summer 2026.
  • Amendments related to administrative penalties and public health investigators, both specific to food safety, would come into force on January 1, 2027.
    • Amendments related to the Public Health Act and leadership expansion at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health would come into force upon royal assent.
  • Amendments related to modernizing health cards would come into force upon proclamation planned for spring/summer 2026.
  • Amendments related to health information sharing would come into force upon proclamation planned for spring/summer 2026.
  • Amendments related to consistent billing practices would come into force upon proclamation planned for early 2026.
  • Amendments related to advancing a new era of health care would come into force upon proclamation planned for late 2025.

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