REFERENDUM FOUR

For decades the people have trusted that their party of choice would fix the health care system.   For decades the party has failed to fix the health care system so that it can deliver what the people want.  For decades the people of Alberta have been disappointed.  For decades Albertans have watched as the political parties squabble about Alberta’s health care program.  The result is yet another example of a government system that has become bloated with high cost of administration and facility maintenance.  

The AAIM Option says enough is enough, it is time for Albertans to take control of the decision making and force the CG to comply.

To keep Alberta's health care system from total collapse The AAIM Option plan will ask Albertans to decide what they want, and, what they are willing to pay.

The AAIM Option believes Albertans want easy access to; 

1.  Health and Wellness resources, programs, 

2.  High tech facilities, 

3.  ER services,

4.  Prescription drugs, 

5.  Devices to aid the disabled, 

6.  Vision care, 

7.  Dental, 

8.  Long term care, 

9.  Prosthetics, and,

10.  Hospice Support.

The AAIM Option plan calls for the end of the conflict and corruption.  Furthermore, the plan calls for a health care system that is managed and funded by a partnership between the province/state, the employer, the insurance industry and the patient.

Albertan's have always demanded the best health care services and facilities.  The AAIM Option plan will; 

1.   Diversify the healthcare system,. 

2.  Let the market competition control cost of delivery of services. 

3.  Have a greater availability of services to the people. 

4.  Have regulated service rates that are paid to health care providers. 

5.  Have much lower wait times for any type of procedure. 

6.  Allow the healthcare system more agility when dealing with widespread or global health events such as a virus like covid.  

ENFORCEMENT

As the current ruling UCP party moves the health care system closer toward a privatization, it will be vital to ensure the health care operators have the right stuff.  Where is the plan to control costs, ensure service providers are open to all and not just the elite.  How will the private for profit system be governed?

THE AAIM OPTION HAS A PLAN

If the people approve the AAIM Option plan, Alberta Health Services will be provided with new directives and abilities to monitor and police the health care system so; 

1.  To ensure integrity of the system,  

2.  That health care providers have the skills, equipment and facilities, 

3.  That hygiene and housekeeping standards are maintained,  

4.  To ensure that only highly trained Albertans are working within the system at every level. 

To ensure that AHS can deliver on the expectations of the people, an increase of AHS enforcement officers is required.  The AAIM Option plan calls for the current number of officer's in the AHS enforcement branch to be tripled.  AHS Enforcement Officers will be paid well, enjoy great benefits and pension, but must have the highest level of integrity to ensure that all service providers are policed and monitored equally.  

COVERAGE

The AAIM Option plan would ensure that every Albertan, regardless of status, will be provided access to Blue Cross.   The cost of the benefit will be covered by a partnership between the Insurance industry, Wellness Fund, the employer and the patient.

SERVICE RATES

The AAIM Option plan for health care reform calls for all service providers to post their service rates.  Rates must be posted in a common area of the main reception area of the service providers office / facility.  In addition, any advertised services must include information on how to locate the service providers rate and the coverage available.  

An example of the coverage for a medical service that cost $1250.00.

For a service under the AAIM Option plan;

Service Rate             $1250.00

Insurance covers          $625.00 (50% of the total cost)

Wellness Fund covers      $250.00 (40% of remaining $625.00)

Employer                          $112.50 (30% of remaining $375.00)

Patient covers  $262.50 

Albertans that are retired or not able to gain employment will have the patient portion covered by Blue Cross .  

Albertans who become unemployed will be covered by Blue Cross automatically upon their unemployed status being confirmed.

Albertans that are employed without benefits will be covered by Blue Cross and the employer will pay a higher tax rate of 2% to cover the benefit cost. 

BENEFITS

The reforms being proposed by the AAIM Option plan will; 

1.  Allow a patient to decide if the extra money they may have to pay is worth it.   

2.  Motivate the service provider to employ the best talent and have the best facilities and equipment,  

3.  Lower wait times across the full spectrum of health services, and, 

4.  The people’s choice of service provider will remain the same as it is for all services we consume.  

Convenience, cost, customer service.  All of which private for profit health care service providers will have to content with, the result should be to motivate the service provider to do more to attract the client. 

HARDSHIP

In cases where a patient cannot pay the patient portion of the fee, an application can be made for coverage by the province / state.  

SPECIAL NEED

The AAIM Option plan want patients who cannot access medical services in a timely manner to have the ability to select a heath care provider in another province or even another country.   This ability could save Albertans billions in lost productivity, cost associated with extended recovery time and allow for a more rapid treatment and recovery time for the patient.  

INSURANCE

Under the AAIM Option plan, the Insurance Industry would continue to do business as they are now.  If the people select the private health care model, the CG, with consultation from stakeholders will determine the rates for all services that the stakeholders are willing to cover in conjunction with the provincial / state.    

NOTHING NEW 

Private health care services are not a new idea.  Dentists, Chiropractor’s, Physio-therapy and other such services have been working under the private for profit plan for decades.  Currently, the insurance industry maintains a schedule that sets the coverage rates.  The service provider sets their rates based upon cost to deliver a service, plus a mark up for the profit.  The patient decides which service provider to use and pays the amount not covered by insurance.  

Sound familiar? 

The expectation of the private for-profit system is to allow the health care industry and the people who need the services to self regulate the cost of any given service provider.   

THE DISCUSSION & DEBATE 

The discussion should cover the pros and cons of the current system vs for the private for-profit option.  Points that should be discussed include; 

1.  The cost to deliver the services that the people will want.   A breakdown to examine each line item on the AHS budget sheet would open the eyes of the people as to how the money is spent.  

2.  The ability to deliver the services that the people will want.  Who has what?  Who needs what? From ambulance service, urgent care, special clinics, hospitals and long-term care.   

3.  How the industry will be regulated and policed. 

4.  How private insurance and the government can work together to manage and control costs.  This is how the rates will be determined for all medical, dental, vision and mental services. 

5.  The roles of the Collage of Physicians and the industry associations.  Are these the right groups to monitor and enforce the rules and standards? 

6.  Patient rights.  They say we have rights now but do we really?  What do you think these rights should be?  How are we able to enforce our rights on a health care system that seems to consider rights to be to a hinderance to their ability to care for Albertans.

7.  The ability of a patient or the patient’s immediate family to recover losses due to an error of the medical system that results in death, a handicap or loss of their ability to earn a living. 

8.  Protecting doctors, nurses, EMT’s staff from abuse by superiors, patients and families.  One cannot ignore or disrespect the level of emotion that is unleashed when a loved on is in distress.  This can lead to some serious mental heath issues for all involved.  so how will the system protect doctors, nurses, EMT’s from harm while respecting the emotion of the patient and families.

THE QUESTION: 

WHICH HEALTH CARE PROGRAM DO YOU PREFER? 

1. A health care system owned and operated by Albertans. 

2. A private for-profit system that is governed and supported by Albertans.