By Canadian Press

Calgary medical clinic faces deadline on plan to charge fees for faster doctor access

Aug 1, 2023 | 8:59 AM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government says a Calgary medical clinic has responded to its demand for a decision on whether the clinic will begin charging membership fees for faster access to a family doctor.

Alberta Health declined to say what it heard from the Marda Loop Medical Clinic, and the clinic could not be reached for comment.

However, the government issued a statement from Health Minister Adriana LaGrange suggesting the issue is far from settled.

In the statement, LaGrange reiterates if any clinic proceeds with a membership plan that breaks medicare rules by offering faster access to a physician, it will face action from the province.

She says such action could include the province withholding medicare payments or the clinic facing court-mandated fines.

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Health Canada has already told the province it must stop the Marda Loop clinic fee plan, which is to start Tuesday, or face a reduction in federal health transfers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2023.

The Canadian Press