Whereas one of the five principles of the Canada Health Act is portability with the intent that residents who are temporarily absent from their home province or territory, such as on business or vacation, are permitted to receive necessary services in relation to an urgent or emergent need when absent; And whereas British Columbia residents are restricted from accessing specialized or non-urgent services in Alberta, even when the services are located geographically closer than services in British Columbia: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petitions the Province to work toward a solution to ensure that all residents of British Columbia also have reasonable access to insured specialized or non-urgent medical services in Alberta in cases where the services are geographically closer.
Ministry of Health British Columbians that reside near the BCAlberta AB border often have significant barriers to accessing specialized medical services in the Province. These barriers often relate to geographical distance between home and the treatment facility, but can also pertain to the need to travel over mountainous terrain. There is a long precedent for border patients receiving the majority of their specialty and sometimes even primary care in AB. In many cases, these border patients are referred out-of-province by general practitioners to see AB specialists, who then may refer the patients for surgical care in AB. For BC patients who seek public funding for specialized or non-urgent medical services outside of the Province, the Ministry of Health the ministry requires that all clinically appropriate treatment options in BC have been exhausted, or that the standard wait time in BC is considered medically unacceptable. The above requirement, however, does not apply for BCAB border patients, as the ministry recognizes the existing geographical barriers. Additionally, the ministry is also cognizant of the benefits of continuity of care, especially for patients who receive regular medical care both primary and specialized in AB. As such, other than the requirement of funding authorization prior to treatment being rendered, the ministry does not place any restrictions on BC patients accessing publicly funded medical services rendered in an AB public general hospital. In the event that the patient does not request public health coverage for the specialized or non-urgent treatment, the ministry does not require a pre-authorization of funding. The ministry is aware of instances of AB medical facilities refusing to accept some BC patients for various reasons. Health care is governed by each province and territory independently. While the ministry does not place restrictions on border patients accessing publicly funded medical services in AB, the ministry does not have jurisdiction over the AB facilities, nor can the ministry override their decisions regarding patient admission. Patients are encouraged to continue working with their attending specialists to seek treatment at alternative public health facilities if necessary.