Overview

• An audit of 13 membership-fee clinics found no evidence they intentionally charged for medically necessary services, indicating general compliance with health-care laws.
• The report showed members averaged 232 new patients per physician versus 965 in public clinics, suggesting paying patients receive longer or more comprehensive appointments.
• Four clinics restricted both insured and uninsured services exclusively to members, and three virtual-focused clinics charged fees to access online care platforms.
• The audit recommended clearer rules to address grey areas where insured and uninsured services overlap during the same appointment.
• Alberta and Health Canada are reviewing the audit’s recommendations and may pursue regulatory or legislative changes to safeguard equitable access under the Canada Health Act.