Thread by @PfParks

Albertans are witnessing the deathblow to fair and equitable HC access right here, and all without even a discussion to see if there is a mandate for govt to do this.
This is not hyperbole or fearmongering.

Let's pick 10 quick highlights🧵:
1/15
buff.ly/dzaXRPF

1 - Govt is NOT creating any new capacity here, they are simply splitting the queue for all lab/DI/screening into private and public pay streams.
2 - There is no new workforce to deliver the new stream (that could develop in decades??? while the public system is starved?)
2/15

3 - govt knows they can't even measure the current public testing wait times, let alone promise they won't let them increase as a private stream explodes.

CURRENTLY in AB Access for:
Private MRI is measured in days
Public MRI months/years.

This gap will only grow!
3/15

And the same will happen for ALL labs/tests/procedures. It is the same workforce delivering both, and the private for profit streams are already preferrentially absorbing workforce.
Ultrasound Techs are a perfect example - soon we won't have ANY for Hosp based work...
4/15

4 - Govt has no plan for who acts on the private pay tests. Will family physicians be forced to follow up on tests they didn't order? What if the pt doesn't have a FM? Go to the ED?
- yes we should improve meaningful Access for ALL
- maybe start with a FM doc for all?
5/15

5 - Ability to Pay = Ability to access care. Not just faster... it means you jump the queue and get to the treatment part of the care earlier. Many who can't pay will simply die waiting and never get there.
6/15

6 - Ability to Pay = who gets a test rather than starting with if it is necessary or not.
Want test X and got money, step right up!
Need text X and have no money, wait in a line with a wait time that will skyrocket.

Desire + Money = instant access
7/15

7 - They pretend they will reimburse "Critical findings" but before implementing this they can't even define what those would be. Is a potassium of 6.0 a critical finding? How about a mass in the uterus - not if it's a fibroid, but maybe if it is a high enough grade cancer?
8/15

In both of those examples: the pts will need further testing, and further "Access" and further for pay testing, and will be receiving further medical care simply because they purchased a test... the costs will quickly grow, but the likelihood of reimbursement will be small.
9/15

8 - This will inundate our already overflowing EDs with pts with test findings that will require interpretation, it will be the only place to turn to in a system with already massive queues to ALL HC ACCESS everywhere. There is no plan to sort out "priotization" of care.
10/15

9 - This does nothing to address overall wait times, equity, or fairness. This will create having money = preferential access to both testing and then to care. The ONLY way to deal with all the private pay findings will be to create a BIGGER private pay treatment stream
11/15

10 - Again the waits are indeed far too long, but the answer is NOT to simply fix the waits for those with resources. That is all they have done here, and they know it. They talk about private insurance that doesn't exist, and will ultimately COST MONEY when it does....
12/15

While the govt puts all its efforts into letting ABs vote on license plates, they sneak a massive HC system bomb into the works without even a word of discussion.
13/15

YES the system needs serious improvement.
YES the waits are too long.
YES access to DI/labs/screening are very important.

But allowing those with wealth and resources preferential access is NOT the equitable answer.
14/15

Govt promises to keep public waits the same (already too long) + adding more private care - but we ALREADY know there's a massive inequity in these queues today!
Did Albertans vote on this issue? Did they give this govt a mandate to privatize HC? Did we even discuss/debate?
15/15

@threadreaderapp Please roll up