New minister says health-care action plan just weeks away

Just a day into his new job, Health Minister Ron Liepert had to clarify what his plans are for revamping Alberta's health-care system.

After the swearing-in ceremony in Edmonton Thursday, Liepert was asked about statements he made a day before referring to an old report that advocates private options.

"I did not say we were moving to more private health care," Liepert told reporters. "What I did say, is we have studied the issue to death.

"We have reports Mazankowski's report in 2001 I read it the other night. It is probably more relevant today than it was in 2001," he said about the study chaired by former deputy prime minister Don Mazankokwski that looked at ways to reduce the province's health-care costs.

The report recommended reviewing which medical procedures should be covered by the public system, and suggested those that might be discontinued could be picked up by insurance companies and individuals.

Liepert said Thursday he will release an action plan for possible changes to the health-care system within the next month.

"There will be no more studies, no more commissions, no more roundtables. It's time for action," he said.

The health minister said he's concerned that health spending has increased to $13 billion more than twice what it was eight years ago.

"Whether it's funding or whether it's any other particular issue, we have, in my view, two markers that you have to pass. Number 1 does it improve accessibility. Number 2 does it meet future sustainability," said the MLA from Calgary-West.

'The Third Way is DOA'

Public health-care advocates are worried Liepert, who supported public-private partnerships to build new schools as education minister, will bring that mindset of moving toward privatization to the health portfolio.

But Premier Ed Stelmach was quick to distance his government from the "Third Way" package of health reforms proposed under former premier Ralph Klein that was eventually dropped under public pressure.

"The Third Way is DOA," said Stelmach Thursday.

The Third Way mix of public and private options would have allowed, for example, patients to pay extra for services such as higher quality hip replacements.