2026-06-03 from calgary.citynews.ca

Alberta is launching a new surgery funding model that ties money to patients.

In a news conference Monday, the province says it began implementing “patient?focused funding” in 12 public hospitals last month to change how surgeries are delivered and paid for, aiming to increase efficiency and expand capacity.

The move pushes the province away from traditional block funding and toward a system in which hospital operators are paid based on the number and type of procedures they perform. The government has set a price for each surgery, with some rates placed below historical averages to encourage efficiency.

Officials say the model will be used in future contract discussions with private providers, though the initial rollout is limited to public hospitals, including Rockyview General in Calgary and the Royal Alexandra Edmonton. 

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