Expanded access to testing and addiction medications under Bill 29 proposed

By Your Southwest Media Group

The Alberta government has introduced legislation aimed at improving access to health care by allowing some preventative testing without a referral and speeding up access to critical addiction treatment medications.

If passed, Bill 29, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, would enable Albertans to access certain private preventative health tests without a physician referral later this year. The move is intended to support earlier detection of medical conditions and reduce pressure on the public system.

Health officials say preventative testing plays a key role in identifying illnesses early, when treatment is typically more effective and less costly. Details on which tests would qualify and whether they would be reimbursed will be outlined in future regulations.

The proposed legislation also targets gaps in addiction care, particularly in rural and remote communities where access to pharmacies can delay treatment. Under the changes, authorized prescribers would be allowed to maintain a limited supply of certain prescription medications for urgent situations.

Those medications would still be dispensed through licensed pharmacies and subject to strict safety and storage requirements.

The bill also includes final steps in Alberta’s ongoing restructuring of its health system. Remaining public health functions would be consolidated under the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services to improve coordination and reduce fragmentation.

Supporters say the changes could improve early detection and treatment outcomes. Representatives from the health sector, including the Alberta Cancer Foundation and Alberta Society of Radiologists, say expanding screening pathways and improving access to care could lead to better patient outcomes.

If approved, the legislation would amend several acts, including the Pharmacy and Drug Act, Alberta Health Care Insurance Act and Provincial Health Agencies Act.

Provincial officials say publicly funded, medically necessary testing will remain available at no cost to eligible Albertans, and the province will continue to comply with the Canada Health Act.