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The Alberta government will unveil its plan to overhaul the province’s health care system early Wednesday and documents released by the official Opposition indicate the creation of new agencies, selling off of continuing care facilities, and decentralization of Alberta Health Services (AHS) will be part of the plan.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the party received the material from an anonymous sender through the mail.

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The documents consist of images of a briefing document prepared for cabinet members titled “Health System Overview and the Case for Change.”

They outline the plan for an $85-million transition that would affect 250,000 health-care workers in a process that would begin this fall and continue through at least until near the end of next year.

“By creating separate health organizations, an opportunity exists to enhance local decision-making and refocus organizational intent around patient outcomes,” the documents state.

Among those separate organizations are new agencies to oversee acute care, primary care, continuing care, and mental health care.

They also call for a larger role for the integration council — a group of at least 10 people chaired by the minister of health.

Members also would include the minister of mental health and addictions, four other civil servants, and representatives from care organizations.

The scope of AHS will be gradually reduced within two years, the documents state, including reviewing the potential to sell its continuing care subsidies — Capital Care Group and Carewest.

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‘100 per cent’ committed

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange characterized the leaked material as an “old document” though neither she nor Premier Danielle Smith disputed its accuracy.

LaGrange told reporters inside the legislature that she would unveil the government’s plan early Wednesday.

“We are bringing forward a plan that will strengthen health care across this province and also empower workers,” she said in a statement that partly echoed the suggested “overarching narrative” in the communications section of the documents.

In question period, Smith said she is “100 per cent” committed to what is outlined in the documents.

“This is going to deliver better health care for patients and give more options for health-care workers, which I think is going to improve working conditions,” she said.

“The role of Alberta Health Services is going to continue in delivering the very best hospital services that we possibly can.”

‘Catastrophic chaos’

The NDP shared the documents earlier Tuesday with Notley saying the changes would lead to “catastrophic chaos” and accusing the premier of “giving herself sweeping powers to reach into any part of our health care and override medical professionals.”

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“This is an attempt to concentrate control of health care in the premier’s office, but it’s actually going to cause catastrophic chaos in our clinics and our hospitals.”

Notley called the plans to privatize continuing care “shocking” and feared it was an indicator of the government’s future plans.

“This is clearly a scheme to sell off and privatize public health care piece by piece.”

She also pointed out the documents indicate no plan to hire more doctors, nurses or other health-care workers.

LaGrange said there is “absolutely no plan” to privatize health care.

She and Smith are scheduled to hold a news conference to announce the government’s changes at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

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