Alberta’s government has tabled a bill that would allow patients to receive private diagnostic testing without a doctor’s referral.
If passed, Bill 29, also known as the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, would allow Albertans to self-refer for certain private diagnostic tests as early as this year. The type of tests covered by the bill will be determined later this year.
“Right now, too many Albertans are waiting too long for diagnostic testing,” Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said at an April 13 press conference. “This legislation takes a practical step forward. It creates the legal framework for an additional optional pathway, one that supports earlier detection, faster access, and more choice.”
Bill 29 would build on earlier legislation, including Bill 11, which received royal assent late last year. That bill allows doctors in Alberta to work in both public and private systems, and allows private billing for some services. Bill 29 would introduce further measures aimed at changing how certain services are accessed and delivered….