Bill 52 (Legislature 9, Session 4)

L9 S4 7657

Alberta — Bills

Bill No. 52 of 1944. A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE FREE HOSPITALIZA TION OF MATERNITY PATIENTS. NOTE. This Bill introduces a new Act to provide for the free hospitalization of maternity patients when they have resided in Alberta for the period set out in the Bill, and also under special ,circumstances to be defined by Order in Council. Provision is made for the Minister of Health entering into agreements' with the various hospitals and approved nursing homes for the hospitalization of the patients in question.

Section 4 authorizes the Minister, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, to make regulations in connection with the details in the carrying out of the Act.

Section 5 defines the women who are entitled to the benefit of the Act and limits the period of free hospitalization to twelve days.

Section 6 provides for persons obtaining hospitalization in a semi-private ward at their own expense in so far as the extra expense is concerned, and

section 7 provides that persons may make arrangements for their own hospitaliza tion without regard to the Act. The Act is to .come into force on April 1st, 1944. W. S. GRAY, Acting Legislative Counsel. (This note does not form any part of the Bill but is offered in explanation of its provisions.),

BILL No. 52 of 1944.

An Act to provide for the Free Hospitalization of Maternity Patients. (Assented to ,1944.) HIS MAJESTY, by and with the 'advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta, enacts as, follows: 1. This Act may be cited as "The Maternity Hospitaliza- tion Act." . 2. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "Hospital" means an approved hospital as defined in The Hospitals Act, and any other hospital or nurs ing home approved by the Minister for the purpose of this Act; ( b) "Minister" means the Minister of Health. 3.-

(1) The Minister is hereby authorized to enter into agreements upon such terms and conditions as he deems proper with the board, governing body, or person, as the case may be, operating any hospital for the reception, care and treatment of maternity patients.

(2) In any agreement so entered into, provision may be made for payment a,ccording to the services, facilities and equipment available in the hospital and used for maternity ~"~ ,

(3) Any agreement shall safeguard, so far as is reason ably practicable, the wishes and best interests of the patients, the hospital, and the Department of Public Health. 4. The Minister may, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, make regulations as to any of the following matters, namely,- (

a) the admission and reception of patients into a hos pital; (

b) the dis.charge of patients from the hospital; (

c) the accommodation and treatment to be furnished by hospitals to patients admitted under the pro visions of this Act; (

d) prescribing the special circumstances under which women may be entitled to the benefits of this Act

2 pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (

b) of

section 5; (

e) providing for the division of the Province into zones, and making rules as to the hospitalization of a patient in a hospital within the zone in which she resides, and the terms and conditions under which she may be entitled to hospitalization in a hospital in another zone or in a hospital which has not entered into an agreement with the Minister under t1lis Act; (

I) generally for the carrying out of the provisions of this, Act. 5. Any woman,- (

a) who has been a resident of the Province for twelve consecutive months out of the twenty-four months immediately preceding her admission to a hospital as a patient under the provisions of this Act, and who is so resident at the time of her admission, and whose hospitalization is not a responsibility of the Dominion Government; or (

b) who, by reason of circumstances arising out of the war, or by reason of other exceptional circum stances, is declared by regulation made hereunder to be entitled to the benefits of the Act, although not coming within the requirements of paragraph (a) ,- shall be entitled to fTee hospitalization for herself and her new born infant or infants for a maximum period of twelve days, and shall be entitled to all public ward maternity ser vices provided by the hospital without obligation to submit to clinical observations.

The twelve-day period shall include the day of delivery of an infant born after a period of not le,ss than twenty-eight weeks gestation. 6. N.othing in this A.ct shall prevent a hospital making an arrangBment with any person for the maternity hospital ization of any woman in a semi-private or private ward, but in any such case there shall be no liability on the Min ister with respect to the extra cost of hospitalization in a semi-private or private ward, as the case may be, over and above the public ward maternity charges. 7.

Nothing in this Act shall prevent a person who does not desire to take advantage of the provision made herein for public ward maternity services assuming the entire responsibility for the payment to the hospital for such ser vices. 8. This Act shall come into force on April 1st, 1944.

No. 52. FOURTH SESSION NINTH LEGISLATURE 8 GEORGE VI 1944 BILL

An Act to provide for the Free Hos pitalization of Maternity Patients. Received and read the First time Second time ... " .............................. . Third time.. .. .................... " ....... .. HON. DR. CROSS. EDMONTON: A Shnitka, King's Prlnter 1944 Title: 1944 (9th, 4th) Bill 52,

An Act to provide for the Free Hospitalization of Maternity Patients

Document details

Collection	Alberta — Bills
Citation	L9 S4 7657
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	L9 S4 7657
Language	en
Format	json
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	430a9fdd768f88578221257c9bb8b1cadae8679c

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