Starting July 31, 2026, Albertans can start booking preventative health tests at participating private diagnostic clinics without a doctor referral. Albertans pay for this test up front. With this, prescribers may see a new ordering/authorizing provider when viewing imaging results.
Imaging tests (such as ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and MRI) that do not have a prescriber referral or order will be reported/displayed with a “Self-Referral, Imaging” ordering/authorizing provider. Self-referred mammography screening performed by the Alberta Screen Test Program will also be displayed with “Self-Referral, Imaging” as the ordering/authorizing provider. Sample screenshots from Connect Care Hyperspace, My Chart, and the Image Link (Xero Viewer) are available here. The PDF report for the exam will also display the ‘Self-Referral, Imaging’ ordering/authorizing provider.
The performing imaging service provider is responsible for any necessary follow-up care for this preventative health testing and must ensure handover is done in accordance with standards of practice.
Additional Information
For more information, visit: Alberta.ca - Preventative Health Testing (prescriber-specific information is available under “Resources”). Any questions about reimbursement or the patient choice and self-referral initiative should be directed to PPHS.PHTreimb@gov.ab.ca.