wonderful Yukon Health care

I got this letter today in the mail.

Dear Ms. Richards

In response to an inquiry by Archie Lang, MLA for porter creek centre made on your behalf on November 19 2007, I am pleased to inform you that since I last wrote to you, there have been some changes in Canada with regard to lap band surgery.

Provinces and Territories were previously reluctant to insure this procedure doe to the lack of long term outcome studies that would support the efficacy of the procedure. However, over time more and more jurisdictions have begun to insure the procedure. We have recently confirmed that Alberta insures this procedure and that Yukon patients being referred that would be placed on the wait list for lap band surgery.

If you are interested in pursuing this procedure in Alberta your physician will have to complete a referral for the weight wise program. Here is the link to the Alberta health web page where your physical can download the referral form:

Capital Health - Health Professionals

Prevous correspondence indicates you were considering having this procedure performed at a private facility. Should you decide to go that route the department is unable to provide any reimbursement to you. In order to have this procedure insured by the Yukon Health Care insurance plan, it must be performed within the publicly funded health care system in Canada.