Summary
In our 2014 audit, we assessed whether the department had adequate processes in place to recover the Crown’s healthcare costs caused by MVA. We reported that the department did not collect the full amount of estimated MVA costs nor articulate why it did not. We recommended that the department ensure its methodology to estimate MVA costs was accurate and to publicly articulate its objectives in setting the aggregate assessment if it is less than estimated MVA costs
The department implemented our two outstanding recommendations from our 2014 audit. It now collects the full amount of healthcare costs from MVA that it estimates. Between 2013 and 2017, the department did not recover approximately $140 million, or a $28 million per year average, that it could have.
This audit is important because Alberta taxpayers should not be responsible to pay for healthcare costs resulting from wrongful acts of third parties.