Medical Services (Alberta) Incorporated

Medical Services (Alberta) Incorporated (MSAI) was a physician-owned and operated company that provided utilization management and other healthcare related services to the Alberta government. It was formed in 1994 and dissolved in 2009.

MSAI's primary function was to review claims submitted by physicians for services rendered to patients under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). The goal of this review was to ensure that services billed were appropriate and medically necessary, helping to control healthcare costs and combat fraud. This process involved analyzing billing patterns, comparing them to peer groups, and identifying potential anomalies.

MSAI's activities were often controversial. Physicians sometimes viewed its reviews as intrusive and undermining of their clinical autonomy. The Alberta government, on the other hand, saw it as a necessary tool for fiscal responsibility.

In 2009, the Alberta government assumed direct control of the utilization management function, dissolving Medical Services (Alberta) Incorporated. The responsibilities previously held by MSAI were transferred to Alberta Health and Wellness. The reasons cited for this change included a desire for greater government control and transparency in the utilization management process.