Alberta has outlined its 10-point plan to reshape medicare and in the process has unleashed what could become a major challenge to the Canada Health Act.

Under the so-called "Third Way" patients will be allowed to pay cash for some surgery. But the reforms revealed on Tuesday will also allow doctors to practise in both the public and private health systems – and that's where the threat to the CHA, something Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly promised to uphold, comes in.

Doctors already have the ability to opt out of the public system completely in Alberta, but the government says that isn't happening, so it wants to introduce a hybrid system allowing physicians to offer private delivery of health care, if they submit a business plan and can prove that the public system won't be harmed.

Alberta Health Minister Iris Evans (CP file photo)

The three main areas being considered are knee, hip and cataract surgeries.

Government officials say the changes will make the province a more attractive place to work for doctors.

Another proposal is to allow for private insurance to cover some services, but the list of what those services could include has not yet been released.

Alberta Health Minister Iris Evans says the government is not looking at taking anything away from the public system and that people will still be able to get treatment. She says the public has called for more choice.

Evans also believes the reforms will help reduce the cost of health care. "These will be alternatives for people that can afford to pay for them," she said.

Alberta's opposition parties disagree. Both the Liberals and NDP say allowing surgeons to work in both the public and private systems will pull doctors out of the public system and waiting lists will only get longer.

The Alberta Federation of Labour, which represents about 125,000 workers in the province, dismissed the plan. "The ... document reads like a love letter to for-profit health care providers," said AFL president Gil McGowan in a news release.

Gordon Campbell, with the Friends of Medicare, says it's not clear yet if the reforms violate the CHA, but he is concerned about the repercussions for the health system.

The Third Way, he says "has to take professionals from the public service, not only surgeons but nurses, and all the rest."

The reforms have not yet been introduced into the legislature.

The government is encouraging the public to find out more about the changes and offer feedback on the proposals.

"There is no one solution to achieving this vision and it is not something that will happen overnight – but it's time to get started," said Evans in a news release.

"I'll be meeting with stakeholder groups during the month of March and I'll also be making opportunities for the public to provide their input."

Evans says she still hopes the legislation will be introduced and passed this spring.

Tony Clement, the new federal health minister, refused to be drawn out when asked about Alberta's plans.

The Conservatives campaigned on protecting the CHA. On Tuesday Clement told reporters in Ottawa, "we're examining the situation closely but my concern is accessibility."

The minister would not say if he believes Alberta's proposed legislation would be in violation of the act.