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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (22581)	12/7/2011 8:20:18 PM
From: average joe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

Gov’t spending millions on out-of-country medical treatments By Pamela Cowan, Leader-PostDecember 7, 2011 7:07 PM REGINA — So far this year, 24 Saskatchewan residents have been approved for out-of-country medical treatment. Coverage for elective services outside of Canada is only considered in exceptional circumstances and must have prior approval from the Ministry of Health. In 2010-11, 64 patients were approved to seek medical treatment outside of Canada at a cost of approximately $4.9 million. The previous year, 60 patients were given the go-ahead for out-of-country treatment at a cost of about $4.3 million. As of Dec. 5, 62 Saskatchewan residents applied to the Ministry of Health for out-of-country treatment. Of those, 38 residents were denied and 24 were approved. Many who were denied treatment outside of Canada were requesting coverage that isn’t insured, said Lori St. Dennis, director with insured services, the medical services branch of the Ministry of Health. Five of the 38 people denied out-of-country treatment by the ministry are eligible to apply to the new Health Services Review Committee (HSRC). “Of that handful, one has applied,” St. Dennis said. In that case, the committee reviewed and concurred with the ministry’s recommendation to deny coverage. The outcome of the review was forwarded to the Minister of Health and the individual was notified. The HSRC reviews ministry decisions from July 13 onward. On that date, Health Minister Don McMorris officially appointed 22 members to the committee, which was formed to review decisions made by ministry officials on out-of-province and out-of-country medical coverage. “It’s another avenue of recourse for patients that provides some rigour and oversight to ministry work,” said St. Dennis. “There’s an assurance that we’re following policy legislation guidelines.” The HSRC won’t recommend requests for health services not covered by ministry legislation or policies; services provided outside Canada if the treatment is available in the country; services considered experimental and the cost of travel, accommodations or meals. If the ministry denies a resident’s request for medical treatment outside of Canada, the patient can submit a written application to the HSRC within 90 days of the decision. Three committee members — a chair with legal or administrative expertise, a health professional and a member of the public — review each request. Residents unhappy with the committee’s decision can contact the provincial ombudsman. Under a reciprocal billing agreement, prior approval is not required for most hospital and physician services received in other provinces. The exceptions are alcohol and drug, mental health, problem gambling, rehabilitation and home-care services. “If an Alberta resident gets hurt at a Rider game and needs medical services, Saskatchewan will treat that person for their sprained foot and then we’ll send the bill to Alberta Health,” St. Dennis said. Likewise, a Saskatchewan resident can be treated in Alberta and that province will bill the Ministry of Health. The exception is Quebec. “Quebec physicians bill anybody who is not a Quebec resident on site,” St. Dennis said. “If I was in Montreal and got hurt, I’d have to send my bills in.” The ministry gets numerous requests from residents to go to the Mayo Clinic. Before a Saskatchewan resident qualifies for out-of-country treatment, the patient must be seen by a specialist who has tried all available treatment options, consulted with his colleagues in the province and across the country and is still unable to remedy the problem. The specialist must write the ministry and explain the patient’s condition and why it is necessary for the patient to be treated out of country. Doctors on staff at the ministry review the request and if the application warrants out-of-country coverage, the ministry will approve it. pcowan@leaderpost.com © Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post leaderpost.com