Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The division of health care services located in Inuvik is called Health Services Administration and has 22 positions that deal with health card registrations, renewals, vital statistics, births, deaths, marriages and insured services benefits administration; for example, medical travel, extended health benefits for specific diseases, seniors’ benefits, Metis benefits, non-insured health benefits, and some of these benefits are partially administered by Alberta Blue Cross or DIAND as they are non-insured health benefits.
There are parties in Hay River, persons in Hay River that would like to see a satellite office for health care services located in Hay River. There are a large number of patients that come from the Deh Cho and South Slave regions to attend medical appointments in Hay River, have testing done, blood work done, ultrasounds, mammograms, et cetera, and these patients would then have an opportunity to visit a health care office, health insurance office in Hay River rather than trying to contact the Inuvik office to file a claim or obtain assistance.
Inuvik is very busy and it takes too long to respond to claims and inquiries, and there have been numerous complaints about the time involved for waiting for claims to be processed and reimbursed. An office in Hay River could relieve the backlog and take the pressure off the Inuvik office. This would alleviate some of the waiting time and reduce the frustration of communicating long distance, as well as provide on-site communication with patients. Health insurance workers could meet face to face with patients, providing more effective and efficient services to clients.
Inuvik, I’m sad to say -- I’m sorry, I hope the Premier and Mr. McLeod are not offended -- is frequently off line when their Internet is down or they have power outages. This is an interruption in service that would not affect a place like Hay River. The delays in receiving claims causes emotional and financial hardship on some people, especially seniors and small businesses who cannot afford to carry the cost in the interim. An office in Hay River could work directly with the people involved and provide efficiencies in the system. Hay River is a large enough community that experienced and skilled staff could easily be recruited to such a satellite office.
Opening an office in Hay River would also provide an economic benefit of the jobs that it would create. There are local businesses and much community support for an office such as this to be opened in Hay River. I want to say that I do believe in decentralization. I’m glad the office is in Inuvik and not Yellowknife, but we’d like a piece of it in Hay River.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
