Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we are fully aware, we are in a full operation budget season and it’s important that we reflect on some of the high-level questions as to a department’s performance in responding to the needs of the people it serves. With that in mind, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services on our stewardship of the Supplementary Health Program.
If one looks at the budget and health service programs under Supplementary Health Programs, and knowing full well that the cost of drugs and medical devices are on the rise, the budget has remained virtually flat at around $27 million. Can the Minister explain why? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Minister of Health, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We actually provide the supplemental health benefits as per the program and the dollars have remained fairly consistent. I will say that we’re actually doing a bit of an analysis right now because it does appear to be creeping up and the primary result is the aging population. So we will likely be coming to committee for further discussion on the increased costs to the supplemental health benefits. Thank you.
Thank you. Speaking about committee discussion, last year the Standing Committee on Social Programs recommended a comprehensive policy review of the Supplementary Health Benefits program, along with a proper appeals process.
Can the Minister indicate to the House why this has not been completed? Thank you.
It is certainly something that we’re looking at doing, but at the same time we’re engaged in a significant number of initiatives and every time we’re pulled off by committee or another group to do another analysis, another research project, it has to be done by the staff that we have and there’s a number of major priorities that were set by the 17th Legislative Assembly’s Caucus that we’re working on. We’re progressing and it’s in the queue and the work will be done. Thank you.
Again, last year the committee recommended a move towards means testing for supplementary health benefits similar to what was found in other provinces with the expressed caveat that seniors be excluded from means testing.
Can the Minister indicate to the House why this was not done as well? Thank you.
The Member may remember that during the initial Caucus meetings of the 17th Assembly, the supplemental health benefits were actually not one of the priorities that were identified. A number of priorities were identified by Caucus. We are working on those priorities right now. We are making significant progress on all of them. This is not something that’s gone away. This is something that I think is incredibly important and I’d like to see as part of the transition documents into the 18th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, I guess the question is, and the answer is, we’re still going to be waiting here.
Can the Minister indicate, what is the department’s plan to deal with those residents who failed to qualify for supplementary health benefits, who cannot afford their prescriptions for medical devices, who are left high and dry with Health Canada, especially for patients like Patrick Kuptana in Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you.
It would be inappropriate to talk about individual cases. But I can say that we do work with our residents of the Northwest Territories, and when they do have challenges with the NIHB benefits that they’re entitled to receive, we do participate with them. We do work with them by providing the doctors’ notes and everything they need, and those issues do get resolved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
