Mr. Speaker, nowhere in the Medical Travel Policy does it mention whether the Minister or any government worker has the ability to overturn a doctor's recommendation for a non-medical escort, so my question is: under what authority does medical travel personnel have the ability to deny a non-medical escort despite a doctor telling a patient otherwise?
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for the question. This is often a misunderstood issue, and it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the role of the clinicians in the administration of medical travel benefits. While our clinicians have an integral role with respect to medical travel, such as making a valid medical referral for the patient and making a recommendation for the escorts, medical travel assistance is a benefit program offered by our government and administered by our medical travel staff. The Medical Travel Policy does not give our clinicians full authority over escort decisions. The criteria for non-medical escorts are stated in the policy, and recommendations for an escort must be aligned with the criteria of the policy.
In June 2019, the Minister of Health and Social Services issued a directive formalizing the delegation of the implementation and administration of medical travel policies, excluding the appeals policy, to the NTSSA by the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services. The directive states that the NTSSA, through the medical travel office, coordinates the medical travel program for all of the Northwest Territories, including Hay River and the Tlicho. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The person who denied the two cases that I mentioned in my Member's statement was done from a desk by departmental staff here in Yellowknife, a staff member who probably has no medical background, who dictates to our communities at large. Is this a professional medical practice that the Minister approves of?
The role of the medical travel office is to ensure that the Medical Travel Policy is being administered consistently and as intended by the policy. When a clinician makes a recommendation for a non-medical escort, the reason for the escort is written on the form and often accompanied by a letter providing further explanation. I have full confidence in the medical travel office's ability to determine if the reason aligns with the criteria that is listed in the policy. When medical travel staff deny coverage for non-medical escort benefits, there is often a follow-up communication between the clinician and the medical travel staff to confirm the escort decision. There are also an exceptions policy and appeals policy to consider unique circumstances and to ensure the policy is being applied as intended.
Supporting our doctors in their decisions has always been my priority on behalf of the members of Thebacha and the NWT. Does the Minister feel doctors' decisions for a medical escort are vital and valid?
Yes. I have mentioned that the doctor's role is essential to the implementation of the Medical Travel Policy. However, doctors have a role as advocates for their patients, and sometimes make recommendations for non-medical escorts that do not align with the criteria in the policy and would lead to significant inconsistencies in the benefits provided to one patient over another.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, a complete evaluation of this department's Medical Travel Policy should be done in favour of a doctor's professional opinion and the patient's well-being. When will this be done?
We revised some of the medical travel policies in 2019, and we will continue to work with this over the next year. I will keep the Member and the Standing Committee on Social Development updated on this work and provide a briefing at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
