Debates of May 31, 2004 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Health and Social Services with regard to the coverage for drug benefits for seniors. Mr. Speaker, recently there was a change in insurance companies. I believe it went from Sunlife to Alberta Blue Cross, I am not sure exactly. The new insurer is Alberta Blue Cross. In the process of changing this insurance coverage, many seniors are finding that their pharmaceutical products that used to be covered under the old benefits are no longer covered under the new one. Part of it is just transitional problems where the pharmacies have not been given the new list that are eligible for insurance coverage that were available under the old one. I want to make sure that this is not a change in the coverage, but just a transitional hiccup. I would like to ask the Minister whether or not there have been any changes to coverage for seniors in pharmaceutical products. Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 182-15(3): Supplementary Health Benefits For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this was an administrative change to hopefully improve how the system was administered, but there was no change to the drugs or the type of pharmaceuticals covered. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Supplementary To Question 182-15(3): Supplementary Health Benefits For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s good to know, because I have some who are watching who wanted to know what is happening here. It’s good to know there has not been a reduction in coverage of pharmaceutical products. If there is no change in policies, it appears that it really is resulting from lack of complete communication between their insurance coverage office and the pharmacies around the NWT who usually just give pharmaceutical products to seniors without taking any cash from them, so there is no need to do paperwork on the part of the seniors. Can I ask the Minister to make sure that all the pharmacies in the NWT are informed comprehensively about the list of drugs that are covered? Thank you.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 182-15(3): Supplementary Health Benefits For Seniors

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that all affected seniors were given a direct mail-out as were all pharmacies, but I will commit here today to ensure that the information has gotten to its destination and ensure that the information of how the changes are to be implemented are in the areas where they are supposed to be. Thank you.