Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine for some time has been travelling to Edmonton on medical travel and their travel expense claims continues to be somewhat similar each time. Out of this process some difficulty has arisen but also a possible solution. What they did was they chose the lower cost option by renting a car from the airport to drive into the city for their appointments and whatnot and, of course, they came back to file their medical travel claim. To rent the car was actually cheaper than it was to do the normal $60 cab ride, $60 back and as well as all those multi cab rides.
So, Mr. Speaker, my question would be focussed to the Minister of Health and Social Services to looking at creating options that may help solve the problem that, A, my constituent has and, B, maybe create simpler options going forward with choice.
Would the Minister be willing to look at creating a process so what people would normally do with meal claims and travel claims is check a box and get a flat rate? Would the Minister be willing to look at a process for medical travel to give people the option if they want the independence to rent a car on their own and use that as their only transportation cost while they are on these normal everyday and very typical travel process and trips to Edmonton? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Member for that question. I did, in fact, talk to the particular constituents the Member is referring to and I have directed the department to look at ways to change our policies to allow patients to be able to claim a rental car as opposed to other modes of transportation like taxis, because things have changed now where renting a vehicle is often cheaper than riding in taxis. I think it’s a matter of changing paperwork. That’s why I have not been able to get back to that particular constituent. I will follow up in writing to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, my constituent is a loyal listener of the Legislative Assembly proceeding and I can tell you they’re probably watching right now. Mr. Speaker, so he’ll be very pleased with that brief an answer.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, you know, I’m glad to hear it’s going to work out, from the sounds of what the Minister had to say, but sometimes it has to be approved up front and I am suggesting we create a process where we inform people up front that if they want the choice of independence, they can have that and make it on their own or if they want the choice to submit receipts, they have that choice as well. So would the Minister be looking at incorporating this as a normal process going forward to help streamline our travel claims because if they don’t have to submit receipts, that saves a lot of time and energy and certainly in the long run it probably saves us a lot of money. Would the Minister be willing to look at incorporating that process? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know exactly what the process is. I believe obviously if we change the Medical Travel Policy to allow alternative modes of transportation, then that rule has to be communicated to those who will be going on medical travel and they will have to be advised as to, you know, you can either take a taxi or rent a vehicle, whichever is cheaper and so on. So that information item or informing the public will have to be part of that change and will be part of that. Thank you.
