Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. The medical travel expense claim form in its current format is not user-friendly, and it has been reported to me that they are hard to understand and to fill out, causing unnecessary delays. I have it here in front of me, and I am looking at it. I walked through with one of my constituents. It was a very difficult process. I think it would have been far easier to go take their claims and go to H&R Block and go fill it out, but I don't think we want to do that with our constituents to do these forms. I think we should make it more user-friendly and easier to go through and streamlined. My question to the Minister is: can the Minister commit to having this form reviewed and redesigned? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Member for asking this question. Medical travel in the Northwest Territories, it is a big program. The medical travel office has not previously heard concerns about the expense claimed from clients, however, the form serves two purposes: number one, the medical travel office needs certain information about the expenses being claimed to ensure expenses align with travel to an approved appointment in order to authorize payment. That is number one. Number two is: the Department of Finance also needs that form as part of the backup payment under the government's accounting system. I am open to meeting with the Member to hear any suggestions he may have to simplify the form. However, the information on the form needs to be collected in enough detail to be financially accountable to standards and to satisfy also the requirements of the non-insured health benefits program, as well, as well as third parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you for the response from the Minister. Again, not quite what I wanted to hear, but at least I am glad she is open to some dialogue to listen to my suggestions. I do have some suggestions, but that will be for another time. You did mention a new accounting software. I believe that she is referring to SAM that a lot of departments are moving on towards. I know that a lot of my constituents are complaining about some of the delays that are happening with this new software. With this new transition, how long can the current claimants expect to wait for their claims to be reimbursed?
The Member is correct. On January 27, 2020, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority had transitioned to the GNWT service accountability and management, which is called SAM. This brought six of our different financial systems carried over from the previous regional health authorities to align to a coordinated system. Prior to this change, payments were processed from within the health authority, and now, the GNWT's financial and employment shared systems, FESS, centres with the Department of Finance process payments. The centres provide Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authorities with a convenient one-stop shop for processing all its financial transactions. This is the same system used by other departments within the GNWT. This change is meant to provide more consistency in the payment processing and better financial information across the Health and Social Services centre.
As with any system implementation, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and the Department of Finance are currently going through a period of change as with this move, there are 1,500 employees that have transitioned into this new system. New process, new systems take time to refine, and staff to require time to adjust this new way of working. During this adjustment period, we expect there are going to be delays, but our staff is working hard to ensure that the target time for processing meets within the 30 days.
Thank you, Minister, for that very detailed answer. On the form here, it says, four to six weeks. I guess I didn't really quite get an answer. In addition to this four to six weeks that it states on the form, is there an additional delay for claimants?
Sorry. Is the Member asking if the process is within the six week period? Can I just ask for clarification, please?
My apologies. I will just repeat myself here again. The form here says, four to six weeks in its current state. With the new implementation of SAM, is this going to be in addition to the four to six weeks on top of this that claimants will have to wait? Another 30 days?
As I slowly glance over to the Minister of Finance to just seek clarification as the processing now comes through the Department of Finance, I don't believe that is correct. From the time that the claims get into our system, it is within that 30 days. If that is not correct, I can clarify with the Member.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is: this form was quite difficult to get, and it wasn't readily accessible. Will the Minister commit to having this form in electronic form, easier access for the public because I didn't see it, and that is for potential claimants and also have a quick tutorial just to make sure, probably a start to our dialogue to make it a little easier, so have a quick tutorial to how to use this form? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to thank the Member again for this suggestion. The form is usually provided prior to travel as it is required to be signed by the clinician as confirmation proof of attendance to their appointment. The form is available at any medical travel office or at all health centres throughout the Northwest Territories. However, based on the feedback, I will advise the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority to post the medical travel expense claim to their website to ensure that there is one available online. In addition, if clients have difficulty completing their expense form, I would encourage them to reach out to the health centre or to the regional medical travel office for support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
