Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. I am not aware of any assistance that is being provided in that circumstance. Thank you.
Debates of March 1st, 2021
This is page numbers 2199 - 2242 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.
Topics
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I would imagine that there are some people who are in very stressful circumstances right now if they are having to isolate routinely. I think of people who are travelling down south for cancer treatment and are going on a regular basis or they have kind of regular specialist's appointments that they are having to go to. That would add a whole new level of stress to their family. I asked a similar question the other day, but I am wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services is looking at the cost of bringing up physicians for common ailments that people would have to travel south for, bringing up locums for that, and if that would come out of the medical travel budget or if it would come out of the hospital services or where that funding would come out of. Thank you.
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Yes. Thank you. I will start by mentioning that people who are regular medical-travel travellers are a priority for vaccination, and so there is an effort to ensure that they are not constantly inconvenienced by their medical travel. In terms of the cost of bringing doctors to the NWT, I will look at the deputy minister to answer the question. Thank you.
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Cooper
Thank you, Madam Chair. This, the cost associated with physician services, and this would be a locum-type arrangement, is covered off in a previous section, under hospitals and physician services.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
No, I appreciate that. I just want to clarify something that the Minister just said. If somebody is vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine, does that have an effect on their need to self-isolate for medical travel or any other reason? Thank you.
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Yes. Thank you. The point of the vaccine is to reduce the severity of illness should it be contracted. In the NWT, we have not reduced isolation times based on having the vaccine, so the real point there is to reassure people about their safety in the event of infection. Thank you.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you. I appreciate that. I just wanted to make sure that no assumptions were being made there. My next question is in regard to the Metis Health Benefits. I am wondering if the Minister knows how many people are covered by the Metis Health Benefits.
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will ask the assistant deputy minister to answer that question.
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Elkin
Thank you. We have approximately 1,500 people registered under the Metis Health Benefits Program. Again, that changes periodically.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thanks very much, Madam Chair. One of the figures that was given earlier was $250 for return airfare. I am wondering what portion of that or what portion of the amount above and beyond that is covered by NIHB. Thank you.
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Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Yes. Thank you. That is a federal program, but the assistant deputy minister will be able to answer. Thank you.
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Elkin
Thank you. Again, we currently administer the medical travel for NIHB-eligible clients. We recover the copayment, which is $200 each way, so $400 round-trip, from the federal government, but we are currently incurring the remainder of the cost through our medical travel program.
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Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I am wondering if the Department of Health and Social Services is currently negotiating with the federal government in regard to a new agreement to increase NIHB travel subsidies for the Northwest Territories. The reason I ask is, in November of 2020, Nunavut was successful in increasing their support for medical travel to the tune of $20 million, so I am wondering if we can expect the same wonderful, wonderful announcement in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.