Contentious policy to cut disability coverage under review
Posted Jul 6, 2011 05:50:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotians with disabilities and their caregivers are on the alert as the provincial government reviews a highly contention policy it tried to implement over the Canada Day long weekend.
The policy _ which covers financial eligibility requirements and specific funding rates for medical needs, clothing and travel _ was to be implemented July 1, but it was put on hold after getting feedback from concerned caregivers.
Conservative MLA Keith Bain says the government needs to come to its senses and conduct a public review before proceeding with a policy.
“They’re cutting back on a lot of the things, dental work, glasses, medical checkups,” Bain told the Canadian Press. “Where do they propose these people are going to get the money to pay for them?”
Last week’s withdrawn policy raised several concerns about coverage.
“(The) original policy would have required pre-approval for most items, including annual dental cleanings,” wrote Parker Dunham on his blog, Contrarian.ca. “It was developed without consultation with caregivers, operators of special needs homes, or the disabled residents themselves.”
Dunham reports staff at special care facilities are concerned some of their patients will not have their insulin or seizure medication covered under the policy.
“This is bad news,” Liberal community services critic, Geoff MacLellan told News 95.7 Tuesday. “Cuts to medical services that disabled Nova Scotians really rely on, it’s going to negatively impact their lives in many ways. I’ve heard from operators who are very disappointed in this decision or this possible decision.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Community Services said the next version of the policy will be clear and consistent and won’t jeopardize anyone’s current benefits.
“There are still some things and some details that we need to work out,” Brooke Armstrong told the Canadian Press. “In the meantime, I guess we wanted people to know they won’t be receiving any less and in some cases will be receiving more.”
Armstrong said the new policy will maintain full coverage for dental work, as opposed to the July version which reduced coverage to 80 per cent of the coverage provided in the 2008 fee schedule.
There was also a proposal to reduce an annual clothing allowance to $300, but Armstrong said it will remain at $360.
The policy was brought forward on Thursday, June 30, hours before the province clocked out for Canada Day celebrations and the first long weekend of the summer.
The NDP government is being criticized for trying to sneak the policy through without media coverage and have it come into effect on the holiday Friday.
The policy was quickly withdrawn when the Canadian Press asked for comments from DCS Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse.
The revised policy is expected to be rolled out within the next week or so.
