SASKATOON — The province’s policy of not covering travel expenses for out-of-province medical treatment has come under scrutiny once again.
The NDP raised the issue at a news conference in Saskatoon, pointing to the situation faced by Tammy O’Brien, a Saskatchewan resident who required Gamma Knife radiosurgery in Edmonton to treat a rare brain tumour. That procedure is not available in Saskatchewan.
The NDP said that when O’Brien contacted Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s office seeking financial support for travel and accommodation, she was told the province only covers the cost of the medical procedure. According to the NDP, the ministry instead provided a list of charities she could contact and suggested she try crowdsourcing to cover her expenses.
O’Brien said she was stunned by the response, prompting the NDP to call on the province to apologize.
“I was shocked by the suggestion and felt dismissed and degraded,” said O’Brien in a news release.
“I’m a health-care worker, but I’m on disability and unable to work. I’m already stretched beyond my limits. I needed this treatment to save my life and had no choice but to leave the province to receive it."
“This is where we’re at after 18 years of the Sask. Party. People with brain tumours are being told to start Go-Fund-Me campaigns,” said Keith Jorgenson, Saskatchewan NDP associate shadow minister for health, in a statement.
“This government has driven our health-care system to dead last in Canada, forcing more and more people to travel out of province for care that used to be available here.”
This is not the first time the NDP has raised concerns about travel costs for out-of-province care. The party also highlighted the issue in March, citing patients travelling to Calgary for mammograms. In its latest news release, the NDP noted the province reimburses up to $1,500 in travel costs for mammograms and $2,000 for pediatric care.
In a statement from the Ministry of Health, officials noted the cost of O’Brien’s treatment was covered by the province and that Saskatchewan Health provides coverage for publicly-funded essential medical services, such as hospital and physician visits, even when they are received in another province.
However, the ministry stated it does not provide coverage or reimbursement for travel, accommodation or meal expenses incurred while receiving medical treatment outside the province or country.
The province said that in certain circumstances, the Canada Revenue Agency may allow travel, accommodation and meal expenses to be claimed as tax deductions under the Income Tax Act. It also noted there are “a number of community organizations throughout Saskatchewan that may offer assistance to individuals and families in similar situations who may require travel for care, such as Hope Air and the Kinsmen Foundation.”
