Government Seeks Public Input on Health Services and Insurance Act
The province is consulting Nova Scotians on updated legislation that will strengthen and protect Nova Scotia's health-care system.
The Health Services and Insurance Act is the provincial legislation that guides the health insurance program. Proposed changes will update the act and reaffirm the province's commitment to fair and equal health care for Nova Scotians.
"The Health Services and Insurance Act was enacted in 1973, and the health-care system has evolved quite dramatically over the past four decades," said Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. "Modernized legislation will better reflect today's health-care system and ensure Nova Scotians continue to have fair and equal access to the health care they need, when and where they need it."
An updated Health Services and Insurance Act will:
- introduce a new appeals board for patients
- support collaborative models of care
- prevent queue jumping
- support alternative funding arrangements for health-care providers
- eliminate extra billing and user fees
- give the Minister of Health and Wellness access to an advisory committee of experts, if needed
- improve the dispute resolution process with providers around issues of compensation
- limit direct billing
- eliminate reimbursements for services provided outside the MSI plan
- strengthen the province's role in health human resource planning.
Consultation with health-care providers and the public will help the province further develop this important legislation.
A discussion paper, proposed legislation, and survey are available online. Nova Scotians can share their views until Aug. 17.
There are two ways the public can access documents about the proposed legislation and share comments:
- Read the discussion paper and proposed legislation, then complete the online survey at www.gov.ns.ca/health/hsil/ .
- Request a copy of the materials by calling 902-424-7058, and mail a completed survey to:
Consultation on Revised Health Services and Insurance Legislation Legislative Policy Branch Department of Health and Wellness 1690 Hollis Street P.O. Box 488 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2R8