Province to Help Pay Travel and Accommodation Costs for Patients

Nova Scotians who are approved to travel out of province for necessary medical care that is not available here are now eligible for some assistance thanks to the province's new travel and accommodations assistance policy. The policy takes effect April 1.

"We are meeting our commitment to help cover travel and accommodation expenses for patients who need medically insured care out of province," said Health Minister Maureen MacDonald. "This also supports our plan to bring better health care to families, and to make the right decisions in difficult times."

Patients will need to have their specialist seek approval from MSI for the treatment. It needs to be medically insured treatment and it has to be a service that is not available in Nova Scotia.

Under the policy, patients must pay for their travel and accommodations and submit boarding passes and receipts to the Department of Health for reimbursement. Patients will be eligible for up to $1,000 per round-trip and $125 per night or $1,500 per month for accommodations. A patient can use this assistance for up to 12 medical visits per year.

Insured services are generally those determined by experts to have proven medical benefits for patients. This does not include cosmetic procedures, procedures still being researched, or drug therapy.

The Department of Health has set aside $750,000 a year to cover these costs. It is estimated the budget will provide assistance to about 100 patients.

"We want to remove the financial obstacle that some patients face," said Ms. MacDonald. "We are doing what we can to provide a reasonable level of assistance while living within our means."

Louis Brill, president and CEO of the Nova Scotia Lung Association, said he is pleased with the new policy and is an improvement over the previous practice of ministerial exceptions, which did not cover travel costs and required patients to be out of province for more than three months.

"This is clearly a good day," said Mr. Brill. "There is no question that this support will have a positive impact on the lives of the people we serve. Where we once trailed, we will be seen as a leader in Canada. We're going from the back of the line to front of the class."

The Department of Health will soon begin a request for proposals to seek a service provider that could eliminate the need for patients to pay costs up front.

More information about the policy will be available on the Department of Health website www.gov.ns.ca/health by April 1. On that day, people can also call 1-877-449-5476 (toll free) or 424-7499 with questions.