of Medicare seeks input at community meetings
SW Sk Content - Health
Wednesday, 14 April 2010 22:58
By Rose Sanchez
Alberta
The Friends of Medicare will travel the province the next month and a half to gather insight into the kind of program that should be in place for seniors’ health care in Alberta.
On April 9, the organization launched its campaign “Can the Plan” to replace what it calls the deeply-flawed Seniors’ Pharmaceutical strategy with a more healthy, economical and equitable alternative.
“The government went the wrong way for a year and a half on this seniors’ drug scheme,” says David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “It’s time to can the plan
and come up with something better.”
Eggen says it’s time to let go of the strategy that provincial officials announced a year and a half ago, but have delayed twice.
“They say it’s delayed, but I think it’s dead in the water,” says Eggen.
He adds part of the failure of the government’s plan is it didn’t consult with the people before it was put in place.
Friends of Medicare believe the Seniors’ Pharmaceutical strategy as it was presented will not save money or improve health outcomes and that it is an expensive insurance scheme which discriminates according to age and income.
“It’s not equitable. It goes against universal health care.”
The whole idea behind universal health care is that everyone pays into a system, and uses it when needed. It doesn’t have tiers of payments or tiers of use, says Eggen.
The Friends of Medicare have decided to consult with Albertans releasing some guiding principles that could be part of a health plan for seniors.
“We will do what the government failed to do — ask Albertans what sort of drug plan works for them,” says Eggen.
“The most pressing point is that we need a pharmaceutical plan for seniors that is integrated with a health plan in general ...”
Friends of Medicare want the public to consider a few components of a comprehensive drug plan including:
• building an affordable system all seniors can access equally;
• a provincial agency that purchases drugs and finds savings through bulk and generic purchases;
• a seniors’ drug plan financed through a progressive tax system;
• making a drug plan that is integrated into an overall plan to deal with seniors’ health.
Individuals interested in attending a meeting about this issue can check the Friends of Medicare website for updates: www.friendsofmedicare.org.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Alberta's top draw for health workers is over
By Eva Ferguson, Calgary HeraldApril 9, 2010 A lberta was the most popular destination for health-care workers in the first part of the last decade, although many still tended to steer away from rural areas toward the bigger cities, according to a report released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Between 2001 and 2006, the principal destinations of interprovincial migrants tended to be "larger magnet provinces" like Alberta, B.C. and Ontario, says CIHI's Internal Migration of Canada's Health Care Workforce, 2001-06.
Of those, Alberta superseded even B.C. as the prime destination for the majority of interprovincial migrants, and Canada's health-care workforce, from 1996 to 2001.
And in the years following from 2001 to 2006, Alberta continued to be the prime destination for the majority of interprovincial health-care provider migrants.
Health experts say the huge influx, which saw 2,600 more health-care providers move to as opposed to leave Alberta from 2001-06, is mainly due to a healthy economy and good recruitment strategies at the time to address growth.
But that was then, they say, and this is now.
Dave Eggen, spokesman for the Friends of Medicare, says an aggressive recruitment strategy in place in the early part of the decade has since disappeared and fears numbers may be rapidly changing to show migration away from Alberta.
"Up until recently, Alberta had an aggressive campaign to attract health professionals to the province.
"But what we see now is the opposite," Eggen said, adding that Alberta publications are full of ads asking Alberta nurses to come to Saskatchewan, B.C., or Nunavut.
As well, "our programs are not consistent, there are layoffs in nursing, there is budgeting chaos.
"We may end up on the other end of those numbers next time they come out," he added.
Bev Dick, spokeswoman of the United Nurses of Alberta, agrees, adding that many nursing graduates are not getting jobs right now.
"I think soon, you'll see migration come to a dead stop. Our nursing graduates are all going to Saskatchewan, even out of the country."
Dick added that recruitment strategies essentially disappeared in early May 2008, a time when the global recession forced AHS into huge budget constraints.
One of Alberta's biggest challenges has been doctor shortages in small towns and other rural areas.
But Eggen adds, again, if there are no recruitment strategies encouraging city doctors to come to the country, the situation won't improve.
"But at the decision-making level, there is no provincial strategy to bring doctors to small towns."
A spokesperson for Alberta Health Services was unavailable.
eferguson@theherald.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
By Eva Ferguson, Calgary HeraldApril 9, 2010 A lberta was the most popular destination for health-care workers in the first part of the last decade, although many still tended to steer away from rural areas toward the bigger cities, according to a report released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Between 2001 and 2006, the principal destinations of interprovincial migrants tended to be "larger magnet provinces" like Alberta, B.C. and Ontario, says CIHI's Internal Migration of Canada's Health Care Workforce, 2001-06.
Of those, Alberta superseded even B.C. as the prime destination for the majority of interprovincial migrants, and Canada's health-care workforce, from 1996 to 2001.
And in the years following from 2001 to 2006, Alberta continued to be the prime destination for the majority of interprovincial health-care provider migrants.
Health experts say the huge influx, which saw 2,600 more health-care providers move to as opposed to leave Alberta from 2001-06, is mainly due to a healthy economy and good recruitment strategies at the time to address growth.
But that was then, they say, and this is now.
Dave Eggen, spokesman for the Friends of Medicare, says an aggressive recruitment strategy in place in the early part of the decade has since disappeared and fears numbers may be rapidly changing to show migration away from Alberta.
"Up until recently, Alberta had an aggressive campaign to attract health professionals to the province.
"But what we see now is the opposite," Eggen said, adding that Alberta publications are full of ads asking Alberta nurses to come to Saskatchewan, B.C., or Nunavut.
As well, "our programs are not consistent, there are layoffs in nursing, there is budgeting chaos.
"We may end up on the other end of those numbers next time they come out," he added.
Bev Dick, spokeswoman of the United Nurses of Alberta, agrees, adding that many nursing graduates are not getting jobs right now.
"I think soon, you'll see migration come to a dead stop. Our nursing graduates are all going to Saskatchewan, even out of the country."
Dick added that recruitment strategies essentially disappeared in early May 2008, a time when the global recession forced AHS into huge budget constraints.
One of Alberta's biggest challenges has been doctor shortages in small towns and other rural areas.
But Eggen adds, again, if there are no recruitment strategies encouraging city doctors to come to the country, the situation won't improve.
"But at the decision-making level, there is no provincial strategy to bring doctors to small towns."
A spokesperson for Alberta Health Services was unavailable.
eferguson@theherald.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
Friends of Medicare handing out protest postcards
4:45 pm
Click here to email Scott Johnston
4/9/2010
Friends of Medicare is stepping up its campaign against the province's proposed seniors drug plan.
That's the plan that was put on hold last week by Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky. He inherited a program from his predecessor Ron Leipert that would see most seniors pay up $15 per prescription, although low-income seniors would get their drugs for free.
Noel Somerville, who is the chairman of Public Interest Alberta’s seniors task force, says that's misleading.
"What it was was a giant gift to the insurance industry in this province," remarks Somerville.
Dave Eggen, the executive director for Friends of Medicare, says the plan would have many seniors paying more out of pocket for drugs than they do now.
"It's not universal, and because it targets a group by income and by age it's best to scrap it and start over," says Eggen. "The only small redeeming quality is that it had a low-income component to it. But it was trying to finance that on the backs of middle-class seniors, which again was hardly reasonable."
Friends of Medicare is making post cards available to protest the program and is conducting some town hall meetings to consult seniors on what a new plan should look like. (sj, td, ccg)
4:45 pm
Click here to email Scott Johnston
4/9/2010
Friends of Medicare is stepping up its campaign against the province's proposed seniors drug plan.
That's the plan that was put on hold last week by Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky. He inherited a program from his predecessor Ron Leipert that would see most seniors pay up $15 per prescription, although low-income seniors would get their drugs for free.
Noel Somerville, who is the chairman of Public Interest Alberta’s seniors task force, says that's misleading.
"What it was was a giant gift to the insurance industry in this province," remarks Somerville.
Dave Eggen, the executive director for Friends of Medicare, says the plan would have many seniors paying more out of pocket for drugs than they do now.
"It's not universal, and because it targets a group by income and by age it's best to scrap it and start over," says Eggen. "The only small redeeming quality is that it had a low-income component to it. But it was trying to finance that on the backs of middle-class seniors, which again was hardly reasonable."
Friends of Medicare is making post cards available to protest the program and is conducting some town hall meetings to consult seniors on what a new plan should look like. (sj, td, ccg)
Pharmacare now
Friends of Medicare want seniors' drug plan abolished
By Archie McLean, Edmonton JournalApril 10, 2010 Friends of Medicare launched a new campaign Friday, calling on the provincial campaign to dump its controversial seniors drug plan.
The program was set to kick-in on July 1, but Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky put it on hold earlier this month to make legislative and regulatory changes.
Dave Eggen, the executive director of Friends of Medicare, said Zwozdesky should can the plan.
"Because it's not universal and because it targets a group based on income and age, it's best to scrap it and start over," Eggen said.
Noel Somerville, the chairman of Public Interest Alberta's seniors task force, called the plan "a giant gift to the insurance industry in the province." He said a person's ability to get medicine should not be decided by their income.
"Income distinctions are looked after through the income tax system, not the health-care system," he said.
The government's proposed plan, which was already changed once, would have made seniors pay up to $15 per prescription, although low-income seniors would get their drugs for free. What has angered some is that seniors making more than $24,000 in taxable income would pay a monthly premium ranging from $31.75 to $63.50.
Zwozdesky couldn't provide a timetable for changes. He said they want to step back and provide a more comprehensive plan.
Zwozdesky said they will likely have to do more consultation to get the details of the plan right.
The province's existing seniors drug program, administered by Alberta Blue Cross, will stay in place for the time being. It covers 30 per cent of each prescription to a maximum of $25.
amclean@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
By Archie McLean, Edmonton JournalApril 10, 2010 Friends of Medicare launched a new campaign Friday, calling on the provincial campaign to dump its controversial seniors drug plan.
The program was set to kick-in on July 1, but Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky put it on hold earlier this month to make legislative and regulatory changes.
Dave Eggen, the executive director of Friends of Medicare, said Zwozdesky should can the plan.
"Because it's not universal and because it targets a group based on income and age, it's best to scrap it and start over," Eggen said.
Noel Somerville, the chairman of Public Interest Alberta's seniors task force, called the plan "a giant gift to the insurance industry in the province." He said a person's ability to get medicine should not be decided by their income.
"Income distinctions are looked after through the income tax system, not the health-care system," he said.
The government's proposed plan, which was already changed once, would have made seniors pay up to $15 per prescription, although low-income seniors would get their drugs for free. What has angered some is that seniors making more than $24,000 in taxable income would pay a monthly premium ranging from $31.75 to $63.50.
Zwozdesky couldn't provide a timetable for changes. He said they want to step back and provide a more comprehensive plan.
Zwozdesky said they will likely have to do more consultation to get the details of the plan right.
The province's existing seniors drug program, administered by Alberta Blue Cross, will stay in place for the time being. It covers 30 per cent of each prescription to a maximum of $25.
amclean@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Alberta Health slammed in survey
Employees, doctors lack confidence in superboard, poll finds
By Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.comApril 7, 2010 7:16 AMComments (42)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
The Royal Alexandra Hospital is cancelling some elective surgeries to reduce its costs.Photograph by: File, Edmonton JournalEDMONTON — Many doctors, nurses and staff working for Alberta Health Services aren't proud to work for the health superboard and aren't optimistic about the future, an employer survey has found.
Only 18 per cent of physicians and 41 per cent of nurses, technicians and other employees at Alberta's health superboard say they are proud to work for Alberta Health Services, according to the survey.
Only 29 per cent of employees and 19 per cent of physicians said they were optimistic about the future of Alberta Health Services. Another 44 per cent of employees and 55 per cent of physicians expressed pessimism. The benchmark goal is to have 76 per cent expressing optimism.
In a video conference to staff Tuesday, Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett said he hadn't looked forward to the survey results, which he described as "mixed, but overall not good."
The survey was sent to approximately 100,000 staff and volunteers and had a response rate of 21 per cent from employees and 12 per cent from doctors. It also highlights the low trust and confidence in senior leadership's ability to set and achieve realistic goals.
Duckett said he suspects the satisfaction rate among employees may have been particularly low in part because the survey was conducted between Jan. 27 and Feb. 15, largely before the government boosted the health services's operating budget 17 per cent to $9 billion.
"I think that's partly to do with the timing, as the survey was done before we had our budget certainty, when staff were unsure of how we would meet the budget targets (a position I was in, too), and there was uncertainty and rumours about layoffs," Duckett wrote in a blog posting. "So I wasn't surprised when I saw the results."
Approximately 50 per cent of both doctors and employees said the health superboard was doing a good job on patient focus. But 24 per cent of employees and 34 per cent of physicians responded unfavourably in terms of patient focus.
"As I said, the results aren't really a surprise to me, but they do give us a good quantitative benchmark to provide a basis against which we can measure improvement," Duckett wrote. He said people from senior leadership will be holding focus groups with staff across the province to come up with solutions to "help change this organization for the better." He promised to have an action plan written by the end of the summer.
David Eggen, executive director with Friends of Medicare, was most concerned with the lack of trust in senior management. A full 68 per cent of doctors reported distrust and lack of confidence in the ability of senior management to achieve goals, compared to 10 per cent who reported favourably. And 56 per cent reported the managers didn't act consistently or do as they said they would. Other organizations aim to have between 56 and 67 per cent of employees happy with their senior managers.
Trust was also low among other employees, with 38 per cent expressing distrust and low confidence.
"They are quite concerning," Eggen said. "It's a reflection of Mr. Duckett's and the superboard's leadership. It's a reflection of the chaos and confusion of the last year and a half."
Eggen said the survey points to the need for new leadership.
"To make a fresh start, I think it's important to make significant changes in senior leadership," he said. "This is a back-to-Australia kind of performance indicator."
Duckett came from Australia to work in Alberta last spring.
"(Health) Minister (Gene) Zwozdesky has a full-time job reversing the decisions of the previous minister, but the CEO is still there," Eggen said, referring to Zwozdesky's decisions to reverse hospital bed closures planned by Duckett. "Trust and confidence is intangible, but it helps to motivate and allow health professionals to do their jobs, and you send signals to try to motivate people and to make them feel confident the kind of chaos we saw over the last year and a half won't come back any time soon."
Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, doesn't think survey results would be any better today, even after the government's infusion of money into the system. She said staff are still being asked to work smarter and do more with fewer front-line workers. All job openings are only being filled internally, she said. While the government is giving the health budget annual increases of six per cent for the next three years, that's lower than the previous annual increases of 10 per cent. The message remains: find four per cent in savings, Smith said.
"They're not good results," Smith said of the survey. "It certainly would suggest there is a crisis of confidence within Alberta Health Services certainly from the perspective of the staff. It is incumbent on the board of Alberta Health Services to review these results and perhaps to ask if they have the right leadership team in place."
Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann said he wasn't surprised with the survey results.
"I would be feeling much the same in a system that is in such chaos with lack of clarity in where it's going, who's accountable for what, why decisions are so slow," Swann said. "I hope they'll act on (the survey results) and go beyond throwing money at the system or blaming the staff and get back to basics. Get people the resources they need to do the job they need."
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
Employees, doctors lack confidence in superboard, poll finds
By Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.comApril 7, 2010 7:16 AMComments (42)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
The Royal Alexandra Hospital is cancelling some elective surgeries to reduce its costs.Photograph by: File, Edmonton JournalEDMONTON — Many doctors, nurses and staff working for Alberta Health Services aren't proud to work for the health superboard and aren't optimistic about the future, an employer survey has found.
Only 18 per cent of physicians and 41 per cent of nurses, technicians and other employees at Alberta's health superboard say they are proud to work for Alberta Health Services, according to the survey.
Only 29 per cent of employees and 19 per cent of physicians said they were optimistic about the future of Alberta Health Services. Another 44 per cent of employees and 55 per cent of physicians expressed pessimism. The benchmark goal is to have 76 per cent expressing optimism.
In a video conference to staff Tuesday, Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett said he hadn't looked forward to the survey results, which he described as "mixed, but overall not good."
The survey was sent to approximately 100,000 staff and volunteers and had a response rate of 21 per cent from employees and 12 per cent from doctors. It also highlights the low trust and confidence in senior leadership's ability to set and achieve realistic goals.
Duckett said he suspects the satisfaction rate among employees may have been particularly low in part because the survey was conducted between Jan. 27 and Feb. 15, largely before the government boosted the health services's operating budget 17 per cent to $9 billion.
"I think that's partly to do with the timing, as the survey was done before we had our budget certainty, when staff were unsure of how we would meet the budget targets (a position I was in, too), and there was uncertainty and rumours about layoffs," Duckett wrote in a blog posting. "So I wasn't surprised when I saw the results."
Approximately 50 per cent of both doctors and employees said the health superboard was doing a good job on patient focus. But 24 per cent of employees and 34 per cent of physicians responded unfavourably in terms of patient focus.
"As I said, the results aren't really a surprise to me, but they do give us a good quantitative benchmark to provide a basis against which we can measure improvement," Duckett wrote. He said people from senior leadership will be holding focus groups with staff across the province to come up with solutions to "help change this organization for the better." He promised to have an action plan written by the end of the summer.
David Eggen, executive director with Friends of Medicare, was most concerned with the lack of trust in senior management. A full 68 per cent of doctors reported distrust and lack of confidence in the ability of senior management to achieve goals, compared to 10 per cent who reported favourably. And 56 per cent reported the managers didn't act consistently or do as they said they would. Other organizations aim to have between 56 and 67 per cent of employees happy with their senior managers.
Trust was also low among other employees, with 38 per cent expressing distrust and low confidence.
"They are quite concerning," Eggen said. "It's a reflection of Mr. Duckett's and the superboard's leadership. It's a reflection of the chaos and confusion of the last year and a half."
Eggen said the survey points to the need for new leadership.
"To make a fresh start, I think it's important to make significant changes in senior leadership," he said. "This is a back-to-Australia kind of performance indicator."
Duckett came from Australia to work in Alberta last spring.
"(Health) Minister (Gene) Zwozdesky has a full-time job reversing the decisions of the previous minister, but the CEO is still there," Eggen said, referring to Zwozdesky's decisions to reverse hospital bed closures planned by Duckett. "Trust and confidence is intangible, but it helps to motivate and allow health professionals to do their jobs, and you send signals to try to motivate people and to make them feel confident the kind of chaos we saw over the last year and a half won't come back any time soon."
Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, doesn't think survey results would be any better today, even after the government's infusion of money into the system. She said staff are still being asked to work smarter and do more with fewer front-line workers. All job openings are only being filled internally, she said. While the government is giving the health budget annual increases of six per cent for the next three years, that's lower than the previous annual increases of 10 per cent. The message remains: find four per cent in savings, Smith said.
"They're not good results," Smith said of the survey. "It certainly would suggest there is a crisis of confidence within Alberta Health Services certainly from the perspective of the staff. It is incumbent on the board of Alberta Health Services to review these results and perhaps to ask if they have the right leadership team in place."
Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann said he wasn't surprised with the survey results.
"I would be feeling much the same in a system that is in such chaos with lack of clarity in where it's going, who's accountable for what, why decisions are so slow," Swann said. "I hope they'll act on (the survey results) and go beyond throwing money at the system or blaming the staff and get back to basics. Get people the resources they need to do the job they need."
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Alberta announces delay in changes to seniors' drug plan
Updated: Wed Mar. 31 2010 17:41:40
ctvedmonton.ca
The provincial government is delaying changes to its new drug plan for seniors.
The plan was supposed to take effect July 1, and include sliding premiums based on household income.
The changes were first announced a year ago, then altered in December.
Now, the province's health minister says the plan will be put off in order to make necessary legislative and regulatory changes.
"This is creating new regulations to accompany the Drug Program Act," said Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky.
Now, Friends of Medicare is calling for the government to scrap the plan and start from scratch instead of delaying it. The group says it was set to roll out a campaign against the proposed drug plan next week.
"Paying another fee, an insurance fee was just simply wrong. It doesn't improve outcomes, doesn't save any money and targets some of our most vulnerable citizens," said David Eggen, executive director for Friends of Medicare.
Zwozdesky was questioned Wednesday if there would be any changes to the proposed plan.
"We do have proposals for changes for a new seniors drug plan that are not yet ready to go ahead," he said.
He says for the time being, seniors covered by the provincial drug plan will continue to pay 30 per cent of each prescription's cost to a maximum of $25. The minister would not provide a date or timeframe as to when the plan will go into action.
Friends of Medicare say it will continue to use all planned campaign material to urge the province to create a new drug plan for seniors.
With files from Kevin Armstrong and the Canadian Press
Updated: Wed Mar. 31 2010 17:41:40
ctvedmonton.ca
The provincial government is delaying changes to its new drug plan for seniors.
The plan was supposed to take effect July 1, and include sliding premiums based on household income.
The changes were first announced a year ago, then altered in December.
Now, the province's health minister says the plan will be put off in order to make necessary legislative and regulatory changes.
"This is creating new regulations to accompany the Drug Program Act," said Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky.
Now, Friends of Medicare is calling for the government to scrap the plan and start from scratch instead of delaying it. The group says it was set to roll out a campaign against the proposed drug plan next week.
"Paying another fee, an insurance fee was just simply wrong. It doesn't improve outcomes, doesn't save any money and targets some of our most vulnerable citizens," said David Eggen, executive director for Friends of Medicare.
Zwozdesky was questioned Wednesday if there would be any changes to the proposed plan.
"We do have proposals for changes for a new seniors drug plan that are not yet ready to go ahead," he said.
He says for the time being, seniors covered by the provincial drug plan will continue to pay 30 per cent of each prescription's cost to a maximum of $25. The minister would not provide a date or timeframe as to when the plan will go into action.
Friends of Medicare say it will continue to use all planned campaign material to urge the province to create a new drug plan for seniors.
With files from Kevin Armstrong and the Canadian Press
Drug plan on hold
Seniors' groups urge province to abandon proposal
By Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.com April 1, 2010 6:33 AMComments (26)
— A controversial new drug plan for seniors that was supposed to kick in July 1 is being delayed by Alberta Health and Wellness to address needed legislative and regulatory changes.
But while Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky didn't promise changes to the basic details of the plan, which largely bases drug costs on income, public health and seniors advocates say it should be ditched since it neither saves the province money nor improves health outcomes.
"We pay into a public health system and then it's there when we need it," said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare. "If we start discriminating according to age, like this plan does, it cracks the concept of universality and unfairly targets seniors and ultimately it puts our whole system in jeopardy."
The plan would have made seniors pay up to a maximum of $15 for each prescription, although people with very low incomes -- singles making less than $12,000 and couples making less than $24,000 -- would get their drugs for free.
Seniors with higher incomes would also have been required to pay a new monthly premium, a fact that angered many.
The current drug plan, administered by Alberta Blue Cross, will remain in place. It requires all seniors, no matter how rich or poor, to pay 30 per cent of each prescription cost to a maximum of $25.
Other individuals, such as those who are self-employed, who sign up with Alberta Blue Cross pay between 20 and 30 per cent for each prescription, depending on which plan they choose. The amount covered is capped at $10,000 each year.
Noel Somerville, chairman of Public Interest Alberta's seniors task force, said the minister made a wise move in delaying the plan.
He said the benefits to low income people under the new drug plan would have come on the backs of middle-and high-income seniors. Somerville said higher income earners are already taxed by the government at a higher rate, so to introduce higher rates for them in the health system would essentially be a "double jeopardy."
"The principle is wrong," Somerville said, noting that many seniors have paid taxes their entire lives and funnelled money into employee benefit programs.
Eggen takes some credit for the government's decision to delay the rollout of the new plan since he met with Zwozdesky on Tuesday to talk specifically about the issue. Eggen said he was set to launch an aggressive campaign against the plan after the Easter weekend.
"I said specifically yesterday he should can this plan and not treat seniors differently than any other Albertans," Eggen said. "I told him in no uncertain terms what we had been hearing from literally thousands of seniors across the province and it was absolute dynamite ... so today he's delayed the pharmaceutical program. I think that's entirely appropriate. I don't think they were prepared to roll this out properly. I don't think people were educated on it and ultimately, it's a bad plan."
Zwozdesky said he doesn't yet know if changes to the plan will be made, but said the government needs more time to create new regulations to support the Drug Reform Act, which was passed but not proclaimed last year.
"We're driven by some necessary think time here to make sure we get it right," said Zwozdesky, who wouldn't commit to a time frame.
"We'll take the time necessary to review everything, make sure that we get it right and that we haven't rushed it along and come to the wrong conclusions."
The drug plan has already been changed once. An earlier version would have made drugs free for a larger group of seniors -- those with annual incomes of $21,325 or less and couples making up to $42,650.
But anyone making more would have had to pay a deductible for their drugs based on income if they opted into the drug plan.
This newest delay in proposed changes to Alberta's health system follows many others orchestrated by Zwozdesky. Since he became health minister in January, he has frozen the centralization of Alberta's ambulance dispatch systems, reversed a decision to close 300 acute-care hospital beds and backed away from plans to shut down 150 mental health beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
He also distanced himself from plans by Alberta Health Services chief executive Stephen Duckett to put "pay for performance" in place as an incentive for hospitals and physicians who provide "superior quality" health care.
Bill Moore-Kilgannon, executive director of Public Interest Alberta, said he doesn't mind the pauses and reversals as long as the health minister uses the time to consult with Albertans and seniors. He said when people across Alberta asked their MLAs to explain the seniors drug plan, no one had answers.
"I'm hoping that this delay is going to allow for a widening open of things, and if it means it's going to save people, the government, money, then I'm all for it," Moore-Kilgannon said. He said he believes the government realized it would have cost a lot more money to test everyone's income before determining new drug costs. The government said the plan would save $20 million each year.
"We don't have to stick to decisions because it's ideologically driven, and so while (Zwozdesky) has overturned some very significant decisions from his predecessor, I think it's a good thing that he pauses and that he, at the end of the day, consults with Albertans," Moore-Kilgannon said. He called on seniors to make their voices heard in the next weeks and months. "I'm hopeful that this delay as he's selling it is actually a reversal."
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Seniors' groups urge province to abandon proposal
By Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.com April 1, 2010 6:33 AMComments (26)
— A controversial new drug plan for seniors that was supposed to kick in July 1 is being delayed by Alberta Health and Wellness to address needed legislative and regulatory changes.
But while Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky didn't promise changes to the basic details of the plan, which largely bases drug costs on income, public health and seniors advocates say it should be ditched since it neither saves the province money nor improves health outcomes.
"We pay into a public health system and then it's there when we need it," said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare. "If we start discriminating according to age, like this plan does, it cracks the concept of universality and unfairly targets seniors and ultimately it puts our whole system in jeopardy."
The plan would have made seniors pay up to a maximum of $15 for each prescription, although people with very low incomes -- singles making less than $12,000 and couples making less than $24,000 -- would get their drugs for free.
Seniors with higher incomes would also have been required to pay a new monthly premium, a fact that angered many.
The current drug plan, administered by Alberta Blue Cross, will remain in place. It requires all seniors, no matter how rich or poor, to pay 30 per cent of each prescription cost to a maximum of $25.
Other individuals, such as those who are self-employed, who sign up with Alberta Blue Cross pay between 20 and 30 per cent for each prescription, depending on which plan they choose. The amount covered is capped at $10,000 each year.
Noel Somerville, chairman of Public Interest Alberta's seniors task force, said the minister made a wise move in delaying the plan.
He said the benefits to low income people under the new drug plan would have come on the backs of middle-and high-income seniors. Somerville said higher income earners are already taxed by the government at a higher rate, so to introduce higher rates for them in the health system would essentially be a "double jeopardy."
"The principle is wrong," Somerville said, noting that many seniors have paid taxes their entire lives and funnelled money into employee benefit programs.
Eggen takes some credit for the government's decision to delay the rollout of the new plan since he met with Zwozdesky on Tuesday to talk specifically about the issue. Eggen said he was set to launch an aggressive campaign against the plan after the Easter weekend.
"I said specifically yesterday he should can this plan and not treat seniors differently than any other Albertans," Eggen said. "I told him in no uncertain terms what we had been hearing from literally thousands of seniors across the province and it was absolute dynamite ... so today he's delayed the pharmaceutical program. I think that's entirely appropriate. I don't think they were prepared to roll this out properly. I don't think people were educated on it and ultimately, it's a bad plan."
Zwozdesky said he doesn't yet know if changes to the plan will be made, but said the government needs more time to create new regulations to support the Drug Reform Act, which was passed but not proclaimed last year.
"We're driven by some necessary think time here to make sure we get it right," said Zwozdesky, who wouldn't commit to a time frame.
"We'll take the time necessary to review everything, make sure that we get it right and that we haven't rushed it along and come to the wrong conclusions."
The drug plan has already been changed once. An earlier version would have made drugs free for a larger group of seniors -- those with annual incomes of $21,325 or less and couples making up to $42,650.
But anyone making more would have had to pay a deductible for their drugs based on income if they opted into the drug plan.
This newest delay in proposed changes to Alberta's health system follows many others orchestrated by Zwozdesky. Since he became health minister in January, he has frozen the centralization of Alberta's ambulance dispatch systems, reversed a decision to close 300 acute-care hospital beds and backed away from plans to shut down 150 mental health beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
He also distanced himself from plans by Alberta Health Services chief executive Stephen Duckett to put "pay for performance" in place as an incentive for hospitals and physicians who provide "superior quality" health care.
Bill Moore-Kilgannon, executive director of Public Interest Alberta, said he doesn't mind the pauses and reversals as long as the health minister uses the time to consult with Albertans and seniors. He said when people across Alberta asked their MLAs to explain the seniors drug plan, no one had answers.
"I'm hoping that this delay is going to allow for a widening open of things, and if it means it's going to save people, the government, money, then I'm all for it," Moore-Kilgannon said. He said he believes the government realized it would have cost a lot more money to test everyone's income before determining new drug costs. The government said the plan would save $20 million each year.
"We don't have to stick to decisions because it's ideologically driven, and so while (Zwozdesky) has overturned some very significant decisions from his predecessor, I think it's a good thing that he pauses and that he, at the end of the day, consults with Albertans," Moore-Kilgannon said. He called on seniors to make their voices heard in the next weeks and months. "I'm hopeful that this delay as he's selling it is actually a reversal."
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.JPG)
