Public Health Care System Strengthened

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Legislation to control how, when, and where private health services are delivered was introduced today, Nov. 23, with the aim of protecting the health and safety of Nova Scotians.

The Health Facilities Licensing and Equitable Access to Insured Services Act was introduced by Health Minister Chris d'Entremont, who said it was part of the government's plan to protect and strengthen Nova Scotia's public health-care system. The act establishes clear rules for regulating, monitoring, and setting standards for providing insured and uninsured services by private health facilities.

"This act protects the public system by clearly defining, in legislation, our commitment to one system, that is publicly managed and publicly paid for," said Mr. d'Entremont.

The act will allow private facilities to provide uninsured diagnostic and minor surgical services, provided they are licensed and comply with audits and inspections. They must also follow rules on hours of operation and fees.

The act also regulates private facilities that provide insured diagnostic and minor surgical services. They will also have to be licensed and comply with audits and inspections and only be allowed to provide services through a contract with the province, a district health authority, or the IWK Health Centre. This will ensure one wait list, so there is no queue jumping. It will also make sure providers cannot bill anyone except the public system for an insured service, so individuals cannot be charged additional fees.

For safety reasons, allowed insured services will be limited to diagnostic and minor surgical procedures. Surgeries that poses certain risks, or that cannot be performed in a day, will only be done in public hospitals.

"Nova Scotia is a province that proudly promotes its world-class ground-ambulance service, a privately delivered, but publicly funded and publicly managed service," said Mr. d'Entremont. "Through this act, government can maintain and strengthen its control of how private services are delivered, so that the health and safety of Nova Scotians is protected."

Government will partner with regulating bodies for health professionals, such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons, to develop standards and monitoring procedures.

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     New legislation will control how, when, and where private

health-care services are delivered with the aim of protecting the

health and safety of Nova Scotians.

     Health Minister Chris d'Entremont introduced legislation

today (November 23rd) to regulate, monitor, and set

standards for the provision of insured and uninsured services by

private health facilities.

     Mr. d’Entremont said the new act protects the public system

by clearly defining, in legislation, government's commitment to

one system that is publicly managed and publicly paid for.

     Insured services offered by private facilities will be

limited to diagnostic and minor surgical services, and will

require a contract with the public system.

All private facilities will have to be licensed and regularly

inspected.

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Media Contact: Valerie Bellefontaine
              Department of Health
              902-424-7942
              bellefva@gov.ns.ca