Medical Transportation Contribution Agreement Reporting Requirements
- July 2005
The NIHB Program provides supplementary
health benefits, including
medical transportation, for registered Indians and recognized Inuit
and Innu throughout Canada.
The medical transportation component of the NIHB Program assists
clients to access needed medical professionals, tests, dental and
other treatment and services when these services are not locally
available. Both transportation out to services or bringing medical
services in to the community are covered. The benefits include
services that are provided either directly by regional offices
or by First Nations and Inuit organizations who receive funding
from Health Canada to administer medical transportation benefits.
Medical Transportation Contribution Agreement Reporting Requirements
As a publicly funded program, the NIHB Program requires certain
information to ensure the program is delivered to clients, either
directly or through contribution agreements, and is managed in
a cost effective and efficient manner.
Collecting Information
The NIHB Program only collects information essential
for accountability and national program management.
Since medical transportation benefits are paid on individual
claims submitted when a client is required to travel and, as
the number of claims can vary from year to year, the Program
requires Bands providing services under a contribution agreement
to provide individual claim information. This assists with tracking
and verification of the amount paid. The NIHB Program funds transportation
based on the number of individuals utilizing transportation services,
which makes the NIHB Program different from other community based
programs that receive block funding for the entire community.
A number of options protect client privacy,
but allow for consistent data to be available to support First
Nations/Inuit and FNIHB management and administration. The key
reporting information is: a method of client identification, client
gender, age range (or birth) of the individual, the reason for
an escort (if applicable), the destination, the date and time of
appointment, the specialty of the health care professional, travel
information, benefit type, and the amount paid. The client
name may be provided, but is not required. Communities have
the option of using their own confidential and unique client identification
number, instead of the client's registration number. Similarly,
the client's age range may be provided instead of the client's
birth year.
Why is information collected?
This information, which is also collected for other benefit areas,
helps the Program to predict benefit growth patterns and related
expenditures, to better understand and to plan for future needs
and resources. This data also provides key information on reasons
for travel, costs and other important factors to enable the Program
to work with communities in identifying better ways to meet health
care needs, such as bringing health professionals directly into
the community or a nearby urban centre. Planning and analysis would
not be possible without this important information as it provides
the rationale for obtaining the resources that are required.
Protecting Privacy
The NIHB Program is committed to protecting the privacy of each
client's personal information and adheres to the requirements
of the Privacy Act and its own privacy code.
The objectives of the NIHB privacy code are to:
- ensure confidentiality through responsible and secure handling
of personal information collected for program delivery, administration
and management
- foster transparency, accountability and increased awareness
of the NIHB Program's privacy procedures and practices.
The NIHB Program's commitment to privacy involves the ongoing monitoring
of program activities to ensure that any changes are made in accordance
with the NIHB Privacy Code.
For more information on Medical Transportation contribution agreement
schedule reporting requirements or the Medical Transportation program,
please contact the FNIHB Regional Office or go to the NIHB Web site
at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnihb/nihb
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