Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the public administrator for NTHSSA's work plan, it tasks him to, quote, "work with NTHSSA and DHSS to find ways to increase and reduce expenditures within the health and social services system, including supporting the establishment of income assessment and fee collection structures as applicable."
I've had two people reach out to me today, constituents, who are concerned what this actually means. So can the Minister clarify, are we looking to recoup the costs of the health system on the back of patients and people who need health care in the Northwest Territories?
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the services that we provide in the Northwest Territories, what that statement means is that we look across jurisdictions and we compare for non-insured services what they are charging residents for, how are they charging residents for, and is that something that, you know, to be able to pay for our extended health benefits and other programs that aren't covered by the federal government, how can we find funding. It doesn't mean that we are -- made those decisions. It's looking at ways to be able to continue to provide non-insured services to the residents of the Northwest Territories without any costs as a lot of them are now. So we'll continue to do those reviews, and those decisions would definitely be decisions that we bring back to this -- or to the Members and having those discussions if there were any changes. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, many of these non-insured services are critical services. I believe the urology department at Stanton is non-funded. So what services are we -- well, let's just get into that.
What services might we lose or might cost people to use after this review is done? Could the Minister give people a heads up, because if they're getting free care right now and they turn around and start charging them, we're going to hear about it in this chamber. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if a patient is referred to neurology -- and I know that the Member is just using that as an example -- that would be an insured service. I could go on and talk about all of the different insured services, but if Members wanted to understand what non-insured services are, those are the services that we provide through extended health benefits. So many of the services that are provided through that. But, however, there are other services that we do provide free of charge so outpatient rehab services, things like that. In many jurisdictions, insurances cover those. We provide those free. They're not even added to our extended health benefits list. So those are types of things. If you're inpatient and you're getting rehab services, then those are part of the insured services. If there is more information, you know, I'd be more than willing to provide standing committee on this kind of information. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you to the Minister for clarifying some of these points. The problem is when the work plan says as applicable, that's a very big window, and I think when people read that without that clarification. So will the Minister agree to update this work plan to make it clear that insured services will not be a fee-for-service in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Yes, I will direct the PA to update what needs to be updated in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.
