Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And since you didn't see my hand, I am just going to recognize Anna Pingo because I know she is my constituent.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by the Member for Range Lake on February 9, 2026, regarding medical travel policy and ministerial exemptions.
Mr. Speaker, the medical travel policy is in place for residents who need support with travel to and from scheduled appointments for services not available in their home community to ensure that residents have access to necessary health services.
Mr. Speaker, the medical travel policy does not apply in circumstances where an individual is transported by a ground or air ambulance and is receiving inpatient care from medical professionals.
Requests for non-medical escorts in scenarios where a patient is transported by air ambulance are denied because the patient does not require support during navigating travel to and from the appointment; however, through an exception request an individual's circumstance may be considered through the medical travel exception policy. In these situations, the applicant or advocate must clearly demonstrate the medical travel event has created undue financial hardship or the patient is experiencing extraordinary health needs that require a non-medical escort while admitted as an inpatient.
The medical travel exceptions are assessed at the Department of Health and Social Services, not the medical travel office, making it very important that the application detail and supporting documents are provided to ensure a timely assessment.
Mr. Speaker, medical travel continues to be a key priority for me. The first phase of the medical travel modernization work has focused on enhancing the medical travel process by ensuring the administration of available benefits is done consistently and transparently.
Phase 2 of the medical travel modernization will work to consider the needs for further updates to the policy and will consider options and costs of expanding the escort criteria.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to the ongoing medical travel modernization work, I've also directed the NTHSSA public administrator to rapidly advance operational improvements in 2026 that will result in improved experience for NWT residents. We are also working closely with Indigenous Service Canada for NWT residents to review the process for handling medical travel appeals and exceptions related to non-insured health benefits, with the goal of simplifying the process where possible and supporting more escort decision-making by the medical travel office rather than waiting for the approval from Indigenous Service Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
