Backgrounder

Investments to Increase Access and Enhance Long-Term Care,
Cancer Treatment and Seniors Programming

Budget 2014 includes targeted investments to increase access to important health care services for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with a total budget investment of nearly $3 billion.  

Improving Access to Health Care Services
Investments through Budget 2014 are increasing access to health care services for residents throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, including:

• $6.7 million for the continuation of the Adult Dental Program, including increasing the cap for basic dental services from $150 to $200;
• $2 million to increase capacity for autism assessment and to reduce wait times for children with autism and other developmental conditions, annualizing to $3.9 million in 2015-16;
• $1.8 million to continue implementing the Provincial Wait Time Strategy for Hip and Knee Joint Replacement;
• $1.5 million to establish a hemodialysis site in Bonavista;
• $1.2 million to address increased growth in hemodialysis in Stephenville and St. John’s;
• $739,200 to continue implementing the Provincial Emergency Department Wait Time Strategy;
• $712,000 for a provincial smoking cessation medication program for people living with low incomes;
• $711,500 to expand the Medical Transportation Assistance Program to; increase the monthly accommodations cap from $1,500 to $3,000 and the rate for private vehicle use from 16 cents per kilometre to 20 cents; change the reimbursement formula to reimburse 75 per cent of eligible expenses over $3,000 per year; and, decrease the private vehicle kilometre threshold from 2,500 kilometres per year to 1,500 kilometres;
• $700,000 to extend drug card coverage for low income residents under the Prescription Drug Program from six months to a year;
• $500,000 to enhance the Provincial Home Dialysis Program to increase access for patients who meet certain criteria, meaning less travel away from home for treatment;
• $400,000 for planning to establish a Central Medical Dispatch Centre which will help integrate 911 services, streamline routine and emergency response transports, and help improve ambulance availability and response times;
• $383,700 to add a second methadone maintenance treatment team in St. John’s;
• $350,000 to expand the provincial vaccination program, including greater access to influenza vaccines, whooping cough vaccines for adults and second dose chicken pox vaccine for children; and,
• $158,800 to expand the Newborn Screening Program to include Cystic Fibrosis.

Meeting Long-Term Care and Community Support Services Needs
Budget 2014 includes $61 million in new funding for long-term care and community support services throughout the province, including:

• $26.2 million for the new long-term care facility in Carbonear;
• $8.2 million to implement the Paid Family Care Giving Home Support Option;
• $6.8 million for growth in the Home Support Program;
• $6.6 million for the continued expansion of the long-term care facility in Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
• $3.3 million to finish construction of the new St. John’s long-term care facility;
• $3.2 million to launch four Community Rapid Response Teams providing enhanced health services and home support to seniors in their homes, reducing the need for admissions to a hospital;
• $2.5 million for the continued construction of a protective care residence in Clarenville;
• $2 million to increase the Personal Care Home and Community Care Home monthly subsidy to $1,950;
• $1.4 million to open an 18-bed Alternate Level of Care Unit in Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook;
• $700,000 to address long-term care needs on the Burin Peninsula, including construction of a protective care residence;
• $600,000 to begin planning for long-term care needs in the central Newfoundland region;
• $350,000 for the completion of the North Haven Manor in Lewisporte;
• $300,000 to address capacity issues in the Community Support Services sector;
• $273,000 to increase the monthly rate at Alternate Family Care Homes to $1,355; and,
• $200,000 to increase transportation mileage for Personal Care Homes from 35 cents per kilometre to 55 cents.

Improving Cancer Treatment and Care
Budget 2014 provides funding of $24 million to enhance the care and treatment of people with cancer, including:

• $7.1 million for coverage of new drug therapies under the Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program, including drugs to assist in the treatment of cancer;
• $1.3 million to fund new drug therapies for cancer care at Eastern Health; and,
• $500,000 for a study of safe radiation services delivery in western Newfoundland.

Recognizing the Importance of Age-Friendly Initiatives
The Provincial Government, through the Department of Health and Community Services, invests nearly $64 million annually in seniors-related programs.
 
Budget 2014 allocates continued funding for several age-friendly initiatives, including:

• $3.7 million for a continued 35 per cent reduction on driver’s licence, vehicle registration and other licences and fees, such as hunting and fishing;
• $500,000 to continue the Age-Friendly Transportation Grant Program which increases access for older adults, as well as individuals with mobility challenges, to affordable and reliable transportation;
• $285,500 for implementation of the Adult Protection Act, once proclaimed;
• $270,000 for the Age-Friendly Newfoundland and Labrador grants program; and,
• $100,000 for the continuation of the Healthy Aging Research Program which supports researchers in completing work in the area of aging and seniors.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 728-4104
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca 
 
2014 03 27            2:45 p.m.