The Provincial Government today made amendments to the regulations enacted under the Medical Care and Hospital Insurance Act. The regulations have been amended to add a section which further clarifies that the medically necessary removal and replacement of a cataractous lens is an insured service covered by MCP and the surgery must be performed in a hospital or a designated facility. The regulatory amendments do not apply to non-medically necessary, elective procedures.
The amendments provide greater certainty for the people of the province and reinforce the intent of the previously existing regulations which ensure people in Newfoundland and Labrador have access to insured medical services, for which they do not need to pay out-of-pocket.
The department is currently engaged with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association in a process to review which surgical, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures currently provided in hospital facilities might be appropriate to transition to being provided in physicians’ private medical offices. The regulatory changes are in line with this process.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that 87 per cent of people in Newfoundland and Labrador needing cataract surgery have access to that surgery within the national benchmark of 112 days.
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“These regulatory amendments reinforce that if someone needs cataract surgery, they need not pay for it and MCP will cover it. Preserving our universal health care system is paramount for the Provincial Government. Two-tiered health care, where patients with the ability to pay have greater access to medically necessary services than those without, runs contrary to the Canada Health Act and what we believe are values of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians. We look forward to continuing work with the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association to ensure people in this province have access to appropriate services within appropriate time frames. ”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
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Learn More
Medical Care and Hospital Insurance Act Regulations Amendments
Canadian Institute for Health Information 2017 wait time report
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Media contact
Emily Timmins
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 693-1292
emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca