Health care forums promised for Piney

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This article was published 17/12/2018 (1956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen will organize public information sessions in the RM of Piney to clear up lingering confusion over the municipality’s unique cross-border health care agreement, Reeve Wayne Anderson says.

The commitment emerged out of a meeting last week at the Manitoba legislature between Piney council, Friesen, and La Verendrye MLA Dennis Smook.

No timeline was attached to the minister’s promise, and Anderson said he doesn’t know if Friesen will personally attend the meetings, or how many there will be.

But the reeve said he’s pleased with the outcome, which will foster more direct communication between Manitoba Health and those covered by the agreement.

“The people out here don’t know what’s going on, and they’re at a loss of what to do,” Anderson said.

Coverage for U.S. specialist care was removed from the agreement when it was renewed in August, prompting a months-long push from Piney council to get a meeting with the health minister.

“Our focus was getting clarification for what has changed…and what was the same as before,” Anderson said.

Manitoba Health distributed a one-page mail notice about the agreement this summer, but Anderson has said the “vague” flyer raised as many questions as it answered.

“Seniors are scared to go down there to use the services and then not be paid, so they would rather not even go, which is very sad.”

The arrangement allows residents of the RM of Piney and Buffalo Point First Nation to receive primary and emergency health care coverage at two nearby medical centres in Warroad and Roseau, Minn.

At the meeting, Piney council learned only one other such agreement exists in Canada, Anderson said.

Ahead of the public meetings, Piney council is asking residents to submit their questions or concerns about the agreement, so they can be distilled and presented to the province.

“Manitoba Health and the minister has to hear directly from the people what’s going on. That’s what we’re trying to set up,” Anderson said.