 |
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
|
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA
– Health Minister George Abbott today
introduced the Health Miscellaneous Statutes Act, which will make a number of
changes to existing legislation, including greater transparency in the work of
the Medical Services Commission.
Section 49 of the Medicare Protection Act
will be amended to provide the Medical Services Commission, the body that
administers complaints and investigations under the act, and the health
minister with greater discretionary powers to disclose information on
complaints and investigations in the public interest.
“Greater transparency in our health-care
system was a commitment from the 2008 speech from the throne, and we are making
changes to the Medicare Protection Act to increase transparency,” said
Abbott. “When the act was created by
the previous government in 1992, Section 49 prevented the release of any
information to the public on the actions and outcomes of investigations by the
Medical Services Commission. British
Columbians have asked for more transparency in their health-care system, and we
are delivering on that today.”
The
legislation will also amend sections of the Health and Social Services Delivery
Improvement Act, in accordance with the agreements reached between the
government and health unions in January 2008,
to address issues arising from a 2007 Supreme Court of Canada decision. Building on the 2006 labour agreements, the
recent agreements focus on putting direct patient care first.
The Health Sector Partnerships Agreement Act, introduced in
2003, contains provisions similar to the Health
and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act, and will also be amended.
In
addition, government introduced housekeeping amendments to support last fall’s decision
to eliminate ambulance fees for Medical Services Plan premiums assistance
clients. Prior to last October’s policy
change, 68,000 MSP premium assistance clients were billed for ambulance service
each year. Those bills have now been
eliminated. An additional change to the act will simplify appointments to the
Emergency and Health Services Commission.
-30-
|
|
||
|
contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 812-5571 (cell) 250 952-1887 (media line) |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
