NDP says “No” to essential services for disabled

By Jim Guild and Melissa Albiani; August 17, 2011 - Halifax Media Co-op

Download audio file 'Essential Health Care Cut.mp3' (3.1MB)

Siphoning thousands of dollars from a special needs program for the disabled while pumping tens of millions into a convention centre is an NDP “betrayal” said many in attendance at a Halifax news conference on Aug. 16.

People with disabilities and their advocates urged the government to cancel changes made on Aug. 8 to the Employment Support and Income Assistance regulations that cut essential health benefits to people living with disabilities.

“I rely on income assistance and have received special needs assistance for massage therapy to treat chronic pain and migraine headaches, ”said April Keddy of Port Williams. She lives with a progressive genetic disorder.

“I need this therapy — it’s not a luxury. Without it I’m afraid I would end up in the hospital long-term,” she told the news conference.

The change in regulations eliminates special needs assistance for drugs and treatments not covered by MSI, such as massage therapy, psychological counseling and a range of alternative medications, said Dalhousie Legal aid lawyer Claire McNeil.

A quick check of the Health Plan that covers MLAs and all employees of the provincial government, reveals that all such treatments are recognized and covered for up to a total of $1,500 a year.

The government has said the changes are meant to clarify what is covered by law.

“They haven’t clarified the law, they’ve stripped people with disabilities of their rights by repealing laws that made it possible for those living in poverty to request services essential to maintain their health, McNeil said.

“This change undermines a human right that has been in place since national standards were put in place 45 years ago under the Canada Assistance Plan.”

The government cutback prevents Community Service caseworkers from using their discretion to accommodate special needs, and replaces it with a "cookie-cutter” approach with a narrow list of approved items.

“And the cuts won’t even save money,” said Dr. Margaret Casey, Chair of the Board of the North End Community Clinic.

“These cuts will create a gap in services which will increase demands on family physicians, pharmacare programs and emergency rooms, adding to the burden on the health-care systems,” Casey said.

“For individual patients living in poverty, it will mean no access to measures designed to alleviate pain and suffering.”

Many attending the news conference expressed disgust that an NDP government that they helped elect would take such a discriminatory and ill-advised approach.

Pamela Harrison said that had these cuts been made three years ago, the audience of people protesting the cuts could have included many NDP MLAs and party officials. None were in attendance.

Another person wondered why the NDP government had millions of dollars for developers and business, but were trying to save a pittance by hurting the disabled. “Are developers’ needs more special”.

The government cuts, which affect fewer than 25 persons, were made without notice, public consultation, or input from health or disability rights groups, said McNeil.