Prudent step toward shorter wait times or slippery slope toward two-tier health care?
Those were the conflicting labels applied to the Saskatchewan government’s introduction this week of legislation to give patients the option of paying privately for an MRI scan in the province.
“Reducing wait times and giving patients more choice over their own care decisions is a high priority for the people of Saskatchewan,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “Wait times for many services are still too long. Our government is committed to moving forward with new and innovative solutions to barriers that prevent the very best in patient access and satisfaction.”
Tom Graham, president of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, sounded alarm bells over the move.
“Allowing those able to pay for private MRI scans to get access to health care more quickly – regardless of need – is the introduction of two-tier health care,” said Graham. “While those with large wallets can get MRIs quickly, the rest of us will have to wait.”
The new legislation will allow for the creation of regulations that will require private clinics to provide a second scan to a patient on the public wait list at no charge every time a scan is provided to someone who chooses to pay for their own MRI.
A physician referral will still be required to obtain an MRI scan.
Similar setup
The arrangement is similar to agreements that are in place that allow for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) to purchase MRI scans.
In both agreements, the Roughriders and the WCB pay for an additional scan for a patient on the public wait list.
“The requirement for a private clinic to cover a second scan on the public wait list will increase fairness and access,” Duncan said. “We are once again leading the way with an innovative, made-in-Saskatchewan approach to reducing wait times.”
But Graham said studies show that provinces that have experimented with the pay-per-use model have actually experienced longer wait times.
Following passage of the legislation and the establishment of regulations, private-pay MRI services could be offered in existing private MRI facilities as early as the spring of 2016.
The province said the model would be evaluated after one year in order to ensure it is meeting the goals of improving access to safe, high quality care.
As of March 31 there were an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 patients waiting for MRI services in Saskatchewan, according to the province.
– Compiled from news releases
