The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The province will eliminate the co-payment on ostomy supplies and equipment used by chronic and acute care patients in their homes, Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau announced yesterday. "This initiative is part of our government's ongoing commitment to ensuring Manitoba's home care program remains one of the most comprehensive in the country," Rondeau said. "We hope this initiative will help Manitobans and their families deal with the financial burden of care for their loved ones." Currently, patients must make a co-payment of 50 per cent of the cost for each order of supplies up to a maximum of $300. Funding for the elimination of the co-payment will total approximately $400,000 a year. Reimbursement for the purchase of ostomy supplies will be retroactive to April 1, 2004. The Manitoba Ostomy Program is administered by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) on behalf of regional health authorities around the province serving approximately 3,000 individuals who need ostomy supplies. "We are pleased to be able to offer this support to those who need it," said Dr. Sharon Macdonald, WRHA vice-president, community care. Rondeau noted this initiative builds on others such as the Palliative Care Drug Access Program (PCDAP) that was introduced in 2002. This program provides eligible prescription drugs at no charge to palliative patients at the end stages of life who choose to die at home or in another residence.
