The story of this 90-year-old man who received bills totaling more than $27,000 for refusing to have his wife transferred to a CHSLD far from his home has Quebec reacted. The office of the Minister for Health and Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, says it is carrying out an analysis “in order to reduce the amount” of $ 429 per day billed to patients who reject a place offered by health establishments.
“We are in the process of analyzing the situation in order to reduce the amount billed to patients,” said the office of the Minister for Health and Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, in a written statement. We will also ask establishments to show flexibility in order to take caregivers into account when a place of accommodation is offered. »
The Estrie family who received the bills totaling more than $27,000 consider the imposition of such high fees “inhumane”. Pierre Laliberté, the couple’s only son, argues that his 90-year-old father was his mother’s caregiver and that he could not visit her regularly if the transitional accommodation was too far from his home. His parents have been married for sixty years.
The family says it is ready to pay part of the amount due, which corresponds to the amount billed to users who have been discharged from the hospital and who are waiting for a place to stay. The costs amount to approximately $55 per day, the equivalent of those in a CHSLD.
Following the report of Duty, Minister Sonia Bélanger’s office claims to have asked the CIUSSS de l’Estrie – CHUS to demonstrate “more flexibility” in order to take into account “the realities of families and loved ones”. “But let’s keep in mind that we need the beds available to care for patients who come to the hospital, such as for surgeries,” they wrote.
The firm emphasizes that CHSLDs are the places “best suited to the needs” of users who no longer require acute care and cannot return home. According to Quebec, “the vast majority of people accept the place available in a CHSLD or in a transitional environment”.
Health establishments are required to charge hospital accommodation fees to patients who refuse a place, under an implementing regulation of the Act respecting health services and social services. Quebec determines the amount charged to patients — currently $429 per day. The Québec Ombudsman recently rejected Pierre Laliberté’s complaint.