(Quebec) Christian Dubé has in his plans to put an end to the fees charged to patients who ask to stay in a private or semi-private room in the context where this is becoming the norm in newly renovated hospitals.
“The private room will become a standard. But before we have private rooms everywhere, you know that it’s a big order, the principle of no longer paying for private rooms, I think that’s what we need to put in place,” said argue the Minister of Health on Tuesday. Christian Dubé added in the same breath that he had no timetable for getting there.
Out of all the other projects I have, this is one that’s on the list. But I can’t give you [de date, aujourd’hui]
Christian Dubé, Minister of Health
Mr. Dubé was reacting to the filing of the latest report from the Québec Ombudsman which pointed out “inequities that must be put to an end” while patients can be billed for the use of a private or semi-private room even if “ no choice is possible.”
In fact, newer hospitals, such as the University of Montreal Hospital Center or the Glen site of the McGill University Health Center, only offer private rooms. This room must then be free, writes the Public Protector, Marc-André Dowd. “So, if the unit only has private and semi-private rooms, the room should not be charged,” it says.
But Mr. Dubé goes further: “I think that we need, in light of all the modernization that we are doing, to update these regulations. I don’t think the idea is to make money from renting rooms. I think it’s about giving citizens a comfortable room,” he explained. The minister did not know Tuesday how much these fees bring to the public network per year.
His office later confirmed that “the Ministry teams would analyze the entire file”.
Current fees for a private or semi-private room (may vary depending on size and available amenities)
- Private room (single bed): between $110 and $273 per day;
- Semi-private room (two beds): between $68.12 and $95.97 per day;
Source: Public Protector
The Public Protector asks the Ministry of Health and Social Services to modify the Regulation implementing the Hospital Insurance Act to stop billing basic rooms per unit (if, for example, it is a private or semi-private room). In its response, the Ministry committed to developing an analysis of the feasibility and impacts of possible modifications by September 30.
The watchdog also asks the MSSS to ensure that the patient is well informed “of the choices available to them and the availability of a free room.”