Dear Editor,

On June 7, I had an in-office meeting with my local MLA, Mr. Andrew Mercier.

I asked him to address the fact that hospice patients in Fraser Health (91原创 in particular, possibly all of B.C.), were charged a per diem rate if in hospice for terminal care and charged additionally for their medications, the very same ones that were covered by MSP (Pharmacare) if the same patient had stayed in or been admitted to an acute care facility (such as 91原创 Memorial Hospital). The cost of a hospice bed is much less expensive than that of an acute care (hospital) bed, yet for some reason, the patient by transferring to hospice, his/her family is charged for their care.

At our meeting I brought up that I felt this was an unfair, mean-spirited policy that attacks constituents at their most vulnerable, physically and emotionally.

The amounts are not the issue. The fact that in what is not supposed to be a two-tier health care
system, that is exactly what the NDP policies have created.

Mr. Mercier told me that any changes to the policy would have to go through the Finance Committee and that if the Ministry of Health stopped charging these fees to the patient/deceased's family, the money would have to come from somewhere else to make up for lost income.

I would suggest that if the patient stayed in an acute care bed and all of his/her/their expenses were covered, that would cost medicare far more than what is being recouped by charging for hospice care.

The last thing a grieving family needs when they have just lost a loved one is bills for care that should have been covered by MSP, and I would think, is a mere drop in the financial bucket to government programs. In fact, by going to hospice care and freeing up an acute care bed, the government (MSP) is likely saving money it would otherwise be spending on acute care.

The government's policy makes no sense and is mean-spirited. I requested Mr. Mercier approach the Finance committee and/or the Minister of Health, Mr. Dix, to have it reviewed and abolished.

If we don't want a two-tiered health care system, we shouldn't be charging privately for hospice care. The amounts charged are not the point. The principle is, and as one of Mr. Mercier's constituents I resent the policy and trusted he would have done whatever he could to have this unfair policy changed.
To the best of my knowledge, other than to tell me to organize and make presentations, he has done nothing.

Isn't that why he gets his salary, i.e., to represent his constituents?

This affects Fraser Health constituents, and possibly all of B.C. constituents daily, so for me it isn't good enough to hear all of the elected politicians had the summer off. His ill constituents didn't get a summer break from their suffering.

My interaction with Mr. Mercier has been most disappointing. It is the first and only time I have asked my elected representative to do something for the good of his constituents and there has been absolutely no sign that any attempt to represent us in this matter was made.

If that is what he does with other issues of concern to his constituents then there is no way he should be our representative.

Disappointedly yours,

Stephen Shore, MD, Brookswood