No plans to end private MRIs, says Sask. health minister in response to federal concerns

Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reitersays the province hasno plans to change its buy one, get one policy for diagnostic scans after Canada's health minister expressed "significant concerns" about the program.

Federal health minister Jane Philpott has written to Reitertelling him she would likeSaskatchewan to"put an end" to encouraging private payment for medical scans.

Instead, she says the government should ensure everyone has access to MRIs and CT scans as quickly as possible.

Philpottnotesthat the Canada Health Act requires provinces to pay for all medically necessary services. She says the cost of any private scans could be deducted "dollar-for-dollar" from any federal transfer payments.

Read Philpott's letter here:

The provincial government began allowingpeople to pay for an MRI privately last year. In return, the clinic must offer another scanto someone on the public waiting list.

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It has promised to implement a similar program for CT scans.

We've alleviated pressure in the public system,- Saskatchewan Health Minister Jim Reiter

Minister Reiter told reporters at the legislature on Monday he was surprised and disappointed by Philpott's letter.

He said the province was trying to "innovate" in response to declining federal contributions.

"It's frustrating. At the same time they're telling us to be innovative, they're trying to rein us back," he said.

Although Reiter said the province was open to discussion with the federal government, he said there were no plans to change the current system.

"We've alleviated pressure in the public system at no cost to taxpayers so we think it's the right thing to do and we plan on continuing with it," he said.

Reiter wrotea letter back to Philpott, telling her the provincehas saved a million dollars with its buy one, get one program. It says 1,100 patients have been taken off the public waiting list.

Philpotttold reporters in Ottawa on Monday that was not a good reason to continue the program.

"So, you know what they've proved by that?The fact that they brought their waiting list under control is that they have the capacity to deliver the care, but those people already paid for that care through their tax," she said.

"They shouldn't have to pay again."

Reitersaid on Monday he expected further discussions with the federal health ministry to take place in the near future.

He saidthe province"fully intends" to continue expanding its 2-for-1 program to CT scans.

Read Minister Reiter's letter here.