PCs cancel scheduled long-term care fee increases on P.E.I.

The new P.E.I. government has cancelled a plan put in place by the previous Liberal government to increase rates at public long-term care facilities.

Like the Liberal plan, the new plan moves to harmonize rates so everyone is paying the same fee. Currently, people who moved into a home after Feb. 1, 2019 pay rates that are about 20 per cent higher than people who moved in before that date.

• Established residents: $85.25/day.
• New residents: $102.73/day.

The Liberal plan was to phase in higher rates over the next year so that everyone was paying $102.73 come Oct. 1, 2020.

The new plan will still see fees increase for established residents, but not as much.For new residents, the fee will go down to $92.19/day on Oct. 1, 2019.

The new plan sets a target where everyone will be paying $92.19/day as of April 1, 2020.

"I spent some time talking to seniors and to families that have loved ones in long-term care and quickly came to the realization that the rate increases the previous administration had imposed on Islanders was not equatable," said Health Minister James Aylward.

"We know that we have an issue with regards to seniors occupying acute care beds that need to be in long-term care beds and we are going to be addressing that as soon as we can."

Increases after April 1 will be comparable to rates charged to residents who are subsidized and living in a private facility, the government said.

There are about 1,200 Islanders living in long-term care centres, with about half in public facilities.

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