Sask. brain tumour patient, NDP push province to pay travel costs for out-of-province care

A Saskatoon woman who had a brain tumour removed in Edmonton wants the province to start covering travel-related costs when patients have to leave Saskatchewan for specialized health care.

Tammy O’Brien, 54, had an acoustic neuroma — a rare, benign tumour inside the skull on the nerve between the ear and brain. Removing it requires gamma knife radiosurgery, which isn’t available in Saskatchewan.

O'Brien went to Edmonton in November for the procedure, which was successful. The Saskatchewan government paid for the surgery, but its standard policy is to refuse to pay for any related travel costs.

O’Brien, who is on a fixed income, hoped the health ministry would cover the $854 for her flights and a stay in an out-patient residence.

When she called Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill’s office, a staff member instead gave her a list of charities to approach for financial help, O’Brien said on Wednesday at an Official Opposition media event in Saskatoon.

“I raised two kids by myself, put myself through university and have worked all my adult life, so it was humiliating,” she told reporters.

“And then at the end of the call, she said, ‘Or you could try crowdfunding.’ And I was shocked. I felt dismissed and degraded.”

In a statement e-mailed to CBC News, the health ministry said it does connect patients with financial support for travel to medical appointments — including providing contact information for charities — but “it is not policy to recommend crowdfunding.” 

O’Brien said she wants the province to cover travel-related costs for anyone going to another province for procedures or other medical help that's not available in Saskatchewan. She said the added financial pressure puts needless stress on patients and families.

In its statement, the ministry emphasized that it paid for O’Brien’s treatment in Edmonton, but “does not provide coverage or reimbursement for travel, accommodations and meal expenses incurred while receiving medical treatment outside of the province or country.”

The NDP Opposition wants the government to apologize to O'Brien and pay her medical travel bill. The party’s health critic said more Saskatchewan residents than ever are traveling to other provinces for medical procedures. 

“It's unprecedented and it's a clear sign that the government's plans around health care simply have not worked,” NDP MLA Keith Jorgenson said.

The NDP did not have numbers to back up the "unprecedented" claim. Jorgenson said the party has filed an access to information request with the province. 

“I think there needs to be clear procedures developed by the province that say when they will cover travel costs and for whom,” Jorgenson said.