Question Period Note: Supports for medical appointments during COVID-19

• We know that medical transportation is necessary to ensure individuals have access to the health services, especially those in remote and isolated Indigenous communities.

• Indigenous Services Canada is continuing to support First Nations and Inuit access to health appointments outside their community.

• To ensure clients can attend their medical appointments despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ISC covers private transportation and accommodation, offers temporary relocation for those with recurring outpatient treatments, and covers additional costs such as meal delivery.

Indigenous Services Canada's Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program provides clients (registered First Nations and recognized Inuit) with coverage for a range of health benefits, including prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, dental and vision care, medical supplies and equipment, mental health counselling, and transportation to access health services not available locally.
The NIHB Program continues to provide benefits and services to over 873,000 clients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is making every effort to serve both clients and health service providers in a timely manner.
The NIHB Program continues to provide health benefits coverage for eligible First Nations and Inuit clients for medical transportation to access medically necessary health services that cannot be obtained on the reserve or in the community of residence.
Availability of routine health services is determined by provincial and territorial authorities and regulatory bodies, for example resumption of routine dental care. Some First Nations and Inuit communities have restrictions on re-entry into the community after travelling. The NIHB Program will cover the cost of such quarantine associated with a trip for medical reasons.
The NIHB Drug Exception Centre, Dental Pre-Determination Centre and NIHB regional call centres continue to operate and receive calls, faxes and emails from clients and vendors.
To enhance client access, the NIHB Program has made temporary changes to its policies for coverage of the medical transportation, pharmacy and medical supplies and equipment benefits. These changes include:
• Lifting prior approval requirements on certain pharmacy and medical supplies/equipment items, which reduces the burden on service providers while supporting clients, and;
• Prioritizing private modes of transport for vulnerable clients who require medical transportation.
Recognizing that there may be delays in registration related to the pandemic, NIHB has extended coverage of unregistered infants up to 24 months of age until further notice (extended from 18 months, previously).

If pressed further
• For communities delivering medical transportation services, we can also support expenses related to COVID-19 such as for increased cleaning and sanitization, and costs associated with installation of plexi-glass shields..

• Boarding homes are taking measures to support social distancing and increased infection-control measures.

• For clients who need to travel where in-person food services are not available, ISC will provide additional coverage for meal delivery charges.

• As the situation evolves, we will continue to assess additional supports needed to support our clients, working together with public health officials.