The Ministry of Health is clarifying information that has been reported about the Province's Home and Community Care policy for publicly subsidized residential care.

The policy explains which items in residential care a resident can be charged for and which items must be included as part of a resident's basic care.

Operators of residential care facilities have always been allowed to charge clients for the cost and maintenance of personal services and equipment, such as telephone, wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids and cable (the full list of chargeable items is included in the backgrounder).

The 1991 home and community care manual, for example, states, "the client is responsible for the cost and maintenance of equipment that is for their exclusive use (e.g., walker, crutch, wheelchair)."

In 2010 and 2012, the ministry clarified the manual as some operators were charging for items, such as incontinence supplies, that should be included as part of a person's basic care. In addition, the updated policy also requires operators to clearly explain each fee and make sure that clients are aware and agree in advance before they are charged.

Recently, there has been considerable media on wheelchair maintenance fees. This fee has been inconsistently applied throughout the province. For example, most health-authority-contracted and privately owned facilities have required clients to cover the cost of their own wheelchairs, while most health-authority-owned and operated facilities have providing wheelchairs free of charge.

The ministry now is working with all health authorities on a comprehensive review of allowable fees to make sure they are being applied in a consistent and fair manner throughout the province, as many facilities apply this policy

Importantly, all health authorities have hardship provisions in place for clients who would experience serious financial hardship as a result of their rates and expenses. Medical equipment, wheelchairs and other similar items are considered when calculating hardship.

Approximately 31,000 seniors are in government subsidized residential care and assisted living in B.C. The Province spends over $1.7 billion each year to subsidize this care.

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Chargeable extras allowed in residential care

The following is the list of chargeable extras from the Home and Community Care policy manual that are allowed in residential care:

• personal cable connection and monthly fee;
• personal telephone connection and basic services;
• nutrition supplements, where the client requests a specific commercial brand rather than the brand provided by the service provider;
• personal newspaper, magazines and periodicals;
• hearing aids and batteries, including replacement batteries;
• personal transportation;
• extra or optional craft supplies, entertainment and recreational activities that are additional to activities and supplies provided as benefits above, and are chosen by the client;
• an administration or handling fee associated with the service, where reasonable, to perform a task or service that would normally be the client's responsibility;
• purchase or rental of equipment that is for the exclusive use of the client, such as walker, wheelchair, crutches, canes or other devises, and maintenance as required;
• companion services;
• personal dry cleaning, or laundry services for items requiring special attention; and
• personal hygiene and grooming supplies that the client chooses in preference to general supplies provided by the service provider including:

• facial tissue
• hand lotion
• denture cleaner
• brush and comb
• toothpaste
• hair shampoo and conditioner
• talcum powder
• shaving cream
• special soap
• preferred incontinence supplies

The current policy manual can be found at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/topic/D3E0B9FAB55484D135A5C5201D799D96/hcc_policy_manual/6_hcc_policy_manual_chapter_6.pdf.

Media Contact:

Ryan Jabs
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)