By Kendall Worth!
Recently, I asked in a blog post, “is ESIA transformation really happening?” We keep seeing issues that were meant to be resolved through “transformation” still coming up.
This story is about an incident that occurred within the past week A welfare recipient submitted a note, from his Doctor, to his caseworker, indicating that he needed an “over the counter item” (not covered automatically like prescriptions) from a pharmacy. I previously have written about the difficulties that Income Assistance recipients have in obtaining over-the-counter medications. A commentator left a message on the post saying:
Doctors Note? Yes, but why do they then question the Doctor further? Why not just accept the Doctor's note at face value?
So this person submitted submitted a note to his Income Assistance caseworker, from his physician saying he needed an over-the-counter item, for a diagnosed medical condition. We heard, during ESIA Transformation, or at least the community understood, that the Department of Community Services (as part of this ESIA Transformation) would end the practice of Income Assistance caseworkers calling, and further questioning, doctors. Not accepting Doctor’s notes at face value was supposed to stop! For more on Doctors getting further questioned by caseworkers see https://nsadvocate.org/2017/02/28/kendall-worth-my-caseworker-questioning-my-doctor-is-a-human-rights-violation/ . Prior to “transformation” this happened regularly but it was supposed to stop.
It is clear from this story and others that questioning Doctors, and Doctor's orders, is still happening, since this story concerns an income assistance recipient who just this week submitted a medical note from a Doctor, to his caseworker in the Halifax office of DCS. The Income Assistance caseworker left a message that the Doctor’s note was too short and they needed more information from the Doctor. Let’s face it, the healthcare system is in crisis, doctors do not always have time to be dealing with Income Assistance caseworkers questioning their treatment plans! This is exactly what this Income Assistance Caseworker seems to want to do.
These stories provide evidence that this issue did not get addressed during so-called “transformation.”
Department of Community Services has got to learn to start accepting notes from Doctors at face value. When are they going to learn?
After hearing the detailed voicemail message, left by the caseworker, on Thursday morning, the recipient typed up a letter in response, and dropped it off, at DCS. In that letter, he asked the caseworker to just approve the request, that his doctor is very busy and does not have time to deal with Income Assistance caseworkers further questioning him.
The caseworker called the client back at 1:30pm, which was a couple of hours after dropping off the letter, and left another message telling him they still needed more info. A day later it was resolved, and treatment approved, but only with the assistance of the recipient's MLA’s office.
Income Assistance caseworkers demanding to question doctors further, did not get resolved through ESIA transformation. It is safe to say, especially after this recent incident, that this is still an issue.
After the Aug 24th 2022 blog questioning Transformation, was posted on twitter, this response appeared.
Well written and good points Kendall.
ReplyDelete