SCOTT MOE’S HEALTH MINISTER GASLIGHTS BRAIN TUMOUR PATIENT, REFUSES TO PAY TRAVEL COSTS

Official Letter States Opposite Of Policy On Government’s Own Website
SASKATOON – A Saskatoon woman fighting off a brain tumor is furious after Scott Moe’s Minister of Health gaslit her in an official letter, claiming that his government does not pay for out-of-province healthcare expenses when the opposite is true.

“Tammy is right to be mad — as if having a brain tumor isn’t enough, she’s also getting the run-around from her government too,” said Carla Beck, Saskatchewan NDP Leader. "First it’s nickel and diming cancer patients for parking fees. Now they’re gaslighting people like Tammy who can’t afford to go to Alberta for lifesaving surgery. Do these guys have no heart?”

In December, Beck’s team called on Moe’s Minister to apologize to Tammy O’Brien after an official in the ministry told O’Brien to consider American-style online fundraising to cover the cost of her brain tumor removal in Alberta. O’Brien and the Saskatchewan NDP also called on Moe’s Minister to help cover her medical and travel expenses. The Health Minister has finally responded by letter, saying that the province will not and does not cover such expenses.

Contrary to the Minister’s claims, the Government of Saskatchewan’s website currently states that it reimburses travel and accommodation expenses for certain cancer diagnostic services, up to $1,500. Additionally, pediatric patients and one parent or guardian are eligible for assistance with travel expenses up to a maximum of $2,000 per trip.

“I needed this treatment to save my life and had no choice but to leave the province to receive it,” said Tammy O’Brien. “Now they are sending me this letter stating that no out-of-the-province travel reimbursement is available in Saskatchewan. It’s signed by the Minister himself, but the government's own website says something else entirely.”

“After two decades of Sask. Party government, we’ve got a Health Minister who either doesn’t care about people with a brain tumor or has no clue what he’s doing,” said Keith Jorgensen, Associate Shadow Minister for Health. “Scott Moe is asleep at the wheel and people are paying the price for his government's mistakes – literally in this case.”

“It’s time for this government to finally apologize to Tammy and make her whole. It’s time for change.”

Carla Beck’s team is being a big, bold plan for change in Saskatchewan healthcare. People can have their say at YourCareYourSay.ca.

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