Legislative_ Assembly

titioners throughout the Province would have treated the welfare cases at no cost. It is pro-rated to the effect they have guaranteed to work at the rate of $31.00 per patient, and if there wasn’t enough money in the plan for that amount of money

then the medical society would not get any pay for their work during this month, or even last month if the money had run out.

But, Mr. Speaker there was enough money and we anticipate there will be a surplus for the whole fourteen .or fifteen months of about $12,000, which will be refunded to the government, because the government also signed a contract that we would not pay any more than $31.00. The plan that we had in the past has worked very favourably for all, the government was able to recoup about $12,000, the Medical Society was able to receive their full fees other than specialists fees, and our welfare recipients were able to get Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage.

The new plan which we propose to put into effect has not been worked out in detail, but because of the increased medical fees, and because of the increased usage of the plan by those who are covered, and because of the increased coverage which we propose to get, new items which were not covered in the previous plan, and nego- tiating with the Medical Society to see that the specialists receive their full fee, rather than subsidizing the plan, a plan of this nature would cost this province ap-

proximately $45.00 to $47.00 per person per year, as compared with the plan which we previously had of $31.00 per patient per year.

With our negotiations with Blue Cross-Blue Shield, and our negotiations with the Prince Edward Island Medical Society we have struck a figure of approximately $37.00 per year. I want you to understand, Mr. Speaker, that we could not give the complete plan for $37.00 a year unless the Medical Society were prepared to subsidize the plan, and, because it is a welfare group, the Medical Society feels they deserve special consideration, they are negotiating with their members to present me with their views as to whether they will accept a full plan which will give all the benefits

not only for the general practice rate of fees but the specialists rate of fees for the sum of $37.00.

J. Cyril Sinnott: I am not familiar with these negotiations. For years I have con- ducted them on behalf of the Medical Society with Blue Cross. Do I understand you to say that the Medical Society is suggesting that specialists be paid for patients who walk into their office off the streets so to speak, on a non-referral basis?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: I don’t quite understand. . ..

J. Cyril Sinnott: Is the Medical Society suggesting that it should be paid for free patients who walk in off the street to a specialists office without being referred by another Doctor?

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: I don’t think so, Mr. Speaker, I think the Medical Society feels that if the specialist sees someone off the street than he gets general practice fees, but if has someone is referred then he would get specialist fees.

J. Cyril Sinnott: Mr. Minister, there seems to be no reason for the increase from $31.00 to $37.00, because this was the previous arrangement and therefore there 15 no change in it.

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: Mr. Speaker, if the honourable member had of been in his seat earlier, I spent a few minutes to explain the increase, and I would be pleased to discuss it with him at any time. I hate to bore the House with this matter all over again just for his benefit since he came in late.

As I have said, Mr. Speaker, the full negotiations with the medical,society have not been completed, but they are prepared to subsxdize a plan....hes gone again; off again, on again, Finnigan!

Some Member: He will come back and ask the same question.

Hon. M. Lorne Bonnell: The Medical Society are prepared to subsidize the plan if $37.00 a year does not cover the full plan.

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