“We knew that it wasn’t just a one-off, that this was more systemic in nature and impacting thousands of people,” Kevin Brezinski said
Provincial red tape has run amok for low-income families desperate for help with medical expenses.
“We knew that it wasn’t just a one-off, that this was more systemic in nature and impacting thousands of people,” Kevin Brezinski said.
“We looked at the issues, and they were all very similar in nature .. we determined that this is going to impact thousands of people.”
The IT glitches alone impacted 7,600 people in 2022.
“That just shows you that a lot of people certainly are impacted, and if we can make effective change, that certainly would help a lot of vulnerable people,” he said.
One family’s experience
He has two children with serious health problems that cost $5,500 in prescriptions in a year, a big expense on his family income of under the $36,000 limit.
He called in June 2021, and was told he had been sent a letter requesting more information.
He told the agency he hadn’t received it, and was told to take it up with Canada Post.
A supervisor then told him they were waiting for proof of ongoing medicine expenses.
He said he had faxed it three times in the previous six months, and that he had fax receipts.
The supervisor told him to send the proof again as they didn’t receive them.
At this point, he contacted the provincial Ombudsman, who reached out to the agency. They said they didn’t receive the thrice-faxed proof, but if he sends them again, they will quickly decide the case.
Additionally, they say, they can be sent via email.
The man then sent emails with the required information to the agency on July 29, 2021. The agency approved him that day, but did not tell him he is approved.
The man inquired anxiously to the Ombudsman on Aug. 10, 2021. The Ombudsman then called the agency to inquire, with assurance the office would tell the man the good news.
They made no plan to repay family loans sent to him, having borrowed the money needed for medication.
More to come…