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Blame province for rate hikes, says NHA

One area of discontent at last month’s Kitimat Health Advocacy Group meeting was the sharp increase in what residents of the Multilevel Care wing are having to pay.

One area of discontent at last month’s Kitimat Health Advocacy Group meeting was the sharp increase in what residents of the Multilevel Care wing are having to pay.

But this was one area where the Northern Health Authority could point the finger elsewhere.

John Hall wanted to know what justification there was for a 48 per cent hike in fees.

Noting his mother-in-law did have savings, he said she was essentially getting penalized for managing her financial affairs.

“It’s a goofy system,” Hall added.

Community Home Care manager Dorothy Schiller pointed out this was the second of two increases - half last year, half this.

As for why the hikes had been made, she said KHAG would have to ask the provincial government because it was Victoria, not the NHA, which set the rates.

Schiller explained the fee is 80 per cent of an individual’s net income minus income tax and applies to everyone. The net income and tax numbers are supplied to the NHA which then simply follows the formula.

“Our hands are tied,” she emphasized.

Schiller said the per diem rate charged residents only covers room and board and is set by the province.

The province provides the 24 hour care at the facility.

The actual cost of a bed in the MLC was $225 per day.