Ann
I'm from Ontario and would like to know if such a Forum meets in this
province, time and place.  Thank you. Fleurette




At 07:41 PM 2/10/97 -0500, you wrote:
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>This is a long message to the 79 plus Canadians on the PARKINSN LIST
>from Anne Rutherford on her soapbox.  If the rest of you are not
>interested --- please hit delete.........
>
>ABOUT  <<The Canadian Forum on Health>>
>Among the hundreds of ordinary citizens and healthcare experts who
>participated in this Forum there were at least two people who knew
>firsthand  about living with Parkinsons. One was a caregiver and one was
>a PWP.
>Both were from Newfoundland.
>
>Last week the Canadian Forum on Health presented its findings on what
>Canadians  think of  health care. I have not seen the complete report,
>but I am very pleased that  at least two of the reccommendations address
>problems faced by  PWP.
>
>FIRST They said that prescription drugs should be included in basic
>health care  coverage
>In Newfoundland here are Parkinson patients whose  prescription drug
>costs are not covered by the provincial government or a private insurance
>plan. What can a PWP do when the cost of prescription drugs for a year
>can be  $8,000, one third of their $25,000 pension income.
>
>SECOND  The Forum recommended that Homecare be expanded
>Homecare can keep the caregiver from wearing out and keep the PWP
>functioning well. Homecare is essential for the PWP without family. It
>costs les than institutional care.  However it is not always available
>and not always affordable and often hedged about with rules and restrictions.
>
>Right now is a good time to educate your Member of Parliament and your
>Provincial Representative about PWP and the importance of health care.
>As health is a provincial responsibility  each province sets its own
>rules about drugs .
>For example, in Newfoundland, seniors whose income is  low enough to
>qualify for the federal GIS (guaranteed income supplement) get a drug
>card.  Other seniors must pay the full cost of their prescriptions
>themselves  if they do not have insurance. We have seen some insurance
>plans for retired employees with a lifetime maximum payout which
>Parkinson drugs reach in a few years. This leaves the pensioner high and
>dry with a sudden increase of $5,000 plus in their cost of living.
>
>The Forum is appearing  on talk shows and phone-in shows. If you have
>opinions....................express them
>Anne Rutherford
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