HALIFAX -- Controversial changes to a seniors drug plan are being re-assessed after hearing concerns from seniors and advocacy groups, Nova Scotia's premier said Thursday as he acknowledged that the changes weren't initially communicated properly.
Stephen McNeil said his government is open to addressing concerns about the revamped program.
"(Seniors) have raised issues, real-life stories where people were coming and telling them, 'This is what it would mean to me'," said McNeil after a cabinet meeting Thursday.
"We want to make sure there isn't any unintended consequences to our decision which was causing some more difficulty on people who are just over the threshold when it comes to paying the pharmacare premium."
Pharmacare is based on a blend of government contributions and premiums charged to seniors, which under the new system will be based on the incomes of single people and couples.
The province has said under the revised system, 12,000 seniors who previously paid a premium won't pay one beginning April 1, while wealthier seniors will see their payments rise.
McNeil also conceded that a letter to seniors outlining the changes to the program was "inappropriate" and didn't convey the changes accurately.
"It left the impression that everyone was being hit with a major increase, when two thirds of seniors are having the same or reduced premiums," said McNeil. "That letter certainly left the wrong impression. There's no question."
The Nova Scotia Health Coalition has complained to the Ombudsman's office over the Health Department's poor communication about the program changes.
In a letter to the Ombudsman posted on its website Thursday, the coalition said there has been a lack of information about the changes and the information that has been provided has caused confusion among seniors.
"Seniors and their families across the province have been mistreated by this government's incoherent communications around this issue," it said.
"The confusion is causing great stress and alarm among seniors, many of whom are now worried their premiums could increase by up to 200 per cent."
Nova Scotia's opposition parties have accused the Liberal government of designing a seniors drug plan that will save the province money, but cost seniors more.
But McNeil said the revamped program was designed to help seniors with low incomes.
"We wanted to ensure that low-income Nova Scotians were having access to pharmacare and not having to make choices between filling a (prescription) and one of the basic necessities of life: heat," said McNeil.
