Long-Term Care Affordability: A Policy Brief Issue Affecting Canadian Health Care System
The Canadian health care system is changing, characterised by reduced hospital stays, increased outpatient treatment as well as the aging population, because of increased life expectancy, which increases long-term care demand by many Canadians. In addition, it is expected that the demand for long-term care in the country will surge radically, as the generation of baby boomers attains old age. Consequently, Canada will face a lot of challenges with regards to guaranteeing Canadians access to high quality long-term care. Carrying out structural reform that switch patients to suitable long-term care settings not only enhances patient care, but also generates substantial and efficient savings for the government. Such savings can be re-invested in various long-term care approaches in order to further enhance patient care, while addressing the shortage in funding. Considering the scale of the impending issue, action is needed right now to guarantee Canadians access to long-term care, which they will require in the future. Canada's health insurance industry seems ready to support the government as well as stakeholders in reforms that prepare the system for long-term care that meets future demands (CLHIA REPORT, 2012).
Issue Definition
Long-term care is considered a continuum of care because it begins from the time an individual needs regular assistance in areas of their everyday living, and includes both non-medical and medical care. Long-term care incorporates periodic support within the home setting and the kind of services offered within formalized health care institutions. Specialized care can range from the assistance offered when going to buy groceries or appointments to formal housing, nursing, medical, social or therapeutic treatments. Usually, people believe that long-term care applies only to the elderly and involves the kind of care that takes place in nursing homes. Although this is partly true because most of the individuals in need of help or this kind of care are seniors, they represent only a section of the entire group. There are circumstances in life, where young people need long-term care. An unexpected and debilitating illness can result in the need for a 24-hour a day care regime for an individual, despite his/her age (CLHIA REPORT, 2012).
Introduction
Long-term care is not covered within the Canadian Health Act, thus, it is not universally available for Canadians. However, most Canadians believe that their long-term health care needs would be catered for by the government. Although there exist government programs aimed at assisting Canadians with long-term care needs, such programs depend on their jurisdiction and normally rely on an individual's income. Canadians have to understand that, in most cases, they are largely liable for their long-term care costs. Policies should be in place to help alleviate the considerable stress subjected on the country's long-term care infrastructure (CLHIA REPORT, 2012). Canadians expect a sustainable and effective health care system that is not just accountable, but delivers high-quality services in the country. With the changing demographics and demand for long-term healthcare services, sustainable solutions targeting the evolving needs in the health care sector must be established (Canadian Healthcare Association, 2011).
Policy Background
Currently, long-term care is practically not covered at the federal level. According to the Romanow Report (2002), rarely does the government allude to long-term care. There are two reasons for this as shown in the report. First, the report acknowledges home care as opposed to long-term care, based on the assumption that living at home is desirable and cost effective compared to institutional care. Nevertheless, the home care services in the report are limited to palliative, post-acute, and mental health care services. Secondly, there are concerns that institutionalized long-term health care never provides the flexibility required in responding to changing population demographics as well as errors, when forecasting demand (Banerjee, 2007).
Long-term care is not part of the Canada Health Act. Hence, it is outside the commonly insured health products and services. There's a time when the Canadian federal government offered specific funding that targeted long-term care throughout the country's Extended Health Care Services program. The funds were transmitted to provinces, focusing on facilities that offer long-term care. The program was terminated in 1996 through the introduction of the Canada Health and Social Transfer program, which distorted federal transfers to various provinces, meant for health and welfare. As a result, it also eliminated the federal funding that targeted long-term institutionalised care (Banerjee, 2007). Within Canada, the territorial and provincial governments are usually accountable for delivering and managing health care. The Canadian Government supports...
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