Thread by @MercedesGlobal

#Breaking #EXCLUSIVE: Ottawa cuts reimbursements for military health care, hospitals on the hook for millions - National | Globalnews.ca globalnews.ca/news/6007117/m… #cdnpoli #CAF

Min @HarjitSajjan blames hospitals and provinces saying they overcharge troops “As it stands, when a member of the Canadian Armed Forces gets care in a hospital, they are charged more for the same service than a Canadian because they wear a uniform. That is wrong.” #CAF #cdnpoli

Full statement from the Minister’s office to @globalnews on the military cutting how much it pays hospitals for care, same sentiment as from military healthcare sources that military being gouged. Fed govt must pay for troops care (in law) but are charged out of province rates

I think I know why the military doesn’t want to pay out of province rates (spending less in a ballooning budget is one factor, there’s another too... provincial taxes) but since they havent said I can’t report if that’s it. More to come on this tomorrow.

Since there is lots of partisan blame game going on here: this happens in provinces and territories across Canada. Not just 1 or 2. And it has happened under governments of Liberal, NDP and Conservative stripes provincially. The system has been in place for years. #cdnpoli #CAF

What is new is that DND is saying if does not think it should have to pay those rates. We report what those rates are. Multiple military sources are saying there isn’t enough money for military healthcare and they are being told to find ways the save. This is one of those ways.

Updating so this is also all on the same thread: tonight senior military leadership say they were trying to make sure they paid fair prices for service, but now believe they did too much too fast. #cdnpoli #CAF

Military leadership speaking on background to @globalnews said internal audit revealed they were sometimes paying 3-5 times what civilians do. They wanted to get consistent and fair rates across the board. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews The brass says they didn't consult with the provinces before sending out their new rate schedule, and those rates they believe now were too low. The same as what the feds pay for refugees. They will negotiate lower than the out of province rates they pay but higher than refugees

@globalnews They are now at the table with the provinces and want to find something that works for everyone. Until they do they will pay the out of province rates they were paying before announcing the unilateral fee schedule they implemented in May #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews The military admits they need to pay something as all federal personnel do for provincial healthcare. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews Interesting to note the RCMP renegotiated with the provinces years ago to put Mounties under provincial healthcare but did not try to impose a unilateral rate. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews DND: didn't realize that suddenly changing the reimbursement rate would affect hospital's projected revenue & suddenly dropping it they would affect the bottom line esp in hospitals near bases. Part of why they will revert to previous rate till negotiations finished #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews Brass say there was no intention to leave hospitals on the hook and now realize sudden change didn't allow for time to plan and adapt budgets and bottom lines #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews Brass tonight on the record also promised that they will not allow a budget shortfall in military healthcare funding, saying they will move money from other budget lines if necessary to make sure troops get what they need. We will keep watching that. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews This comes after multiple sources said military budget is under pressure on the healthcare front due to massively increased demands. Sources say the health group has been trying to move money around internally to ensure troops are cared for but hugely challenging #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews So again, CAF leadership is pledging they won't allow a shortfall and that it won't just mean moving money inside the healthcare budget. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews And now for an important however... that doesn't mean money isn't just being moved inside the broader military budget. It is. There's no new military funding. Did you hear any politician pledge to increase the military budget today? No? Me neither. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews Fact remains that many sources are telling me the financial situation inside CAF healthcare is desire, not enough money for what's needed. CAF leadership promising today to make sure there is enough. #cdnpoli #CAF

@globalnews And finally: for folks in uniform who are worried they may be direct billed as one hospital was threatening... military brass say IF this happens to you, take the bill to the base, to the medical clinic or your CO and the CAF will pay it. #cdnpoli #CAF