Just off the phone w senior military leadership on the military healthcare reimbursement story. They confirm our story last night is accurate. They provided some solid answers on how all of this unfolded. Exclusive on @GlobalNational tonight #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational Military acknowledges they published new rate schedule without consultation and are in consultation now. Say they realize they did "too much, too fast" and that new rate chart was too low (provincial sources have said below cost of care) #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational Military was planning to pay the same amount the federal government is billed for refugees #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational Now, big HOWEVER: why did the military want to pay less? Because in some cases they were being charged *five* times the going rate for services, even higher than inter-provincial rates. #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational Important info from brass: military members pay the same provincial taxes & healthcare premiums as civilians. Military ALSO pays employer healthcare premiums and taxes. So brass say military both personnel and the institution are already paying the same as civilians #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational Important info for troops: military brass have told me that if you are billed up front for ANY service, you are to take the bill to the base and submit it and the military will deal with it. If anyone makes you pay, same. You will not have to pay out of pocket. #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational 2nd important pledge: military brass vow today they will not allow a shortfall for military healthcare funding. Multiple sources told me there are significant budgetary pressures & concern about a shortfall. Military leaders say they will inject funding as required #CAF #cdnpoli
@GlobalNational important caveats on this one: military members can receive healthcare in multiple provinces. Also the federal govt pays for all folks who fall under federal jurisdiction (inmates, refugees etc) regardless of tax base they r in but who were paying lower rates than #CAF #cdnpoli
@GlobalNational The military decided to change the rates after an internal audit showed vastly out of synch rates. But now say what they published for rate schedule was too low and happened too fast. They do not know what the projected savings of standardizing rates would be. #CAF #cdnpoli
@GlobalNational The military has also reversed from unilaterally imposing lower rates as they did in May and says they will now pay inter-provincial rates until they have concluded ongoing negotiations with the provinces #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational Finally tonight @globalnews will be reporting on the Ontario hospital that multiple sources say threatened to charge soldiers up front out of pocket. Global News contacted the hospital and they declined to comment. #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational @globalnews Adding: multiple military sources told me that funds have been moved around to prevent a shortfall due to budget pressures (increased demand for services). Brass don't deny moving funds around to meet budgets, but say they would not and will not allow a shortfall. #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational @globalnews Canadian Military Personnel Command will move funds into military healthcare where required, senior leadership says, to make sure there is not a shortfall. Yes, we will be watching. #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational @globalnews The Surgeon General says pressure on demands for military healthcare is coming from: increased requests for mental health support (a good thing), more preventative medicine, and a larger force. #cdnpoli #CAF
@GlobalNational @globalnews Global News was told today there is a shortage of military doctors and that is forcing the CAF to contract civilian docs who cost more to the system #cdnpoli #CAF
