Photo of PM Justin Trudeau Above by Harold L Doherty, January 17, 2017 in Fredericton where he brushed off my attempt to ask him a question. I had intended to ask him about the Winnipeg National Liberal Party Resolution calling for Medicare Coverage for Autism. Medicare for Autism NOW! Excutive Directors Jean Lewis and David Marley sent a detailed Open Letter to the PM on April 2, 2017 and got a prompt reply from some unknown individual although it was not from the PM or anyone in his office. .It appears the PM has no intent to act on the Medicare Coverage for Autism Resolution passed by the National Liberal Party in Winnipeg in 2016.
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On April 2, 2017 Autism "Awareness" Day Jean Lewis and David Marley, Executive Directors of Medicare for Autism NOW! forwarded an Open Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hoping to bring his attention to the need for serious action to address the needs of autistic Canadians, needs which were recognized 10 years ago in the "Pay Now or Pay Later" report of the Canadian Senate,
The letter also referenced an earlier email of November 20, 2016 which had raised the medicare for autism issue. The reply however was not from the PM whose office apparently thought it appropriate to give the letter the brush off and dump it downstream to an unidentified, invisible individual in the Strategic Policy Branch of Health Canada.
Apparently the mystery author of the reply to the Medicare for Autism NOW! executives wasn't aware that Medicare for Autism NOW! and other organizations and individuals have been advocating for more than 15 years in an effort to have our federal governments show some compassion and leadership in addressing the needs of individuals of all ages with autism disorders. Advocates including this father of a 21 year old autistic son with severe autism challenges are well aware of the inaction of our federal governments in addressing autism disorders in Medicare or in any other meaningful fashion.
The invisible, unidentified author of the Reply of the PM to the Medicare for Autism coverage delivered a trivial lecture that ignored facts like .... oh ... democracy .. and the fact that we can change legislation as needed when necessary. The invisible unknown author of the reply on behalf of PM Justin Trudeau showed no awareness of the WPG Resolution passed by the National Liberal Party in 2016 which called for national leadership on autism initiatives including medicare coverage to address autism disorder challenges in Canada.
It appears, as shown by the reply from a person in the policy branch of Health Canada, that the WPG 2016 National Liberal Party medicare coverage for autism resolution carries no weight with PM Justin Trudeau.
From: SPB / DGPS (HC/SC) [mailto:hc.spb-dgps.sc@canada.ca]
Sent: April 6, 2017 1:39 PM
To: 'domarley52@gmail.com'
Subject: Treatment of autism spectrum disorder
Sent: April 6, 2017 1:39 PM
To: 'domarley52@gmail.com'
Subject: Treatment of autism spectrum disorder
Dear Mr. Marley:
Thank-you for your e-mail of
November 20, 2016, concerning coverage for the treatment of autism spectrum
disorder. Apologies for the delay in responding.
The Canada Health
Act requires that medically necessary hospital and physician services
be covered by publicly funded provincial and territorial health insurance
plans. The Act does not specify diseases or conditions. Any service provided by
a physician or in a hospital that is considered to be medically necessary in
the treatment of a disease or condition should be covered by the provincial and
territorial health insurance plans.
Other health care services
provided outside hospitals and by non-physicians, such as those provided by
behavioural therapists, are outside the scope of theCanada Health Act.
For these services, it is up to the provincial and territorial governments to
determine whether to cover them, and if so, how, either under their health care
plans or under separately funded programs. The federal government continues to
support this approach, which is respectful of provincial and territorial
jurisdiction in health.
The Government of Canada
recognizes that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can have a significant and
lifelong impact on individuals and families.
Federal investments are
supporting Canada's exemplary researchers in their quest to advance scientific
knowledge and to use this information to develop innovations in ASD diagnosis,
treatment and support. Canada is also well-known for the progress researchers
are making in understanding the genetics of ASD. Through the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the federal government is providing
significant research funding. You can find more information on federal
investments in ASD research at: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/46576.html.
The Public Health Agency of
Canada is also helping to ensure that Canada has accurate data to help
understand trends in autism. This will help to focus efforts correctly and to
monitor changes over time. This work is a collaboration with the provinces and
territories, and the first report on results is planned for next year.
Federal programs are also supporting
initiatives that help those with disabilities, including ASD, reach their full
potential. For example, with funding from the Opportunities Fund for Persons
with Disabilities, administered by Employment and Social Development Canada,
organizations are helping persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain and
maintain employment.
Again, thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Strategic Policy Branch
Health Canada
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