N.L. government partners for high-flying medical transportation pilot program

Maddie Ryan · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 13, 2025 4:30 AM EDT | Last Updated: July 13

A caller concern betwixt Newfoundland and Labrador and a nationalist foundation volition nonstop immoderate Labrador aesculapian patients flying precocious for treatment, astatine nary upfront cost. 

Hope Air signed connected to the aviator task with the province's Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) connected Tuesday.

Labrador Affairs Minster Lisa Dempster said it's a "beautiful" thing.

Patients who person a gross household income of $70,000 oregon little tin use to Hope Air directly and, if approved, the enactment volition put and wage for their flights, accommodations, meals and taxis.

"It's similar the afloat repast deal," Dempster said successful an interrogation connected CBC Radio's On The Go. 

She said it won't regenerate the existing provincial program, which reimburses those who necessitate aerial question to get to their appointments for specialized treatments. A papers highlighting the Hope Air concern says radical should see some options and take the 1 that is "most economical and suitable" for their needs.

Once Hope Air arranges question and accommodation, the charity then submits an exertion to the state for reimbursement.

WATCH | Lisa Dempster signs connected to a caller aesculapian proscription partnership: 

The state has committed astir $700,000 to the project, according to Dempster. 

The curate said it's large quality for those successful bluish Labrador who typically person to avail of aesculapian transportation. 

"We cognize that connected a per-capita basis, the aesculapian proscription assistance programme is utilized 8 times much often by Labradorians than folks who telephone the land information of the state home," said Dempster. 

According to a quality merchandise from the Department of Labrador Affairs, Hope Air provided 2,137 aesculapian question arrangements for Newfoundland and Labrador residents past year.

PC MHA Lela Evans, who represents Torngat Mountains, says it's a bully inaugural connected the surface, but she's acrophobic astir the implications it whitethorn have.

"I fearfulness that entree to wellness attraction present has go politicised," Evans told CBC News.

Evans said the task won't lick immoderate of the large barriers to health-care services Labradorians face, but will create a two-tier strategy successful which the state is acting arsenic a gatekeeper. 

Hope Air's exertion signifier asks respective questions astir sources of household income and further fiscal support, but the government says those with a household income implicit $70,000 tin inactive use for assistance done MTAP. 

That doesn't easiness Evans's worries. 

"That adds much questions than it provides solutions.… We're expected to person cosmopolitan wellness care," Evans said. "But erstwhile we look astatine Labrador, not truthful much."

Patients are eligible to use for assistance done the Hope Air aviator programme until March 31, 2026. 

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