New Brunswick Liberals accuse opposition of fear-mongering over Medavie Blue Cross deal

A proposed deal between the province of New Brunswick and Medavie Blue Cross, which would see the organization take over handling the extramural program, is being lambasted by the official opposition who are skeptical about its performance targets.

Opposition Leader Blaine Higgs expressed his concern on the floor of the legislature during Question Period on Friday, as Premier Brian Gallant defended the now-signed memorandum of understanding.

“We have key performance indicators that are nothing, nothing but solid, Mr. Speaker, and very clearly going to ensure we deliver better health care,” said Gallant.

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Higgs said increasing patient visits and reducing emergency room visits by extramural patients by 15 per cent are targets that are soft and easy to achieve.

The opposition leader was also critical of the responsibility going to Medavie, who he says has given no indication they’ll be capable of properly handling the situation.

“Medavie are not in this business this is a health-care service that’s new to them,” he said. “You’re handing this over to a company to do this for the first time without any tendering and we’re seeing all kinds of opposition from the health authorities and it’s just kind of being railroaded through.”

Health Minister Benoit Bourque shrugged off the accusations as nothing more than political posturing.

“The Tories are clearly fear mongering and they’re doing it for political reasons,” Bourque said. “Especially by the fact that they’ve sole-sourced to Medavie before.”

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Bourque referenced a 2013 deal the then PC government signed with Medavie to administer the New Brunswick Drug Plan.

The agreement was made when Higgs was finance minister and is one he defends, calling it a different situation.

“Medavie and Blue Cross they’ve been in the drug purchasing plan for years,” he explained. “They haven’t been in extramural services.”

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Bourque reiterated that the targets set in the agreement must be met in order for Medavie to receive the agreed upon payment totalling $4.4 million per year.

Failing to reach any of the targets would result in a financial penalty.

The deal will come into effect Jan. 1, 2018.

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