The new Palliative Home Care Drug Program will provide drug coverage for pain and symptom management to those who wish to spend their last days in the location of their choice, including at home.
“This program gives individuals the resources and medications Islanders need to receive end-of-life care where they are most comfortable,” said Premier Robert Ghiz. “Giving individuals the choice to stay at home will help strengthen communities and reduce the emotional and financial burden on families. This program will help relieve the additional stress of finding money to allow their loved ones to be comfortable, in their own homes, during their final days.”
The Palliative Home Care Drug Program is an extension of the Integrated Palliative Care Program which aims to enhance client and family options for palliative care through access to trained, qualified health care teams in the most appropriate setting.
“This new program respects the dignity of individuals in the final stages of life,” said Minister of Health, Doug Currie. “This is a difficult time for families and, for most people, it is a time they would prefer to spend with their loved ones. The goal of the program is to make it possible for palliative care patients to receive more of their health care treatment at home, avoiding more expensive and uncomfortable hospital stays.”
“We are extremely pleased with this announcement,” said Mary Hughes, Past President of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of PEI. “We have been lobbying for a number of years to have a palliative home care drug program, and this is a great start. Now, individuals have the choice to receive their end-of-life care in the place they are most comfortable. They can be reassured that they will be surrounded by those they love, and still be pain and symptom free.”
Eligibility for the program is based on a number of criteria that define the patient’s need for end-of-life care. Once a patient is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, that individual can be referred to Integrated Palliative Care Program for a broad, holistic assessment. Eligibility criteria for this program does not include a financial needs assessment.
Staff who are trained in palliative care will work closely with family and care givers to ensure the patient is a good fit for the program. Once it is determined that a patient qualifies for the program, and is registered with the Provincial Pharmacy, clients will be able to obtain palliative care drugs from their own, local pharmacist. As part of the program, patients will be required to pay a small co-payment of two dollars per prescription.
The Palliative Home Care Drug Program will begin in the fall of 2008.
BACKGROUNDER
PALLIATIVE HOME CARE DRUG PROGRAM
What is the Palliative Home Care Drug Program?
The Palliative Home Care Drug Program is an extension of the existing Integrated Palliative Care Program.
This new program will provide coverage of end-of-life medications for patients who prefer to receive palliative treatment at home.
For the purposes of this program, home is defined as wherever the person is living, whether in their own home, living with family or friends or living in a supportive living residence, but does not include a hospital setting, a palliative care unit or a provincially operated long-term care facility (Maplewood Manor, Colville Manor, Wedgewood Manor, Somerset Manor, Prince Edward Home, Beach Grove Home, Riverview Manor, Stewart Memorial Hospital and Margaret Stewart Ellis Home).
Who is eligible for the program?
A patient must be eligible for the existing Integrated Palliative Care Program. A patient who is diagnosed with a life threatening disease can be referred to the Integrated Palliative Care Program for assessment. Following that assessment, a home care nurse, trained in palliative care, and other resources are assigned as needed. At that time a Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) assessment is performed. This scale measures the functional or physical performance of an individual.
A client who is assessed with a PPS level of 50 percent or less will be eligible for the Palliative Home Care Drug Program. A PPS level of 50 percent or less means the individual needs considerable help with day-to-day needs and, because of the severity of the illness, spends a majority of the time either sitting or lying down. The life expectancy of a patient with a PPS level of 50 percent or less is usually measured by months. In order for a patient to qualify for the program, the family, care givers and patient must agree that the treatment protocol is of a palliative nature.
How does a patient apply for the program?
A patient who has been diagnosed with a life threatening disease can be referred to the Integrated Palliative Care Program for assessment. Home care palliative care nurses will assess the needs of the patient to determine the level of care and medication requirements.
If a patient is eligible for the program, the palliative care nurse will register the patient with the Provincial Pharmacy. Once registration is complete, the patient can obtain palliative medications through the local pharmacy. The patient will be required to pay a small co-payment of two dollars per prescription.
Is there a time limit for coverage?
No, there is no time limit of coverage for end-of-life medications in the Palliative Home Care Drug Program.
Will a patient need to reapply for the program if hospitalization is required?
No, if the client is hospitalized, coverage through the program is suspended. Once the client returns home, the coverage through the program resumes. Coverage continues while the client is receiving home-based palliative care.
What does the program cover?
The Palliative Home Care Drug Program covers most end-of-life medications. These are medications that are used for pain and symptom management, ranging from anti-depressants and laxatives to pain relieving medications, such as morphine.
This program supplements the care that is already provided by the Integrated Palliative Care Program, which may include a Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Home Support Worker, Social Worker, Physiotherapist, Dietician or Community Support Worker.
Will a patient or care giver be required to fill out Special Drug Request for medications?
No, not in most cases.
What is not covered by the program?
Medications that are considered active life-prolonging drugs, such as chemotherapy drugs, are not covered by the Palliative Home Care Drug Program.
This program is a drug program, therefore, most palliative equipment is not covered. There is a minimal amount of palliative care equipment provided by the Integrated Palliative Care Program that will still be provided to patients depending on availability.