Refugees seeking aid through the Ontario Temporary Health Program (OTHP) must wait twice as long to have their claims processed because the federal government has refused to share data with the province, QP Briefing has learned.

David Jensen, a Ministry of Health spokesman, said that by refusing to share its database, Ottawa has doubled wait times.

"Because Ontario cannot access the refugee claimant data through IFHP, the time to process a single health service reimbursement claim is estimated to double, up to 60 days," he said.

The two governments have knocked heads for more than a year over Ottawa's decision to scale back the program in a bid to cut costs and discourage bogus refugee claimants from trying to to come to Canada.

Jensen said if Ontario was permitted to access the IFHP refugee claimant data, the patient’s information could be accessed through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) database, overseen by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Instead, Jensen said that health service providers must jump through administrative hoops to be reimbursed by the OTHP.

"To receive reimbursement, the health service provider would need to submit an [IFHP] service claim first; then wait for the rejection of that claim; then re-submit the same forms again to Medavie Blue Cross for [OTHP] reimbursement."

Jensen said if Ontario was permitted to access IFHP claimant data, providers would only have to submit a claim once, as the patient's eligibility status would be accessible by Medavie Blue Cross, a third-party service provider who runs both the OTHP and IFHP databases.

Instead, Jensen said that administrative costs of $271,000 have been needed to set up and maintain the OTHP from October 2013 to July 2014.

He said administrative costs are not specific to the eligibility database, but include activities such as adjudication of health service claims and confirming all information is correct and complete.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins has been a vocal opponent of federal cuts made to the IFHP in 2012, which he said leaves refugees with little to no health coverage.

In July, Hoskins said the OTHP had already cost taxpayers $500,000 with the final bill likely totalling $2 million by year's end.

Asked directly about their decision not to share data with the province, Citizenship and Immigration spokesperson Alexis Pavlich provided the following statement: "Our position on this issue has been clear. We continue to share with Ontario information regarding genuine refugees so that they can receive the health care they require. The Ontario government unilaterally changed its service offerings and is now seeking further information from us.We will ensure that an exchange of information respects the Privacy Act and both the letter and spirit of all Canadian laws."

The OTHP was created in response to major cuts to the IFHP, which dictates how the federal government handles refugee claimants.

Ottawa and several provinces have been battling over the federal cuts – which aims to stop the flow of bogus refugee claimants to this country and save money.

A recent Federal Court ruling that effectively struck down Ottawa’s health care cuts for refugee claimants, saying the changes constituted "cruel and unusual" treatment toward refugees.

The federal government has appealed the ruling.

Feds’ refusal to share data blamed for refugee claims delays

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