The Health Ministry answers questions about FutureCare answers supplied by Permanent Secretary Warren Jones

Q. What hospitals will be approved for care under FutureCare? Will Lahey Clinic or Johns Hopkins be approved facilities?

A. We will be releasing information on the "approved" hospitals in the future as part of our communications plan. We are still working out confirmations and don't want to prematurely be naming any institutions. Our top priority in the selection of hospitals is quality of care at the best value. We are utilising those hospitals that have a high standard of care at a cost for service that provides us the maximum benefit and least out-of-pocket costs to our seniors

Q. What is the plan for long-term nursing home care for the elderly, which is costly but increasingly becoming necessary for many families? It is not covered by FutureCare and Age Concern says it runs $8,000 to $12,000 a month.

A. It is the public health philosophy that seniors should be able to age at home. We recognise that this is easier said than done in some cases but we believe that nursing care should be a last resort when maintaining a senior at home is no longer possible. Bermuda will never be able to build nursing facilities for every senior and nor should it be our philosophy to institutionalise our senior population. This is an area that we recognise requires work to achieve a culture change. As our senior sector continues to grow, we will as a community need to work together to address their needs.

Q. How will FutureCare be funded?

A. This cost will be financed by the seniors' premium, and the contribution by the Government. The idea is that FutureCare will be a programme that we pay in now for care in the future. This is to be achieved through a "prescribed fee" on every insured person. At present, each insured person has a deduction applied to their health insurance policy as a contribution to the Mutual Reinsurance Fund. Of that amount, $4 goes to the Health Insurance Fund. In future years we will be reviewing that prescribed sum in order to grow the FutureCare Fund. In the upcoming year, there will be no change to the prescribed fund but instead of it going to the Health Insurance Fund, the prescribed amount will go to the FutureCare Fund.

Q. Will there be any effort to bring down the cost of medications in Bermuda, and encourage use of generics instead of the pricey brand name drugs?

A. The Minister has tasked the Bermuda Health Council to review and advise him regarding ways to reduce the cost of drugs in Bermuda as one of their projects during the upcoming financial year. This is an area of concern for the Ministry and we are certain that the Health Council will be involved in consultation with stakeholders regarding this issue in order to provide the best advice to the Minister.

Q. How did Government manage to get FutureCare in place in so short a time?

A. Just less than one year ago, the Government contracted with Kurron Consultants to deliver FutureCare by not later than April 1, 2009. In addition to these overseas consultants, a steering committee was established including the Permanent Secretary of Health, the CEO of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, the assistant Financial Secretary, the Chief Medical Officer, the CEO of the Bermuda Health Council and the assistant director of Social Insurance. This team was tasked with ensuring that the mandate was met.