What Is LTC law In Ontario? Explained

In Southwestern Ontario, Michele Campeau faces a hefty $8,400 bill from a Windsor hospital following a dispute regarding the care of her mother, Ruth Poupard. Campeau refused to place her 83-year-old mother in a nursing home she disliked. This bill is the result of a relatively new law, the More Beds, Better Care, or Bill. It was passed in 2022 by the Doug Ford government. This law grants hospitals the authority to fine patients $400 per day if they decline to move into a nursing home of the hospital’s choosing upon discharge.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare issued the bill following a 21-day period in March, during which Poupard stayed at the hospital. However, Campeau vehemently refuses to pay, contesting that such a law is unjust towards seniors. Campeau is bracing herself for additional charges of $12,000, accounting for the fines incurred in April.

On December 27, Poupard fell and fractured her hip. She underwent surgery, post which she was transferred to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare for rehabilitation. While her physician discharged her on February 21, Campeau and her brother felt incapable of tending to her needs at home.

The law asserts that patients such as Poupard are required to choose a nursing home from the list provided by the hospital. If no suitable options are found, hospitals can impose a daily fine of $400. In Poupard’s case, she was hit with fines after she refused a nursing home she found “disgusting.”

According to the province, only seven individuals have been fined under this law. Health Minister Sylvia Jones stated that the government cannot disclose the fine amounts, owing to patient confidentiality. Liberal parliamentary leader John Fraser and NDP Leader Marit Stiles have voiced their support for Campeau’s refusal to pay. Many critics, including CanAge CEO Laura Tamblyn Watts, condemn the law, labeling it as a form of systemic abuse. They also note the lack of viable care options for individuals in need.

By Jenel Treza Albuquerque