A southwestern Ontario woman, Michele Campeau, is grappling with an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., following her refusal to place her 83-year-old mother, Ruth Poupard, in a nursing home she despised. Campeau staunchly declares she won’t pay the sum, citing the injustice of the legislation.
The predicament stems from a recent law enabling hospitals to relocate discharged patients to nursing homes they didn’t select, aiming to alleviate bed shortages. Patients declining relocation face daily fines of $400 while remaining in hospital care.
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, where Poupard currently resides, issued the bill for 21 days in March, with indications of further penalties accruing. Campeau anticipates an impending bill of $12,000 as fines accumulate.
The legislation, known as the More Beds, Better Care Act or Bill 7, was enacted by the Doug Ford government in 2022 to address hospital capacity issues, particularly concerning alternate level of care patients awaiting long-term care placements.
Under the law, hospitals can transfer patients to nursing homes up to 70 kilometers away, or 150 kilometers in northern Ontario, if vacancies arise in those regions.
Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare declined to comment on Poupard’s case due to patient confidentiality.
Poupard’s health journey has been arduous, marked by dementia, a heart valve transplant, and cancer survival. Following a hip fracture, she underwent surgery and was admitted to the hospital for rehabilitation. However, upon discharge, Campeau and her brother deemed themselves incapable of managing Poupard’s needs alone.
Despite efforts to secure suitable long-term care homes, all options were occupied. Consequently, negotiations under the new law ensued, expanding Poupard’s list of potential placements.
Campeau rejected a nursing home selected by the hospital, deeming it unsuitable during her visit. Subsequently, the hospital initiated daily fines.
While Campeau willingly paid the co-pay rate for Poupard’s hospital stay, she vehemently opposes the punitive fines, emphasizing her refusal to comply with what she perceives as an inadequate care arrangement.
The provincial government reports minimal enforcement of the law, with undisclosed fines administered by hospitals. Health Minister Sylvia Jones cites patient confidentiality for the lack of transparency regarding fine amounts.
Campeau finds herself in a state of uncertainty, yearning for her mother’s placement in a suitable facility.
“I have no idea what happens next,” she expressed. “I really just want my mom in a decent spot, that’s all.”