SASKATCHEWAN PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRACTED HIV THROUGH THE BLOOD SUPPLY

Saskatchewan’s annual financial support to individuals with HIV (or their families) infected through the blood supply is set to increase with inflation.

Effective immediately, Saskatchewan is indexing the Multi-Provincial/Territorial Assistance Program – or MPTAP – to the rate of the national average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  The indexing will be calculated from the date of the program’s announcement in 1993.  This will result in payments being made at the indexed rate for the 2007 year, to those who are still receiving benefits under the program.

“Saskatchewan is committed to making lives better for Saskatchewan residents and their families,” Health Minister Len Taylor said.  “By indexing the Multi-Provincial/Territorial Assistance Program payment to the rate of inflation, we are protecting recipients from the effect of future inflationary cost increases.”

Currently eight Saskatchewan beneficiaries are receiving payments under the MPTAP program. MPTAP provides annual support of $30,000 per year for life for the direct recipient and $20,000 per year for five years for the surviving spouse.  The rates were set when the MPTAP program was established in 1993.

Saskatchewan recipients will be receiving lump sum payments of $8,956 for each direct recipient and $5,971 for each surviving spouse.
 
For future years, MPTAP payments for Saskatchewan recipients will be adjusted on the basis of the national average CPI increase from the previous calendar year.

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For more information, contact:

Joan Petrie
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: jpetrie@health.gov.sk.ca