Diagnostic test fees part of $1.3 million health transfer deductions for N.S.

Ottawa says it will deduct more than $1.27 million each from health-care transfers to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to compensate for fees paid by patients in those provinces for medically necessary services.

The federal government says Nova Scotia will lose more than $1.27 million for fees collected in the province formedically necessary diagnostic services (such as MRI and CT scans) in the 2020-21 fiscal year.

New Brunswick will lose the same amount as Nova Scotia for the same reason, as well as an additional $64,850 for allowing patients to be charged for abortions or other insured services at private clinics.

Restrictions in New Brunswick prohibit government funding for abortions conducted outside three approved hospitals in two cities.

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Friday that eight provinces face a total of more than $82 million in deductions unless they implement a plan to end the fees and the circumstances that led to them.

Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island are the only provinces not on the list for claw backs.