Man. to send joint replacement patients to Ohio, North Dakota, Ont.

Up to 750 Manitobans waiting for hip and knee replacement surgeries could get care out-of-province, after the provincial government signed three agreements with providers in Thunder Bay, Ont., Fargo, N.D. and Cleveland, Ohio. Patients will be able to declare whether they’re interested in going out of province for their surgery. The province says these agreements are a temporary measure while it tries to deal with a backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Man. will cover medical costs, as well as transportation and accommodation. The province may cover food as well.