NDP Leader Lorraine Michael says the government should scrap its financial assessment tool for home care immediately. (CBC)

Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister has shut the door on any short-term moves to help low-income earners obtain home care.

Ross Wiseman said government will not change its rules on eligibility for home care until a review is completed, which will likely not happen before this fall.

New Democratic Leader Lorraine Michael raised the issue Tuesday in the house of assembly, saying that it's unfair for government to force some people to turn over more than half of their monthly income to qualify for home care.

"Many seniors need home care right now," Michael said in the legislature, "but cannot afford it because the co-pay is too high."

With even Wiseman acknowledging that the current system is not working properly, Michael called on government to scrap its financial assessment policy immediately.

"Will the minister in the short term replace the home-support financial assessment tool right away with the assessment procedure that is now used in the low-income prescription drug program as a model for making assessment?" Michael asked Wiseman.

The assessment procedure for the drug plan is far less restrictive than the one used for home support, and allows for low-income seniors to obtain the prescriptions they need at minimal cost.

Wiseman said, however, that nothing will change until a review of home-care policies is done.

"When we've got the analysis completely done and we are ready to move forward, then and only then will we make any change," he said.