TORONTO, Jan. 10,
2025 /CNW/ - Federal Health Minister Mark Holland's recent letter to provincial and
territorial ministers of health reinforces a critical message the
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) has championed for years:
Ontario urgently needs a publicly
funded model – without user fees – in nurse practitioner (NP)-led
clinics and for independent NPs in primary care. This is key to
ensuring Ontarians get timely access to quality care.
Minister Holland's letter confirms a Canada Health Act (CHA)
policy requiring Ontario to create
a public funding model for NPs and other regulated health
professionals by April 1, 2026. Under
this policy, charging patients for medically necessary services
will be prohibited, requiring the province to comply or face
penalties.
RNAO has long called for full utilization of Ontario's 5,300 NPs to address the province's
health-care access crisis, particularly in primary care. Fair
compensation to NPs within our publicly funded system is overdue.
In April 2024, Minister of Health
Sylvia Jones wrote to her federal
counterpart urging action, and Minister Holland's announcement
answers that call. He stated, "any medically necessary
physician-equivalent services provided by regulated health
professionals, such as nurse practitioners, are to be paid" through
public funding.
"Premier Doug Ford, the time to
act is now. Ontario must urgently
implement a funding model to support NPs in providing the care
Ontarians deserve – without charging them," says RNAO President and
NP Lhamo Dolkar. "NPs stand eager to help alleviate the primary
care crisis but need proper funding to do so."
This move is critical for the 2.5 million Ontarians who
currently lack access to a primary care provider – a number
projected to rise to 4.4 million by 2026 if swift action isn't
taken.
NPs provide access to medically necessary care, deliver
comprehensive primary care services in team-based care and act as
the most responsible care providers to individuals across
Ontario, including vulnerable
populations and those living in rural and underserved communities.
They diagnose and treat medical conditions, order diagnostic tests,
prescribe medications, and refer to specialist care.
"RNAO is eager to collaborate with Premier Ford and Minister
Jones to develop a public funding model for NPs," says RNAO CEO Dr.
Doris Grinspun. "Every Ontarian
deserves timely access to care without out-of-pocket expenses for
medically necessary care, and NPs offer a clear, effective
solution."
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association
representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners and nursing
students in Ontario. Since 1925,
RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence
in nursing practice, increased nurses' contribution to shaping the
health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the
public we serve. For more information about RNAO,
visit RNAO.ca or follow us on X (formerly
Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
