Public Health To Include Nurse Practitioners And Midwives For Primary Care In 2026
Public Health Plans to Cover Primary Care by Nurse Practitioners and Midwives in 2026
The provincial and territorial health plans will extend coverage to primary care services offered by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives starting next year, as announced by federal Health Minister Mark Holland on Friday.
New Interpretation of Canada Health Act
Minister of Health Mark Holland emphasized that nurse practitioners should have the ability to bill the public health-care system similar to doctors. The changes stem from a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act set to take effect on April 1, 2026.
Provincial and territorial health plans will now encompass primary care services provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives, ensuring that regulated health-care professionals who are not physicians can bill the government for essential services previously offered by doctors.
Empowering Non-Physician Health-Care Professionals
Health Minister Holland's directive aims to prevent patients from being charged for necessary public health care, aligning with the principles of universal health care. The new policy enables non-physician health-care professionals to deliver the full range of care they are qualified to provide.
Nurse practitioners play a crucial role in easing the burden on primary care physicians and the overall health-care system. By expanding the scopes of practice for various regulated health-care professionals, access to essential care is increased, enhancing the efficiency of the health-care system.
Impact on Ontario and Federal Response
The changes will be enforced through federal health transfer payments in the provinces and territories, ensuring that patients are not billed for medically necessary care. The move has been hailed as a significant victory by the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario, emphasizing the importance of timely access to health care.
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones is reviewing the federal government's directive to assess its implications on delivering high-quality, publicly funded care in the province. The goal is to connect every individual in Ontario with a primary-care provider over the next five years.
Conclusion
Health Minister Mark Holland's initiative to include nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and midwives in primary care coverage under provincial and territorial health plans marks a significant step towards ensuring equitable access to essential health services without financial barriers.
