Federal health minister says new interpretation of Canada Health Act takes effect on April 1, 2026
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.
Holland says charging patients for those services isn’t consistent with universal health care and nurse practitioners should instead be able to bill the health-care system the same way doctors do. “That certainly isn’t in the spirit of the Canada Health Act, and this interpretation letter shuts that down,” he said.
The changes will be enforced in the provinces and territories through federal health transfer payments, which could be deducted if patients are charged for medically necessary care, he said. The group’s chair, Dr. Melanie Bechard, said it would help “ensure that all Canadians continue to have access to medically necessary care based on their needs, not on their ability, or willingness, to pay.”
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Provincial health plans to cover primary care by nurse practitioners: health ministerFederal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.
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Provincial health plans to cover primary care by nurse practitioners: health ministerTORONTO — Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.
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Provincial health plans to cover primary care by nurse practitioners: health ministerTORONTO — Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.
Read more »
Provincial health plans to cover primary care by nurse practitioners: health ministerTORONTO — Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.
Read more »
Provincial health plans to cover primary care by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives: health ministerFederal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharmacists and midwives.
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Provincial health plans to cover primary care by nurse practitioners: health ministerTORONTO — Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says provincial and territorial health plans will cover primary care provided by nurse practitioners, pharm
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