Most people across Canada will no longer need to pay nurse practitioners for primary care – CBC

Federal directive aims to relieve pressure on family physicians; Ontario might not be compliant until 2027

Mar 31, 2026

With no family doctor, Yvette Jarvis said she was forced to go to the emergency department to have her prescriptions refilled — a process that took a staggering 15 hours.

She soon turned to a nurse practitioner (NP) instead, and said she paid nearly $2,500 over five years for the same service.

The St. John’s resident said the primary care she receives from a nurse practitioner is wonderful, but the service should be available to everyone without having to pay out of pocket.

“They gave me the exact same care that I would normally get from a family physician, so I feel like we shouldn’t have to pay the $75 and it should just be covered,” Jarvis, 55, said.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/nurse-practitioners-primary-health-care-provinces-9.7145096