Ottawa plans to crack down on doctors charging for medically necessary health care – CBC
Health minister warns federal transfers could be cut if patients are charged for care
Mar 10, 2023
A rise in the number of companies offering Canadians faster access to health care at a price is prompting the federal government to launch a crackdown on the practice, CBC News has learned.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is telling the provinces to put a stop to patients being charged for medically necessary care — and warns that Ottawa will claw back federal health transfer payments if the charges continue.
“I am very concerned with the recent increase in reports of patient charges for medically necessary services,” Duclos says in a letter sent Thursday to all provincial and territorial health ministers. Federal officials provided CBC News with a copy.
“No matter where in the country Canadians live or how they receive medically necessary care, they must be able to access these services without having to pay out of pocket.”
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fees-virtual-doctor-physician-canada-health-act-1.6773607
