Should NP-led clinics that charge patients fees for care be allowed to continue?

There is increased dialogue around the issue of nurse practitioner-led clinics in Ontario charging patients for care, which some see as a loophole in federal legislation. The Ontario government has expressed intentions to address this, citing the Canada Health Act's stipulations against extra billing for medically necessary services.

Various professionals in medicine and healthcare management have shared their opinions, highlighting the financial challenges faced by family doctors, the potential benefits of a hybrid public-private healthcare system, and the complexities of healthcare funding and practitioner remuneration.

• "We need to tell the public that family doctors make only $37 per visit and that’s why 8 million Canadians don’t have one."
• "I predicted that competition was coming from nurse practitioners, pharmacists, walk-in clinics, etc."
• "We are not slow...we have been of necessity very fast in a FFS (fee for service) system, trying to do a half hour of work in a 10-minute $37 slot."
• The government should pay the nurse practitioners per visit, as they pay primary care physicians."
• "Time to join every other country except for North Korea in having both a public and a private system."
• At least in this NP situation, in the absence of NO care, private care is an option."
• "Then let doctors bill privately too."
• "Either a healthcare provider accepts to be in the public system or in the private system."

Sources:

• Global News. "Ontario government may address nurse practitioner-led clinics charging patients." https://globalnews.ca/news/10410093/ontario-nurse-practitioner-loophole-closure-calls/
• Ottawa Citizen. "NDP calls for investigation into fee-charging NP-led clinics." https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ndp-leader-urges-ontario-government-to-ban-fees-for-access-to-primary-care
• Discussion on Canadian Healthcare Network, following the publication of the article.

Discussion Board:

• Comments and opinions from healthcare professionals on Canadian Healthcare Network regarding the issue of nurse practitioner-led clinics charging fees in Ontario.