The Canadian government is taking action against companies that charge patients for faster access to healthcare, according to CBC News.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has warned provincial authorities that Ottawa will withdraw federal health transfer payments if the practice of charging for medically necessary care continues.
Virtual doctor appointments are the main focus of the crackdown, with some firms offering appointments at prices ranging from $50 to $100 per visit.
Companies charging fees for virtual care connect patients with physicians in a different province, a practice that is permitted under the Canada Health Act’s rules. Duclos has said that access to virtual care must remain consistent with the Canada Health Act’s spirit and intent.
The move comes amid increasing debate over the role of the private sector in providing publicly-funded healthcare in Canada, with staff shortages and surgical backlogs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Critics have argued that the Trudeau government is allowing the health system’s increasing privatization, with for-profit companies playing a growing role in providing care.
The federal government recently agreed with provinces and territories to boost the Canada Health Transfer funding arrangement for a decade.
Duclos has warned that transfers could be reduced if patients are charged fees for medical care, stating that Canadians pay for healthcare services through their tax dollars and should not be required to pay again for those services.
Different provinces have varying approaches to the coverage of virtual medical appointments, with some rules shifting as the COVID-19 pandemic has waned.
For instance, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan covers virtual or phone consultations only when the patient has an ongoing relationship with a doctor. Patients who have not seen the doctor in person cannot access virtual walk-in clinic visits.
»Canada launches crackdown on fast healthcare companies charging patients for virtual visits«
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