Press Release: NPAC Responds to Commitment on Canada Health Act Services Policy Implementation

In response to the Jan 10, 2025 Statement from the Minister of Health on the Canada Health Act, NPAC has released the following response:

January 13, 2025 — The Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada (NPAC) acknowledges
the Government of Canada’s renewed commitment to uphold the principles of the Canada
Health Act (CHA) through the newly announced Services Policy, set to take effect on April
1, 2026. This policy underscores the importance of ensuring access to medically necessary
care without user charges or extra billing, a critical step in safeguarding Canada’s publicly
funded health care system.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) have become an indispensable part of the health care
landscape, including primary, acute and specialty care services. As autonomous
providers, NPs diagnose, treat, prescribe, and refer patients, often serving as the sole
primary care providers in rural and underserved communities. These contributions have
been vital in addressing the growing demand for timely, accessible care across Canada.
However, significant barriers remain to fully realizing the potential of NPs to deliver services
under the CHA. For example, NPs often lack access to equitable funding models, which
limits their ability to order insured services to Canadians under the same terms as
physicians.
“NPs play a pivotal role in improving access to care for Canadians, particularly in areas
where health care gaps persist,” said Dr. Laura Housden, President of the Nurse
Practitioner Association of Canada. “To truly embrace innovation and uphold the principles
of the CHA, we need comprehensive support from federal, provincial, and territorial
governments to ensure funding models that enable NPs to provide all medically necessary
services under the Canada Health Act.”
The expansion of scopes of practice for regulated health care professionals, including NPs,
has proven to be a cost-effective and patient-centered solution to Canada’s health care
challenges. In addition to traditional care models, we acknowledge and support the
ongoing discussions around nurse practitioners’ engagement in employer-paid virtual care.

In today’s technologically advanced health care community, access to robust virtual care
services supports both access and flow, impacting the broader health care system by
alleviating pressure and improving efficiency.
To align with this evolution, NPAC calls on all governments to:

• Develop Accessible Funding Models for NPs: Ensure equitable remuneration for
  NPs delivering insured services, comparable to the funding available for physician
  services.
• Integrate NPs Fully into Provincial and Territorial Health Insurance Plans:
  Remove barriers preventing NPs from providing CHA-insured services, including
  mental health and specialist referrals, to ensure Canadians receive the care they
  need without additional charges.
• Support NP-Led Innovations: Invest in residency and fellowship programs to
  expand the capacity and specialized expertise of the NP workforce, addressing
  complex care needs and promoting retention in the profession.
• Establish a Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Secretariat: Create a dedicated
  secretariat that actively engages NPs, their professional associations, and health
  care employers to ensure the seamless integration of NPs into health care systems
  across jurisdictions. This collaborative body would identify and address systemic
  barriers, promote best practices, and monitor progress toward the equitable
  integration of NPs.

Furthermore, NPAC calls for a refresh of the Canadian Nurse Practitioner Initiative to update the current status and strategy for NP growth and development across the country. This refresh will ensure that NPs are well-positioned to continue their crucial contributions to the health care system, particularly as the landscape evolves in response to emerging challenges and opportunities.

As governments prepare for the implementation of the CHA Services Policy, NPAC remains
committed to working collaboratively to ensure that innovations in health care delivery,
including NP-led models of care, are fully supported. Together, we can uphold the
principles of Medicare while enhancing access to high-quality, equitable health care for all
Canadians.

About the Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada

The Nurse Practitioner Association of Canada (NPAC) NPAC is the national and global
professional voice of the Canadian Nurse Practitioner. The NPACs mission is to advocate
for advancement and integration of Nurse Practitioners into healthcare systems across
Canada, through advocacy, leadership, education, collaboration, and promoting publicly
funded access to care for Canadians.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Stan Marchuk
Chief Executive ODicer
Cell: (604) 417-0442
Email: ceo@npac-aiipc.org