Regulation - LGIC
Amendments to the Health Insurance Act and Regulation 552 - Expanding Access to Insured Sex-reassignment Surgery
Regulation Number(s):
552
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Health Insurance Act
Summary of Decision:
Regulation 552 and the Schedule have been amended to remove the requirement to attend the GIC Program at CAMH and receive a recommendation from CAMH for the surgery. Instead, recommendations for surgery can be made by qualified providers anywhere in Ontario, who are trained in accordance with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards. A referral for the surgery must be made by an Ontario physician or nurse practitioner.
Further Information:
Health Insurance Act
Proposal Number:
15-HLTC025
Posting Date:
November 6, 2015
Summary of Proposal:
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers payments for medically necessary physician services, prescribed hospital and health facility services, certain dental services that are required to be performed in a hospital, and certain practitioner services that are therapeutically necessary. The Schedule lists the physician services that are insured under Ontario's HIA.
Currently, SRS is an insured service for patients who attend the Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) at the Centre for Mental Health and Addictions (CAMH) in Toronto and for whom the clinic makes a recommendation for surgery. These requirements are set out in the Schedule.
The proposed amendments will remove the requirement to attend CAMH, and will instead allow for recommendations for surgery from qualified providers across the province. The proposed changes align the Ontario requirements for access to insured SRS with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards.
Currently, SRS is an insured service for patients who attend the Gender Identity Clinic (GIC) at the Centre for Mental Health and Addictions (CAMH) in Toronto and for whom the clinic makes a recommendation for surgery. These requirements are set out in the Schedule.
The proposed amendments will remove the requirement to attend CAMH, and will instead allow for recommendations for surgery from qualified providers across the province. The proposed changes align the Ontario requirements for access to insured SRS with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards.
Contact Address:
Health Services Branch
1055 Princess Street
PO Box 168 Stn Main
Kingston ON K7L 5V1
1055 Princess Street
PO Box 168 Stn Main
Kingston ON K7L 5V1
Effective Date:
March 1, 2016
Decision:
Approved