Regulation - LGIC
Proposed regulations under the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023
Regulation Number(s):
New
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023
Summary of Decision:
The ministry made minor changes to the proposed draft regulation to address operations-related feedback received through the regulatory registry consultation process:
• The minimum number of years required to retain a patient's health record, or a copy of it, was changed from six to ten.
• The minimum number of years required to retain imaging media from any examination other than a mammography was changed from three to five.
• The minimum number of business days for a licensee to acknowledge receipt of a complaint that they anticipate cannot be investigated and resolved within ten business days was changed from ten days to five days for the acknowledgement.
Other feedback received will be considered for possible changes to program design, as appropriate.
• The minimum number of years required to retain a patient's health record, or a copy of it, was changed from six to ten.
• The minimum number of years required to retain imaging media from any examination other than a mammography was changed from three to five.
• The minimum number of business days for a licensee to acknowledge receipt of a complaint that they anticipate cannot be investigated and resolved within ten business days was changed from ten days to five days for the acknowledgement.
Other feedback received will be considered for possible changes to program design, as appropriate.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The proposed regulation would impact centres licensed as ICHSCs. There would be minimal compliance costs to ICHSCs to support the staff time required to learn about the proposed changes.
Further Information:
Regulation
Proposal Number:
23-HLTC041
Posting Date:
June 9, 2023
Summary of Proposal:
On February 21st, the government introduced Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023, which outlines the next steps in in the Your Health: Plan for Connected and Convenient Care ("Plan") to reduce wait times for surgeries, procedures and diagnostic imaging. If Bill 60 is proclaimed into force, a supporting regulation would be proposed under the ICHSCA.
Under the Plan, the government is proposing to expand the delivery of OHIP-insured surgeries that can be safely performed outside of hospitals into community-based centres, to be referred to as Integrated Community Health Services Centres (ICHSCs), while increasing quality assurance and oversight guard rails. Patients with valid OHIP coverage will be able to access these insured services at no charge, consistent with the Canada Health Act. This expansion will position Ontario to cut down wait times and connect people to public funded surgeries and diagnostics close to home.
If proclaimed into force, Bill 60 would repeal the Independent Health Facilities Act (IHFA) and replace it with new legislation, the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (ICHSCA), which would help support the Ministry of Health's (the ministry) work with respect to the Plan. The proposed regulation under the ICHSCA would carry over the regulatory requirements that currently exist under the IHFA (O.Reg 353/13, O.Reg 57/92, R.R.O. 1990, Reg 650 and R.R.O, 1990, Reg 649), with additional requirements including:
• Adding a requirement for licensees to post a list of prices for all uninsured services that a patient may choose to purchase (i.e., for additional devices, treatments or services)
• Adding a requirement for licensees to post the phone number for the ministry's Protecting Access to Public Healthcare program
• Providing that claims for facility costs will not be paid unless submitted to the Minister within three months of the service date
• Adding specific requirements that licensees must include in their patient complaint process, and a requirement to post their process for receiving and responding to patient complaints
• Prescribing the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Midwives of Ontario as inspecting bodies for ICHSCs (currently quality assessors under the IHFA)
If Bill 60 is proclaimed into force, the ministry also intends to propose a subsequent set of regulatory amendments under the ICHSCA to support additional quality assurance, safety and inspections within ICHSCs for Fall 2023.
Under the Plan, the government is proposing to expand the delivery of OHIP-insured surgeries that can be safely performed outside of hospitals into community-based centres, to be referred to as Integrated Community Health Services Centres (ICHSCs), while increasing quality assurance and oversight guard rails. Patients with valid OHIP coverage will be able to access these insured services at no charge, consistent with the Canada Health Act. This expansion will position Ontario to cut down wait times and connect people to public funded surgeries and diagnostics close to home.
If proclaimed into force, Bill 60 would repeal the Independent Health Facilities Act (IHFA) and replace it with new legislation, the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (ICHSCA), which would help support the Ministry of Health's (the ministry) work with respect to the Plan. The proposed regulation under the ICHSCA would carry over the regulatory requirements that currently exist under the IHFA (O.Reg 353/13, O.Reg 57/92, R.R.O. 1990, Reg 650 and R.R.O, 1990, Reg 649), with additional requirements including:
• Adding a requirement for licensees to post a list of prices for all uninsured services that a patient may choose to purchase (i.e., for additional devices, treatments or services)
• Adding a requirement for licensees to post the phone number for the ministry's Protecting Access to Public Healthcare program
• Providing that claims for facility costs will not be paid unless submitted to the Minister within three months of the service date
• Adding specific requirements that licensees must include in their patient complaint process, and a requirement to post their process for receiving and responding to patient complaints
• Prescribing the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Midwives of Ontario as inspecting bodies for ICHSCs (currently quality assessors under the IHFA)
If Bill 60 is proclaimed into force, the ministry also intends to propose a subsequent set of regulatory amendments under the ICHSCA to support additional quality assurance, safety and inspections within ICHSCs for Fall 2023.
Contact Address:
Ministry of Health
777 Bay Street - 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C8
777 Bay Street - 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C8
Effective Date:
September 25, 2023
Decision:
Approved