Feds propose changes to ease DTC paperwork for physicians

The Canadian Medical Association was happy to see the federal government is making some changes that could ease the paperwork burden for physicians relating to the Disability Tax Credit (DTC). In its 2026 Spring Economic Update, the federal government announced several proposed tweaks to the process of accessing the tax credit. Specifically, it proposes to expand what impairments occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists can certify for—as well as adding podiatrists to the list.Under the proposal, podiatrists would be able to certify for impairments “affecting walking that are within their scope of practice to assess.” Occupational therapists would expand to include impairments “affecting eliminating (bowel or bladder functions), including under cumulative effects of multiple restrictions.” Physiotherapists “would be permitted to certify impairments affecting feeding or dressing, as well as cumulative effects of multiple restrictions pertaining to walking, feeding and/or dressing.” And speech-language pathologists “would be permitted to certify impairments affecting feeding or hearing, as well as cumulative effects of multiple restrictions pertaining to speaking, feeding and/or hearing.” It also proposes to make the process simpler for individuals (and their medical care professionals) who are applying for the DTC with certain “long-lasting medical conditions.” Patients with these medical conditions would still need a qualified medical practitioner to certify they have at least of the listed conditions. However, “The practitioner would no longer be required to certify that the individual's impairment is severe and prolonged and that its effects meet the legislated thresholds regarding daily living impacts.”The details provided include the example that if a medical practitioner were certifying that a patient has Alzheimer's disease for their DTC application, the medical practitioner would “no longer need to complete the part of the DTC form that asks for detailed information on the impacts of this medical condition for that patient (i.e., on their ability to perform mental functions necessary for everyday life).”The full, proposed list of long-lasting medical conditions includes:Alzheimer's diseaseAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis / Lou Gehrig diseaseAngelman syndromeAutism spectrum disorder, level 3Bilateral blindness (legally blind)Bilateral hearing loss (severe or profound)Cardiac functional class of 4/IV or an ejection fraction of 20% or lessCerebral palsy (severe)Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, stage III or higherColostomy (permanent)Cystic fibrosisDementiaDown syndrome / Trisomy 21Duchenne muscular dystrophy (advanced or severe)Edwards syndrome / Trisomy 18HemipelvectomyHemophilia A (severe)Hip disarticulationHuntington diseaseIleostomy (permanent)Intellectual disability (severe, profound or IQ of 70 or below)Lower limb amputation (leg or foot)MicrocephalyParaplegiaParkinson's disease (advanced or severe)Patau syndrome / Trisomy 13PhenylketonuriaPrader Willi syndromeProfound hearing loss in one ear and severe hearing loss in the other earProgeriaQuadriplegia or tetraplegiaRelies only on lip-reading and / or use sign language to understand conversations or communicateRenal (kidney) failure requiring lifelong hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysisRequires lifelong continuous supplemental oxygen (O2)SchizophreniaSickle cell disease (severe) requiring transfusionsSign language is primary means of communicating due to profound hearing loss or expressive aphasiaSpinal muscular atrophy, type 1 and 2Stroke (severe) no functional recoveryTay-Sachs disease (infantile/juvenile)Total mutismTraumatic brain injury (severe)Upper limb amputations (trans carpal or higher)“For years, the CMA has called on governments to simplify the DTC form to ease the long waits for people with disabilities and mitigate some of the administrative burden that physicians face,” said CMA president, Dr. Margot Burnell, in a press release. “These changes could have a positive impact on the 84% of persons with disabilities who do not hold a DTC certificate. Important work gets done when doctors and policy makers work together.” Also involving the DTC, the update proposed to, “Recognize provincial or territorial public guardians and trustees as being qualified to certify for the Disability Tax Credit for adults in their care for property matters who have a valid certificate of incapacity based on a medical practitioner’s assessment of their mental impairment. This measure would apply to the 2026 and subsequent taxation years.”

Feds propose changes to ease DTC paperwork for physicians

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