Update on Ontario's minor ailment funding

The information in this article is for internal planning purposes only. Content is not to be shared outside the profession in order to ensure the Government of Ontario can communicate its public announcement of the funding program. Please do not post publicly or share this information until the government officially makes its announcement. *** As you can appreciate, the government negotiation process is strictly confidential. OPA can only release information when authorized. While I can provide these details within the profession, OPA members cannot publicize the information (i.e., discuss it openly or publicly, including in advertisements, with patients and media) until the Government of Ontario officially makes this announcement. As Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ontario Pharmacists Association, I’m pleased to share with you, confidentially, the results of our negotiations with the Ministry of Health for funding the Minor Ailments scope of practice. As a practicing pharmacist and pharmacy owner, I recognize the challenges pharmacy professionals have faced in preparing to implement the new Minor Ailments scope of practice without the necessary details on its reimbursement framework. OPA’s Professional Affairs Team led our Association's advocacy for public funding by developing a detailed proposal advancing the evidence and rationale for a publicly paid fee for all 13 ailments. In the OPA proposal we shared with members in our communications, we advocated universal funding for all ailments. We identified universal funding as a critical priority to ensure equitable access for OHIP-covered Ontarians. OPA is proud to announce that as a direct result of our advocacy, community pharmacies will be reimbursed for assessing all 13 minor ailments and conditions, regardless of whether the assessment results in the act of prescribing. Effective January 1, 2023, assessments performed by pharmacists for OHIP-eligible patients in-person and within the pharmacy are to be reimbursed at a rate of $19 per assessment. When delivering the service virtually (e.g., over video or by phone), the reimbursement rate is $15 per assessment. I’m especially encouraged that our funding links to the assessment performed by the pharmacist – and not the prescription. This key funding detail emphasizes the unique value of care pharmacy professionals provide, noting that we will be reimbursed for our time, even when determining a prescription is not required. Each patient will be subject to a maximum number of claims per indication within 365 days. This maximum number intends to reflect the frequency at which an ailment likely requires referral due to escalating complexity, and it varies based on the indication. As our Association celebrates this significant milestone, the value of being an OPA member cannot be more compelling. OPA's influence comes from the collective voice of almost 10,000 pharmacy professionals, resourced to do vital advocacy and support work, made possible through your decision to be a member. If you haven’t already renewed your membership for 2023, please consider doing so here. OPA would like to thank our colleagues at the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada (Neighbourhood Pharmacies) for supporting our proposal and their alignment and support in the negotiation process. We also thank all the stakeholders who worked with OPA over the last decade to achieve the scope and funding for Minor Ailments Tim Brady is a community pharmacist and pharmacy owner in the Windsor-Essex region. Tim currently represents Southwestern Ontario on the OPA’s Board of Directors where he is currently leading the Association as Chair of the Board.

Update on Ontario's minor ailment funding

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