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Beginning March 2019, children and youth who do not have existing prescription drug benefits covered by privates plans will continue to receive coverage through OHIP+, but for those who are covered by private insurance, those plans will be billed instead. Proposed amendments to O.REG 201/96 to incorporate the following changes to OHIP+:

Children and youth with private insurance would have access to prescribed medicines as they did prior to the launch of OHIP+ through private insurer as first payor.
Additional financial support for out of pocket expenses can be applied for through the Trillium Drug Program (“TDP”), and if such out of pocket costs do not reach the TDP deductibles, no public coverage would be provided unless the child/youth becomes eligible through another eligibility stream.
If such out of pocket costs meet the TDP deductibles, public coverage will be provided subject to a maximum $2 co-payment per prescription that may be charged by a pharmacy.
Children and youth who are eligible for the Ontario Drug Benefit Program through social assistance, home care services or residence in a home for special care or community home for opportunity would have no co-payments or deductibles.
Private insurance is defined as any type of private plan, program or account which could contribute to the cost of any drug product, regardless of whether:
- the private insurance plan covers the particular drug for which coverage is sought,
- the child or youth or another person captured under the private insurance plan is required to pay a co-payment, deductible, or premium, or,
- the child or youth has reached their annual maximum under the private insurance plan and no further coverage is available.

More Information: https://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=28346&language=en

Comments Due date: Jan 31, 2019

Articles of Interest

Opioid Crisis

Ontario regions hit hardest by the opioid crisis may not get supervised drug-use sites

OMA weighs in on supervised injection site stigma

Marijuana

Ontario’s Cannabis retail lottery will have just 25 winners. But is it a smart approach, or a golden ticket to nowhere?

Origin of Bonify’s unlicensed pot still unknown but companies working on ways to track cannabis

Draw for Ontario cannabis licence lottery expected today, with results within 24 hours

Health Care

The big questions Doug Ford will have to answer in 2019

‘I thought we were in a third world country’: Ontario emergency room wait times spike

How using your Ontario health card creates system change

Professional Misconduct and Compliance

Ontario psychiatrist sexually abused patient by initiating affair: college

Ministry reports multiple non-compliance issues at Brucelea Haven in Walkerton

Families sue care homes, alleging neglect contributed to death of loved ones

Privacy

Case of mistaken Red Cross donor mail raises privacy concern

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Things to do this weekend in Toronto

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on December 21, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

December 21, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

No new bills of interest.

Regulations

No new and approved regulations of interest.

Articles of Interest

Cannabis

Health Canada release draft regulation for edible cannabis products

Use cash to buy legal cannabis if you’re worried about privacy, watchdog says

Health Care

Jury examining opioid overdose calls on Ontario to declare public health emergency

Ontario health-care providers explore social prescriptions to help patient heal without drugs

Government delivers confusion to Ontario midwives

Coerced sterilization reports sparking concern in Canada’s medical community

Scrubbed: Ontario emergency room chief faces questions about failing to hire any female doctors in 16 years

Professional Regulation and Misconduct

Ontario judge’s advocacy work does not rise to the level of misconduct, panel rules

Ontario’s dental watchdog bares sharp teeth against critics

Physicians

Doctors back at the table with province as arbitration resumes

Privacy

“It’s creepy’: Security cameras spotted in plastic surgeon’s consult room

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on December 7, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

December 7, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 66–Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2018

This Bill was introduced by Hon. Todd Smith (Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade), Government. It was carried on First Reading on Dec 6, 2018.

This Bill amends and repeals several Acts.

Schedule 8 (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) of the Bill amends the following sections in the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 :

Subsection 44(10) – Remove the Director from the list of persons who must be provided a written notice if the licensee withholds approval for admission.
Section 106 – The Director is allowed to determine how public consultations will be conducted
Section 112 – The Director is allowed to issue non-renewable temporary emergency licenses for a term of not more than 1 year to accommodate persons affected by a temporary emergency
Section 113 – Repealed but any short term authorizations given by the Director before the day of repeal continue to be valid until their authorization period expires

More Information: Bill 66

Regulations

No new and approved regulations.

Newsroom

Ontario’s government for the people continues fight to make life easier for Ontarians in busy fall

Articles of Interest

Marijuana

Ont. elementary school students sent to hospital after eating cannabis cookies

Marijuana is now legal in Michigan, but you still can’t take it across the border in Sault Ste. Marie

Two new walk-in clinics in Barrie will prescribe medical marijuana

Nothing hazy about results from Sudbury’s online cannabis survey

Health Care

Is Ontario’s patient ombudsman next on the Ford government chopping block

Mental Health

New free online mental health supports

Professional Misconduct

Sarnia doctor charged with sexual assault, history of convictions, investigation

Privacy

Sidewalk Labs’s vision and your data privacy: A guide to the saga on Toronto’s waterfront

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Things to do this weekend in Toronto

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on November 30, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

November 30, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 63 – Right to Timely Mental Health and Addiction Care for Children and Youth Act, 2018

This Bill was introduced by Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale-High Park), Opposition. It was carried on First Reading on Nov 27, 2018.

This Bill enacts the Right to Timely Mental Health and Addiction Care for Children and Youth Act, 2018, and it requires the Minister to ensure that a person who is less than 26 years old, resides in Ontario and has been deemed to require a mental health or addiction service receive access to the such services within 30 days.

More Information: Bill 63

Bill 64 – Noah and Gregory’s Law (Transition to Adult Developmental Services and Supports), 2018

This Bill was introduced by Lisa Gretzky (Windsor West), Opposition. It was carried on First Reading on Nov 28, 2018.

This Bill amends the Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008. This Bill requires the Minister to take certain steps to assist persons receiving a children’s developmental service to transition to services and supports provided under the Act. The eligibility for services and supports would include persons receiving services before turning 18.

More Information: Bill 64

Regulations

No new and approved regulations.

Newsroom

Ontario’s Government for the People taking immediate action with health infrastructure investments in West Niagara

Articles of Interest

Opioid Crisis

Parents struggles with opioid-addicted kids highlighted in documentary

Vancouver launches opioid task force to ‘quick start’ solutions to lethal crisis

After losing their sons to lethal opioids, these two mothers are fighting back

Amid Canada’s overdose crisis, grandparents are becoming parents again

Fentanyl-detecting dogs are the newest soldiers in the battle against opioids

Marijuana

Hope for cannabis as treatment for opioid addiction

Mouldy Ontario pot recall extended to BC

Health Care

Why Ontario hospitals ‘don’t know what they want’ when it comes to fixing healthcare

Professional Misconduct

Case against Law Society of Ontario allowed to move forward

Court rejects appeal from Winnipeg lawyer disbarred for misappropriating $82K

Charities

Canada’s top-rated charities 2019

Privacy

Rogue tax workers snooping on Canadians in large numbers

What’s happening in our city this weekend:

Confessions of a Rebel Chef

The ultimate holiday gift guide 2018

Things to do this weekend in Toronto

DDO Health Law Update

By Pam Seto on November 23, 2018

Posted in Legislative Updates, New Legislation

November 23, 2018: A weekly scan of new legislation and regulations important to the Ontario health sector, as well as articles of interest.

Bills

Bill 57 – Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018.

This Bill was introduced by Hon. Victor Fedeli (Minister of Finance) and was carried on First Reading on Nov 15, 2018. Schedule 5 and Schedule 27 respectively amends the City of Toronto Act, and the Municipal Act, 2011 to revise the by-laws that prohibit and regulate smoking to include cannabis.

More Information: Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018.