The Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) says it is supportive of the Ontario government’s plan to expand the responsibilities of the province’s pharmacists but warns in its submission to the Ontario Health Workforce Regulatory Oversight Branch that the efforts should not result in any additional pressure being placed on group insurance benefits plans.
“It is important to exercise caution with regard to the remuneration for services within an expanded scope that may not be reimbursed through the public system,” the CLHIA writes in its submission. “It is important, though, that there not be an obligation on employers to provide coverage for these newly expanded services through private benefit plans.”
The CLHIA’s members reportedly paid out $6.8-billion in prescription drug benefits coverage to 10.4-million in Ontario in 2023. They add that “although insurers are in favour of expanding pharmacists’ scope, we consider it essential that this expansion does not exert additional financial pressure on the group insurance benefit plans of employers, unions and workers.”
Minor ailment program
According to Ontario’s Consultation on proposed changes to advance the pharmacy sector in Ontario, pharmacists currently can assess and prescribe for 19 minor ailments under the pharmacist minor ailment program, launched in January 2023.
The consultation asked stakeholders questions related to adding more minor ailments to the program, allowing pharmacists to order certain laboratory tests and perform more point-of-care tests in support of a minor ailment diagnosis. It also examines the barriers that limit pharmacists in hospital settings. According to the consultation, with the exception of a publicly funded adult vaccine bundle, including vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, pneumococcal, shingles and RSV, patients who choose to receive vaccines in a community pharmacy will need to pay for the vaccine and its administration.
