On Jan. 10, the Federal Minister of Health Mark Holland issued a letter to provincial and territorial ministers of health to confirm a Canada Health Act policy requiring them to create a public funding model for NPs and other regulated health professionals by April 1, 2026. Charging patients for medically necessary services will be prohibited under this new policy, requiring Ontario to comply or face penalties. RNAO has long called for a publicly funded model without user fees for independent NPs in primary care. “Many nurse practitioners currently provide care through fee-for-service clinics across Ontario due to a lack of funding for their services,” said RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. “Closure of these clinics would exacerbate the crisis if Ontario does not act swiftly to support an innovative public funding model.” RNAO remains focused on improving primary care for all Ontarians – without user fees – and is eager to work with the provincial government and Dr. Jane Philpott, former federal health minister and recently appointed chair of Ontario’s primary care action team, to develop such a model for NPs. (Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 10)