Health Insurance Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, Health Insurance Act

Health Insurance Act

R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER H.6

Historical version for the period December 20, 2006 to June 3, 2007.

Amended by: 1992, c. 32, s. 15; 1993, c. 2, s. 12; 1993, c. 10, s. 53; 1993, c. 32, s. 2; 1994, c. 17, ss. 68-74; 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 1-35 ; 1996, c. 21, s. 51; 1997, c. 16, s. 7; 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54; 1999, c. 10, ss. 1, 2; 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1; 2000, c. 42, Sched., ss. 17-19; 2001, c. 8, ss. 32, 33; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8; 2004, c. 3, Sched. A, s. 85; 2004, c. 5, ss. 36-43; 2004, c. 13, s. 1; 2006, c. 19, Sched. C, s. 1 (1); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, ss. 3, 11 (2-5); 2006, c. 21, Sched. F, s. 136 (1); 2006, c. 35, Sched. C, s. 53.

CONTENTS

1.

Definitions

Administration

2.

Administration of Plan by Minister

3.

Ontario-Canada agreement

4.

General Manager

4.1

Collection of personal information

Medical Review Committee

5.

Medical Review Committee

Practitioner Review Committees

6.

Practitioner review committees

Medical Eligibility Committee

7.

Medical Eligibility Committee

Report to Assembly

9.

Report to Assembly

Ontario Health Insurance Plan

10.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan continued

11.

Right to insurance

11.1

Health card

11.2

Insured services

12.

Entitlement to insured services

13.

Choice of physician or practitioner

14.

Other insurance prohibited

15.

Billing – physicians

15.1

Billing – practitioners

15.2

Transitional

16.

Billing numbers

16.1

Direction to make payments to entity

17.

Accounts for insured services

17.1

Fees payable for insured services

17.2

Fees payable, health facilities

18.

Payment of accounts

18.0.1

Physicians

18.0.2

Transitional

18.0.3

Definition

18.0.4

Repeal

18.1

Review by committee, physician

18.2

Review

19.

When services not medically necessary

19.2

Refusal of claims, entitlement

20.

Appeal to Appeal Board

21.

Powers of Appeal Board

22.

Parties

23.

Evidence

24.

Appeal to Divisional Court

25.

Furnishing reasons to professional governing body

26.

Service of notice

27.

Proposed revision of O.M.A. schedule of fees

27.1

Contributions to the Plan

27.2

Payments, etc., to the Plan

28.

Payment by contribution to annual expenditures

29.

Disclosure authorized

Eligible Physicians

29.1

Definitions and practice address

29.2

Eligible physicians

29.3

Designated eligible physicians

29.4

Number of eligible physicians

29.5

Loss of eligible status

29.6

Declaration of ineligibility

29.7

Transition, proceedings

29.8

Ministerial review

Subrogation

30.

Subrogation

31.

Subrogated claim included in action

32.

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund

33.

Judge to divide award

34.

Release not to bind Plan

35.

Insurer to pay Ontario

36.

Future insured services

Direct Recovery

36.0.1

Direct cause of action

Third Party Services

36.1

Third party service

36.2

Third party liable

36.3

Amounts owing by third parties

36.4

Service provider to reimburse insured person

General

37.

General information requirement

37.1

Record-keeping

38.

Information confidential

38.1

Filing with court

39.

Protection from liability

39.1

General review re insured services

40.

Inspectors, Medical Review Committee

40.1

Powers of inspectors

40.2

Obstruction

43.

Offence, benefits by fraud

43.1

Mandatory reporting

44.

General penalty, individual

45.

Regulations

45.1

No appeal

Mental Illness

46.

Mental illness

Definitions

1. In this Act,

“Appeal Board” means the Health Services Appeal and Review Board under the Ministry of Health Appeal and Review Boards Act, 1998; (“Commission d’appel”)

“Deputy Minister” means the Deputy Minister of Health and Long-Term Care; (“sous-ministre”)

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, section 1 is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, subsection 1 (1) by adding the following definition:

“eligible physician” means, other than in section 19.1, a physician who is determined under sections 29.2 to 29.6 to be an eligible physician; (“médecin admissible”)

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 1 (1), 40.

“future cost of insured services” means the estimated total cost of the future insured services made necessary as the result of an injury that will probably be required by a patient after the date of settlement or, where there is no settlement, the first day of trial; (“coût futur des services assurés”)

“General Manager” means the General Manager appointed under section 4; (“directeur général”)

“health card” means a document in a prescribed form issued by the General Manager; (“carte Santé”)

“health facility” means an ambulance service, a medical laboratory and any other facility prescribed by the regulations as a health facility for the purposes of this Act; (“établissement de santé”)

“insured person” means a person who is entitled to insured services under this Act and the regulations; (“assuré”)

“insured services” means services that are determined under section 11.2 to be insured services; (“services assurés”)

“Minister” means the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care; (“ministre”)

“past cost of insured services” means the total cost of the insured services made necessary as the result of an injury and provided to a patient up to and including the date of settlement or, where there is no settlement, the first day of trial; (“coût antérieur des services assurés”)

“physician” means a legally qualified medical practitioner lawfully entitled to practise medicine in the place where medical services are rendered by the physician; (“médecin”)

“Plan” means the Ontario Health Insurance Plan referred to in section 10; (“Régime”)

“practitioner” means a person other than a physician who is lawfully entitled to render insured services in the place where they are rendered; (“praticien”)

“prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations; (“prescrit”)

“regulations” means the regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”)

“resident” means a resident as defined in the regulations and the verb “reside” has a corresponding meaning. (“résident”) R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 1; 1993, c. 2, s. 12; 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (1); 1994, c. 17, s. 68; 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 1 (2); 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (1); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 11 (2, 4).

Administration

Administration of Plan by Minister

2. (1) The Minister is responsible in respect of the administration and operation of the Plan and is the public authority for Ontario for the purposes of the Canada Health Act.

Duties of Minister

(2) The Minister may,

(a) enter into arrangements for the payment of remuneration to physicians and practitioners rendering insured services to insured persons on a basis other than fee for service;

(b) enter into agreements with persons, organizations and government agencies outside Ontario for the provision of insured services to insured persons;

(c) limit the hospital and health care services outside Canada for which payment may be made under the Plan;

(d) establish one or more advisory committees to advise or assist in the operation of the Plan;

(e) authorize surveys and research programs and obtain statistics for purposes related to the Plan. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 2.

Collection of personal information

(3) The Minister may collect, directly or indirectly,

(a) personal information that relates to the eligibility of a person to become or to continue to be an insured person; or

(b) the prescribed personal information, which may include a photograph and signature, that relates to the form or content of the health card.

Agreements concerning personal information

(4) The Minister may enter into agreements to collect, use or disclose the personal information referred to in clause (3) (a) and to collect and use the personal information referred to in clause (3) (b). 1994, c. 17, s. 69.

Agreements concerning payment information

(4.1) The Minister may enter into agreements to collect, use and disclose,

(a) personal information concerning insured services provided by physicians, practitioners or health facilities; and

(b) such other personal information as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 2 (1).

Limitation

(5) An agreement shall provide that personal information collected or disclosed under the agreement will be used only,

(a) to verify the accuracy of information held or exchanged by a party to the agreement;

(b) to administer or enforce a law administered by a party to the agreement; or

(c) for such other purposes as may be prescribed. 1994, c. 17, s. 69; 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 2 (2).

Confidentiality

(6) An agreement shall provide that personal information collected, used or disclosed under it is confidential and shall establish mechanisms for maintaining the confidentiality of the information. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 2 (3).

Ontario-Canada agreement

3. (1) The Government of Ontario, represented by the Minister of Finance, may enter into and amend from time to time an agreement with the Government of Canada under which Canada will contribute to the cost of that part of the Plan related to the provision of any insured services in or by hospitals and health facilities in accordance with such terms and conditions as the agreement provides. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 3 (1); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 11 (5).

Idem

(2) The Government of Ontario, represented by the Minister, may enter into and amend from time to time an agreement with the Government of Canada under which Canada will contribute to the cost of that part of the Plan related to insured services other than insured services provided in or by a hospital or health facility, in accordance with such terms and conditions as the agreement provides. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 3 (2).

General Manager

4. (1) A General Manager for the Plan shall be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 4 (1).

Duties

(2) Subject to this Act and the regulations, it is the function of the General Manager and he or she has the power,

(a) to administer the Plan as the chief executive officer of the Plan;

(b) to carry out registrations in the Plan, including the determination of eligibility and the verification of eligibility;

(c) to make payments by the Plan for insured services, including the determination of eligibility and amounts;

(d) to establish and maintain branch offices for the administration of the Plan;

(e) to conduct actions and negotiate settlements on behalf of the Plan under the subrogation of the Plan under this Act to the rights of insured persons;

(f) to require any information required or permitted to be provided to the General Manager under this Act or the regulations to be provided in such form as he or she specifies;

(g) to perform such other function and discharge such other duties as are assigned to the General Manager by this Act and the regulations or by the Minister. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 4 (2); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (1).

Collection of personal information

4.1 (1) The Minister and the General Manager may directly or indirectly collect personal information, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, for purposes related to the administration of this Act, the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 or the Independent Health Facilities Act or for such other purposes as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 3; 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (2).

Use of personal information

(2) The Minister and the General Manager may use personal information, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, for purposes related to the administration of this Act, the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 or the Independent Health Facilities Act or for such other purposes as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 3; 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (3).

Disclosure

(3) The Minister and the General Manager shall disclose personal information if all prescribed conditions have been met and if the disclosure is necessary for purposes related to the administration of this Act, the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 or the Independent Health Facilities Act or for such other purposes as may be prescribed. However, the Minister or the General Manager shall not disclose the information if, in his or her opinion, the disclosure is not necessary for those purposes. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 3; 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (4).

Obligation

(4) Before disclosing personal information obtained under the Act or under an agreement, the person who obtained it shall delete from it all names and identifying numbers, symbols or other particulars assigned to individuals unless,

(a) disclosure of the names or other identifying information is necessary for the purposes described in subsection (3), 2 (5) or 38 (4); or

(b) disclosure of the names or other identifying information is otherwise authorized under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 3; 2004, c. 3, Sched. A, s. 85 (1).

Medical Review Committee

Medical Review Committee

5. (1) The committee known in English as the Medical Review Committee and in French as comité d’étude de la médecine is continued as a committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 5 (1); 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (1).

Members

(2) The Medical Review Committee shall consist of,

(a) the prescribed number of members appointed by the Minister from among the persons nominated for the purpose by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; and

(b) the prescribed number of members who are not physicians or practitioners, appointed by the Minister. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (2); 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (2).

Same

(2.1) The number of members under clause (2) (a) shall be not less than three times the number under clause (2) (b). 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (2).

Quorum

(3) Three members of the Medical Review Committee, one of whom shall be a member who is not a physician or practitioner, constitute a quorum of the Committee. However, one member who is a physician constitutes a quorum for the purposes of a review requested under subsection 18.1 (2) or 39.1 (3). 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 4 (1).

Divisions of Committee

(3.1) The Medical Review Committee may sit in several divisions simultaneously, if a quorum of the Committee is present in each division. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 4 (1).

Remuneration

(4) The members of the Medical Review Committee shall be paid such remuneration for their services, on an hourly basis, a daily basis or otherwise, as the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 5 (4).

Administration expenses

(5) The Medical Review Committee shall be paid such amounts for the administration expenses of the Committee and the engaging of assistance for the Committee as may be approved by the Minister. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 5 (5).

Qualifications of members

(6) No member of the Medical Review Committee shall be employed in the service of Ontario or any agency of the Crown. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 5 (6).

Duties

(7) The Medical Review Committee shall perform such duties as are assigned to it under the Act and shall make reports and recommendations respecting any matter referred to it by the Minister, the Appeal Board or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 4 (2); 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (3).

Powers

(8) Members of the Medical Review Committee have the powers of an inspector appointed under subsection 40 (1). 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 4 (2).

Practitioner Review Committees

Practitioner review committees

6. (1) The Minister shall appoint the following practitioner review committees:

1. A chiropody review committee composed of the prescribed number of members who are not physicians or practitioners and the prescribed number of members from among the persons nominated by the College of Chiropodists of Ontario.

2. A chiropractic review committee composed of the prescribed number of members who are not physicians or practitioners and the prescribed number of members from among the persons nominated by the College of Chiropractors of Ontario.

3. A dentistry review committee composed of the prescribed number of members who are not physicians or practitioners and the prescribed number of members from among the persons nominated by The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

4. An optometry review committee composed of the prescribed number of members who are not physicians or practitioners and the prescribed number of members from among the persons nominated by the College of Optometrists of Ontario.

5. An osteopathy review committee composed of the prescribed number of members who are not physicians or practitioners and the prescribed number of members from among the persons nominated by the Board of Directors of Osteopathy appointed under the Drugless Practitioners Act. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (3); 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (2, 3).

Same

(1.1) The number of members of a practitioner review committee who are not physicians or practitioners shall be not more than two-thirds the number of members who are nominated by a professional governing body. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (3).

Committee of board or college

(2) Every practitioner review committee is a committee of the board or college that nominates persons appointed as members of the committee. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 6 (2).

Quorum

(3) Three members of a practitioner review committee, one of whom shall be a member who is not a physician or practitioner, constitute a quorum of the committee. However, one member who is a practitioner constitutes a quorum for the purposes of a review requested under subsection 18.1 (4) or 39.1 (3). 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 5 (1).

Divisions

(3.1) A practitioner review committee may sit in several divisions simultaneously, if a quorum of the committee is present in each division. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 5 (1).

Remuneration

(4) The members of a practitioner review committee shall be paid such remuneration for their services, on an hourly basis, a daily basis or otherwise, as the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 6 (4).

Administration expenses

(5) Every practitioner review committee shall be paid such amounts for the expenses of the committee and the engaging of assistance for the committee as may be approved by the Minister. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 6 (5).

Qualifications of members

(6) No member of a practitioner review committee shall be employed in the public service of Ontario or by any agency of the Crown. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 6 (6).

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection (6) is repealed by the Statutes of Ontario, 2006, chapter 35, Schedule C, section 53 and the following substituted:

Ineligibility

(6) A person may not be a member of a practitioner review committee if he or she is employed,

(a) under Part III of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006; or

(b) by any agency of the Crown. 2006, c. 35, Sched. C, s. 53.

See: 2006, c. 35, Sched. C, ss. 53, 137 (1).

Duties

(7) Every practitioner review committee shall perform such duties as are assigned to it under the Act and shall make reports and recommendations respecting any matter referred to it by the Minister, the Appeal Board or the board or college of which it is a committee. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 5 (2).

Powers

(8) Members of a practitioner review committee have the powers of an inspector appointed under subsection 40 (3). 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 5 (2).

Medical Eligibility Committee

Medical Eligibility Committee

7. (1) The Minister may appoint in writing such number of physicians as he or she considers appropriate from time to time not to exceed fifteen, to form a committee to be known in English as the Medical Eligibility Committee and in French as comité d’admissibilité médicale.

Term of office

(2) The Minister shall specify the term of office for each physician in his or her written appointment.

Quorum

(3) Any three members constitute a quorum and are sufficient for the exercise of all functions of the Medical Eligibility Committee.

Divisions of Committee

(4) The Medical Eligibility Committee may sit in several divisions simultaneously, if a quorum of the Committee is present in each division.

Decision of Committee

(5) The decision of the majority of the members of the Medical Eligibility Committee present and constituting a quorum is the decision of the Committee.

Qualifications of members

(6) No member of the Medical Eligibility Committee shall be employed in the service of Ontario or any agency of the Crown.

Committee chair

(7) The Minister shall from time to time designate one of the physicians to be the chair of the Committee who shall assign the members to sit on the various divisions of the Committee and prescribe the duties to be performed by each division.

Remuneration

(8) The members of the Medical Eligibility Committee shall be paid such remuneration for their services, on an hourly basis, a daily basis or otherwise, as the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 7 (1-8).

Duties

(9) The Medical Eligibility Committee shall perform such duties as are assigned to it under the Act or by the Minister. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 6.

Report to Assembly

8. Repealed: 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (4).

Report to Assembly

9. The Minister shall make a report annually to the Lieutenant Governor in Council upon the affairs of the Plan and the Minister shall lay the report before the Assembly if it is in session or, if not, at the next session. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 9.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan

Ontario Health Insurance Plan continued

10. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan is continued for the purpose of providing for insurance against the costs of insured services on a non-profit basis on uniform terms and conditions available to all residents of Ontario, in accordance with this Act, and providing other health benefits related thereto. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 10.

Right to insurance

11. (1) Every person who is a resident of Ontario is entitled to become an insured person upon application therefor to the General Manager in accordance with this Act and the regulations. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 11 (1).

Establishing entitlement

(2) It is the responsibility of every person to establish his or her entitlement to be, or to continue to be, an insured person. 1994, c. 17, s. 70.

(3) Repealed: 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (4).

Health card

11.1 (1) A health card remains the property of the Minister at all times.

Taking possession of card

(2) A prescribed person may take possession of a health card that is surrendered to him or her voluntarily.

Return to General Manager

(3) On taking possession of a health card under subsection (2), the person shall return it to the General Manager as soon as possible.

Protection from liability

(4) No proceeding for taking possession of a health card shall be commenced against a person who does so in accordance with subsection (2). 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (4).

Insured services

11.2 (1) The following services are insured services for the purposes of the Act:

1. Prescribed services of hospitals and health facilities rendered under such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed.

2. Prescribed medically necessary services rendered by physicians under such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed.

3. Prescribed health care services rendered by prescribed practitioners under such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 8.

Exceptions

(2) Despite subsection (1), services that a person is entitled to under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 or under the Homes for Special Care Act or under any Act of the Parliament of Canada except the Canada Health Act are not insured services. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 8; 1997, c. 16, s. 7.

Restrictions

(3) Such services as may be prescribed are insured services only if they are provided in or by designated hospitals or health facilities.

Same

(4) Such services as may be prescribed are insured services only if they are provided to insured persons in prescribed age groups.

Same

(5) Such services as may be prescribed are not insured services when they are provided to insured persons in prescribed age groups. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 8.

Entitlement to insured services

12. (1) Every insured person is entitled to payment to himself or herself or on his or her behalf for, or to be otherwise provided with, insured services in the amounts and subject to such conditions and co-payments, if any, as are prescribed. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 12.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, section 12 is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 9 by adding the following subsections:

Exception

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the insured service is provided in Ontario by a physician who is not an eligible physician.

Commencement

(3) Subsection (2) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 9, 40.

Choice of physician or practitioner

13. This Act shall not be administered or construed to affect the right of an insured person to choose his or her own physician or practitioner, and does not impose any obligation upon any physician or practitioner to treat an insured person. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 13.

Other insurance prohibited

14. (1) Every contract of insurance, other than insurance provided under section 268 of the Insurance Act, for the payment of or reimbursement or indemnification for all or any part of the cost of any insured services other than,

(a) any part of the cost of hospital, ambulance and nursing home services that is not paid by the Plan;

(b) compensation for loss of time from usual or normal activities because of disability requiring insured services;

(c) any part of the cost that is not paid by the Plan for such other services as may be prescribed when they are performed by such classes of persons or in such classes of facilities as may be prescribed,

performed in Ontario for any person eligible to become an insured person under this Act, is void and of no effect in so far as it makes provision for insuring against the costs payable by the Plan and no person shall enter into or renew such a contract. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 14 (1); 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 10.

Resident not to benefit from prohibited insurance

(2) A resident shall not accept or receive any benefit under any contract of insurance prohibited under subsection (1) whereby the resident or his or her dependants may be provided with or reimbursed or indemnified for all or any part of the costs of, or costs directly related to the provision of any insured service. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 14 (2).

Exceptions

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a contract of insurance entered into by a resident whose principal employment is in the United States of America and who is entitled to enter into the contract by virtue of his or her employment. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 14 (3).

Idem

(4) Where payment is made to or on behalf of an insured person under a contract or agreement referred to in subsection (3) and such payment is less than would have been made under this Act and the regulations for the same insured services, the General Manager may pay to or on behalf of the insured person the difference between the amount paid under the contract or agreement and the amount established by the regulations for the insured services for which payment was made under the contract or agreement. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 14 (4).

Exception

(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply during the period that a person who is a resident must wait to be registered as an insured person. 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (5); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (5).

Billing – physicians

15. (1) A physician shall submit all of his or her accounts for the performance of insured services rendered to an insured person directly to the Plan in accordance with and subject to the requirements of this Act and the regulations, unless an agreement under subsection 2 (2) provides otherwise. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Requirements where Plan billed

(2) Where a physician submits his or her accounts directly to the Plan under this section,

(a) payment shall be made,

(i) directly to the physician, or

(ii) as the physician directs in accordance with section 16.1; and

(b) the payment by the Plan for the insured services rendered to an insured person constitutes payment in full of the account. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Where s. 2 (2) applies

(3) Where an account is submitted to the Plan in accordance with subsection 2 (2) with respect to insured services rendered to an insured person, the payment by the Plan constitutes payment in full of the account. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Billing – practitioners

15.1 (1) A designated practitioner shall submit all of his or her accounts for the performance of insured services directly to the Plan in accordance with and subject to the requirements of this Act and the regulations, unless an agreement under subsection 2 (2) provides otherwise. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Same – non-designated

(2) A non-designated practitioner shall submit directly to the Plan that part of his or her account for insured services rendered to an insured person that is payable by the Plan, unless an agreement under subsection 2 (2) provides otherwise. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Requirements where Plan billed

(3) Where a practitioner submits his or her accounts directly to the Plan under this section,

(a) payment shall be made,

(i) directly to the practitioner, or

(ii) as the practitioner directs in accordance with section 16.1;

(b) in the case of a designated practitioner, the payment by the Plan for the insured services performed constitutes payment in full of the account; and

(c) in the case of a non-designated practitioner, the payment by the Plan for that part of his or her account for an insured service rendered to an insured person that is payable by the Plan constitutes payment in full of that part of the account. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Where s. 2 (2) applies

(4) Where an account is submitted to the Plan in accordance with subsection 2 (2) with respect to insured services rendered to an insured person, the payment by the Plan constitutes payment in full of the account. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Interpretation

(5) In this section,

“designated practitioner”, “non-designated practitioner” and “practitioner” have the same meanings as in Part II of the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Transitional

15.2 (1) The following rules apply with respect to a physician or designated practitioner to whom subsection 11 (7) of the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 applies:

1. Sections 15 and 15.1 do not apply to him or her.

2. Subsections 15 (5), 16 (5), 16.1 (2), 17 (2), 25 (2) to (9), and 27.2 (3) and (4), as applicable, as they existed immediately before their repeal by the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 continue to apply to the physician or designated practitioner, as the case may be, as if they had not been repealed, except in respect of any prescribed accounts or classes of accounts, and subject to any prescribed circumstances or conditions.

3. Where, under subsection 27.2 (3), the physician or designated practitioner is required to temporarily submit his or her accounts directly to the Plan, the submission of the accounts is not a deemed election for the purposes of subsection 11 (6) of the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004, but subsection 10 (3) of that Act applies to him or her during the time that he or she is temporarily required to submit accounts directly to the Plan.

4. All other applicable provisions of this Act apply to the physician or designated practitioner. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Same

(2) Where a physician or designated practitioner to whom section 11 of the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 applies submits his or her accounts for the rendering of insured services to insured persons directly to the Plan, subsections 25 (2) to (9) of this Act, as they existed before their repeal, apply to him or her with respect to accounts submitted before he or she commenced submitting his or her accounts directly to the Plan. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Interpretation

(3) In this section,

“physician” and “designated practitioner” mean a physician or designated practitioner within the meaning of Part II of the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Billing numbers

16. (1) An account or claim submitted in the name of a physician or practitioner in conjunction with the billing number issued to the physician or practitioner, and any payment made pursuant to the account or claim is deemed to have been,

(a) submitted personally by the physician or practitioner;

(b) paid to the physician or practitioner personally;

(c) received by the physician or practitioner personally; and

(d) made by and submitted with the consent and knowledge of the physician or practitioner. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Health facilities

(2) Subsection (1) applies with necessary modifications to health facilities. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Applies despite direction

(3) This section applies despite a direction given pursuant to section 16.1. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Exception

(4) This section does not apply to an account, claim or payment in the circumstances and on the conditions prescribed in the regulations. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Definition

(5) In this section,

“billing number” means the unique identifying number issued by the General Manager to a physician, practitioner or health facility for the purpose of identifying the accounts or claims for insured services rendered by that physician, practitioner or health facility. 2004, c. 5, s. 36.

Direction to make payments to entity

16.1 (1) A physician or a practitioner may direct that payments for services performed by the physician or practitioner and to which the physician or practitioner is lawfully entitled may be directed to such person or entity as may be prescribed and in such circumstances and on such conditions as may be prescribed, including such requirements and other matters with respect to directions as may be prescribed. 2000, c. 42, Sched., s. 19.

(2) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 37.

Person or entity not entitled

(3) The entitlement to payment for services performed by a physician or a practitioner is that of the physician or practitioner and not that of the person or entity to which the physician or practitioner has directed that such a payment be made. 2000, c. 42, Sched., s. 19.

Repayment to Plan

(4) Where payment is made by the Plan to a person or entity pursuant to subsection (1), any money owing to the Plan by the physician or the practitioner may be recovered from the physician or practitioner personally. 2000, c. 42, Sched., s. 19.

Interpretation

(5) A reference in this Act or the regulations to a payment to a physician or a practitioner where the reference relates to a payment for services performed by the physician or practitioner shall be deemed to include a payment made to a person or entity pursuant to a direction made under this section. 2000, c. 42, Sched., s. 19.

Keeping and inspection of records

(6) Section 37.1 (record-keeping) applies with necessary modifications to a person or entity to whom payment is made pursuant to a direction and sections 40, 40.1 and 40.2 apply with necessary modifications to an inspection of the records to be kept. 2000, c. 42, Sched., s. 19.

Accounts for insured services

17. (1) Physicians, practitioners and health facilities shall prepare accounts for their insured services in such form as the General Manager may require. The accounts must meet the prescribed requirements. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 11.

(2) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 38.

Time for submitting

(3) The physician, practitioner, health facility or, in the case of a patient who is billed directly, the patient must submit an account for an insured service to the General Manager within such time after the service is performed as may be prescribed. When submitted, the account must be in the required form and meet the prescribed requirements. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 11; 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (6).

Fees payable for insured services

17.1 (1) A physician, practitioner or insured person who submits an account to the General Manager in accordance with the Act for insured services provided by a physician or a practitioner is entitled to be paid the fee determined under this section.

Ineligible physician

(2) The fee payable for an insured service provided in Ontario by a physician who is not an eligible physician is nil. This subsection does not apply if the service is rendered on a basis other than fee for service.

Amount

(3) The basic fee payable for an insured service is the amount set out in the regulations. The amount may differ for different classes of physician or practitioner.

Same

(4) The regulations may provide that the basic fee for an insured service is nil.

Adjustment of amount

(5) The basic fee payable for an insured service performed by a physician or practitioner may be increased or decreased as provided in the regulations based upon one or more of the following factors:

1. The professional specialization of the physician or practitioner.

2. The relevant professional experience of the physician or practitioner.

3. The frequency with which the physician or practitioner provides the insured service.

4. The geographic area in which the insured service is provided.

5. The setting in which the insured service is provided.

6. The period of time when the insured service is provided.

7. Such other factors as may be prescribed.

Threshold amount

(6) If the total amount payable for one or more prescribed insured services provided by a physician or practitioner during a prescribed period equals or exceeds a prescribed amount, the fee payable for an insured service may be increased or decreased in accordance with the regulations. The fee payable may be reduced to nil.

Same

(7) A change made under subsection (6) in the fee payable for an insured service is imposed in addition to any change made under subsection (5) in the basic fee payable.

Commencement

(8) Subsection (2) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 12.

Fees payable, health facilities

17.2 (1) Subject to section 28, a health facility that submits an account to the General Manager in accordance with the Act for insured services performed by the facility is entitled to be paid the fee determined under this section.

Same

(2) Subsections 17.1 (3) and (4) apply, with necessary modifications, with respect to the basic fee payable for an insured service.

Adjustment of amount

(3) The basic fee payable for an insured service performed by a health facility may be increased or decreased as provided in the regulations based upon such factors as may be prescribed.

Threshold amount

(4) Subsections 17.1 (6) and (7) apply, with necessary modifications, with respect to the fee payable to a health facility. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 12.

Payment of accounts

18. (1) The General Manager shall determine all issues relating to accounts for insured services and shall make the payments from the Plan that are authorized under the Act.

Same

(2) The General Manager may refuse to pay for a service provided by a physician, practitioner or health facility or may pay a reduced amount in the following circumstances:

1. If the General Manager is of the opinion that all or part of the insured service was not in fact rendered.

2. If the General Manager is of the opinion that the nature of the service is misrepresented, whether deliberately or inadvertently.

3. For a service provided by a physician, if the General Manager is of the opinion, after consulting with a physician, that all or part of the service was not medically necessary.

4. For a service provided by a practitioner, if the General Manager is of the opinion, after consulting with a practitioner who is qualified to provide the same service, that all or part of the service was not therapeutically necessary.

5. For a service provided by a health facility, if the General Manager is of the opinion, after consulting with a physician or practitioner, that all or part of the service was not medically or therapeutically necessary.

6. If the General Manager is of the opinion that all or part of the service was not provided in accordance with accepted professional standards and practice.

7. In such other circumstances as may be prescribed.

Note: Subsection (3) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Same

(3) The General Manager may refuse to pay for a service provided by a physician if the General Manager is of the opinion that the physician is not an eligible physician.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 40 and The Ontario Gazette dated March 9, 1996.

Same

(4) The General Manager shall refuse to pay for an insured service if the account for the service is not prepared in the required form, does not meet the prescribed requirements or is not submitted to him or her within the prescribed time. However, the General Manager may pay for the service if there are extenuating circumstances.

Reimbursement

(5) The General Manager may require a physician, practitioner or health facility to reimburse the Plan for an amount paid for a service if, after the payment is made, the General Manager is of the opinion that a circumstance described in subsection (2) exists.

Exception, physician

(6) Despite subsection (5), the General Manager shall not require a physician to reimburse the Plan if the sole reason for requiring the reimbursement is that a circumstance described in paragraph 3 or 6 of subsection (2) exists.

Exception, practitioner

(7) Despite subsection (5), the General Manager shall not require a practitioner to reimburse the Plan if the sole reason for requiring the reimbursement is that a circumstance described in paragraph 4 or 6 of subsection (2) exists.

Note: Subsection (8) comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Ineligible physician

(8) The General Manager may require a physician to reimburse the Plan for an amount paid for a service if, after the payment is made, the General Manager is of the opinion that the physician is not an eligible physician.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 40 and The Ontario Gazette dated March 9, 1996.

Notice

(9) The General Manager shall notify the physician, practitioner or health facility of a decision to refuse to pay for a service, to pay a reduced amount or to require the reimbursement of the Plan. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Physicians

18.0.1 (1) Subject to subsection (2), during the period that commences when this section comes into force, and ends when this section is repealed under section 18.0.4, sections 18.1 and 39.1 do not apply to a physician, and this section applies instead. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Saving

(2) Subsection (1) does not affect,

(a) a right to request a review by the Medical Eligibility Committee under clause 18.1 (1) (a); or

(b) any rights, responsibilities or obligations under subsections 18.1 (14) to (19) with regard to a review in which a final direction was given before this section came into force. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Panel Review

(3) Upon the request of a physician, the Transitional Physician Audit Panel is authorized to review the following matters in relation to that physician:

1. A decision of the General Manager to refuse to pay for a service, or to pay a reduced amount for a service under subsection 18 (2).

2. A decision of the General Manager to require reimbursement of an amount paid for a service under subsection 18 (5). 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

If review requested

(4) If a physician requests a review under subsection (3), the chair of the Appeal Board shall designate members of the Transitional Physician Audit Panel to deal with the review and set a time for the review and the panel shall conduct the review and render its direction as expeditiously as may be reasonably possible, and in any case shall render its direction no more than 45 days after the last day on which evidence in the review was adduced before the panel, unless the General Manager and the physician consent to an extension. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Parties

(5) Only the General Manager and the physician are parties to a review by the Transitional Physician Audit Panel. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Directions

(6) Following the review, the Transitional Physician Audit Panel may give any direction that could have been given by the Medical Review Committee under subsection 18.1 (10). 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Interest, payable by physician

(7) If, as a result of a direction by the Transitional Physician Audit Panel, an amount is payable by a physician, interest calculated in the prescribed manner is payable on the amount, payable from the date the account was paid by the Plan. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Interest, payable to physician

(8) If, as a result of a direction by the Transitional Physician Audit Panel, an amount is payable by the General Manager, interest calculated in the prescribed manner is payable on the amount, payable from the date the amount was recovered from the physician by the Plan. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Applicability of certain provisions

(9) The following provisions apply, with necessary modifications, to a review by the Transitional Physician Audit Panel:

1. Subsections 21 (1.1) and (2).

2. Subsections 23 (1) to (4) and (6).

3. Section 27.2. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Appeal to Divisional Court

(10) Any party to a review before the Transitional Physician Audit Panel may appeal from the panel’s direction to the Divisional Court in accordance with the rules of court, but,

(a) personal health information contained in any document or evidence filed or adduced with regard to the appeal, or in any order or decision of the Court shall not be made accessible to the public; and

(b) the Divisional Court may edit any documents it releases to the public to remove any personal health information. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Transitional

Suspension

18.0.2 (1) Unless the physician elects otherwise under subsection (2), a review or reconsideration by the Medical Review Committee with regard to the physician is suspended for the period that this section is in force where, prior to its coming into force,

(a) the physician requested the review under subsection 18.1 (1) or the reconsideration of that review under subsection 18.1 (7); and

(b) the Medical Review Committee had not given a final direction from the review, or in the case of a reconsideration, a final direction from the reconsideration. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Election

(2) A physician may elect, instead of a suspension under subsection (1), to request a review by the Transitional Physician Audit Panel under section 18.0.1 as if he or she had never requested that the Medical Review Committee perform a review or a reconsideration of a review. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Suspension, section 39.1

(3) Unless the physician elects otherwise under subsection (4), a review or reconsideration by the Medical Review Committee with regard to the physician is suspended for the period that this section is in force where, prior to its coming into force,

(a) the General Manager had, in respect of the physician, requested the review under subsection 39.1 (1) or the physician had made a request for the reconsideration in accordance with subsection 39.1 (4); and

(b) the Medical Review Committee had not given a final direction from the review, or in the case of a reconsideration, a final direction from the reconsideration. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

If no suspension

(4) If a physician is the subject of a request by the General Manager for a review under subsection 39.1 (1) or a request by the physician for a reconsideration in accordance with subsection 39.1 (4), the physician may elect that the General Manager, acting under subsection 18 (1), determine all issues relating to those accounts of the physician that formed the subject-matter of the request as if no request had ever been made. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Other issues if no suspension

(5) Where a physician elects under subsection (2) or (4) not to suspend a review or reconsideration, in respect of a review or reconsideration being conducted by the Medical Review Committee, no conclusion, decision or deliberation of the Medical Review Committee, whether of a preliminary, draft or final nature, is admissible in any subsequent review, proceeding or appeal, despite any other Act or law to the contrary. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Additional election

(6) Where, on the day this section came into force, a physician had received notice of a direction, and had not yet requested a reconsideration within the time provided under subsection 18.1 (8) or 39.1 (4),

(a) the physician may elect to request a reconsideration, and have it suspended under this section;

(b) the physician may elect a review under subsection (2) or (4), as the case may be; or

(c) the physician may elect to treat the direction as final, in which case any provisions of this Act that would have applied to the direction if it had become final before the coming into force of this section apply. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Rules re election

(7) An election under subsection (2), (4) or (6) must be made within 30 days from the day this section comes into force. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Notice

(8) Notice of election not to suspend under subsection (2) or (4) must be served on the General Manager. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Interest

(9) If a suspension applies under subsection (1) or (3) in respect of a request for a reconsideration, no interest is payable during the time that this section is in force on any amount payable by the physician as a result of the direction of the Medical Review Committee subject to the reconsideration. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Appeals

(10) In any appeal to the Appeal Board or the Divisional Court concerning a decision of the Medical Review Committee made before the coming into force of this section, the General Manager may elect to stand in the place of the Medical Review Committee, and if the General Manager so elects, he or she has all the rights and responsibilities of the Medical Review Committee for the purposes of the appeal. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Transitional

(11) Where on June 21, 2004 payments to a physician are suspended under subsection 40.2 (6), the suspension shall remain in effect until the physician has complied with subsections 37 (1) and (3) to the satisfaction of the General Manager. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Definition

18.0.3 In sections 18.0.1 and 18.0.2,

“Transitional Physician Audit Panel” means the Transitional Physician Audit Panel established under section 7.1 of the Ministry of Health Appeal and Review Boards Act, 1998. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Repeal

18.0.4 Sections 18.0.1, 18.0.2 and 18.0.3 are repealed on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor. 2004, c. 13, s. 1.

Review by committee, physician

18.1 (1) A physician may request that a decision of the General Manager under subsection 18 (2) or (5) be reviewed,

(a) by the Medical Eligibility Committee in the circumstances described in subsection 19 (1); or

(b) by the Medical Review Committee in any other circumstance. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Same

(2) A physician may request that a review by the Medical Review Committee be performed by a single member of the Committee,

(a) if the amount of money in dispute is less than such amount as may be prescribed; or

(b) if the General Manager consents to a review by a single committee member. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Review by committee, practitioner

(3) A practitioner may request that a decision of the General Manager under subsection 18 (2) or (5) be reviewed by the applicable practitioner review committee. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Same

(4) The practitioner may request that the review be performed by a single member of the practitioner review committee,

(a) if the amount of money in dispute is less than such amount as may be prescribed; or

(b) if the General Manager consents to a review by a single committee member. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Time for request

(5) A request for a review must be made within 60 days after the physician or practitioner receives notice of the decision of the General Manager and must be accompanied by the prescribed application fee for the type of review requested. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Expedited review

(6) The following rules apply with respect to a review by a single committee member:

1. The review must begin promptly after the request is made and must be conducted expeditiously.

2. The committee member may give any direction that the applicable committee is authorized under subsection (10) to give. If the review results from a request made under clause (2) (a) or (4) (a), the direction may provide for payment or reimbursement of an amount greater than the prescribed amount referred to in those clauses.

3. In such circumstances as the committee member considers appropriate, he or she may recommend that the General Manager consider requesting a review under section 39.1 and may give the General Manager such information as the committee member considers appropriate.

4. Following the review, the committee member shall promptly give notice to the physician or practitioner of his or her direction under paragraph 2. The committee member is not required to give written reasons for the direction. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (1, 2).

Same, reconsideration

(7) A person aggrieved by the direction given by the single committee member may request the Medical Review Committee or the applicable practitioner review committee, as the case may be, to reconsider the matter. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (3).

Request for reconsideration

(8) A request for reconsideration must be made within 30 days after the physician or practitioner receives notice of the single committee member’s direction, and must be accompanied by the prescribed application fee. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (4).

Procedural directions

(9) During a review or reconsideration, the applicable committee or a single committee member, as the case may be, may require the physician or practitioner to take such steps by such time as the committee or member may determine. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Direction by committee

(10) Following the review or following its reconsideration of a review by a single committee member, the Medical Review Committee or the practitioner review committee may give a direction,

(a) that the decision of the General Manager be confirmed;

(b) that the General Manager make a payment in accordance with the submitted account;

(c) that the General Manager pay a reduced amount, as calculated by the General Manager in accordance with the direction; or

(d) that the physician or practitioner reimburse the Plan in the amount calculated by the General Manager in accordance with the direction. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (5).

Recommendation of further review

(11) Following the review or following its reconsideration of a review by a single committee member, the Medical Review Committee or the practitioner review committee may recommend in such circumstances as it considers appropriate that the General Manager consider requesting a review under section 39.1 and may give the General Manager such information as it considers appropriate. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Notice

(12) The applicable committee shall serve the persons affected by a direction given under subsection (10) with a notice stating that the physician or practitioner may appeal it to the Appeal Board. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Reasons for direction

(13) Upon request, the applicable committee shall give the persons affected by its direction written reasons for it. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Interest

(14) If, as a result of a direction, an amount is payable by or to a physician or practitioner, interest is also payable on the amount. Interest is calculated in the prescribed manner and is payable from the date determined in the prescribed manner. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Additional payment

(15) The physician or practitioner shall pay an additional amount for the cost of the review and for the cost of any reconsideration of a review,

(a) if a decision of the General Manager refusing to pay an account for services provided by the physician or practitioner is confirmed;

(b) if, as a result of a direction, the physician or practitioner is required to reimburse the Plan; or

(c) if the General Manager is required to pay him or her less than the amount of the account submitted for the insured services. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Same

(16) The additional amount under subsection (15) shall be determined in the prescribed manner. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Refund of fee

(17) The General Manager shall refund any portion of the application fee paid by the physician or practitioner that remains after the additional amount, if any, under subsection (15) is paid. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Publication of details

(18) The General Manager may make public the following information relating to the matter under review:

1. The name and specialty, if any, of the physician or practitioner.

2. The municipality or geographic area in which the physician or practitioner practised his or her profession when the services giving rise to the direction of the applicable committee were provided.

3. The municipality or geographic area in which the physician or practitioner practises his or her profession when the information is made public.

4. A description of the situation under review. The description must not identify, or enable a person to identify, a patient.

5. The amount, if any, that the physician or practitioner is required to pay to the Plan.

6. Such other information as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (6).

No appeal

(19) The decision of the General Manager to make information public under subsection (18) is final and shall not be appealed to the Appeal Board or the Divisional Court. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Restriction

(20) The General Manager shall not make the information public until any appeal of a related direction given under subsection (10) is finally determined. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Same

(21) The General Manager shall not make the information public if the matter is reviewed by a single committee member and no reconsideration of the review is requested under subsection (7). 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Review

18.2 (1) The General Manager may request the Medical Review Committee to review the provision of a service by a physician, practitioner or health facility when the service was provided at the request of another physician and the General Manager is of the opinion that the service was not medically necessary. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (7).

Direction to repay

(2) If directed to do so by the Medical Review Committee, the physician who requested the provision of the service shall reimburse the Plan,

(a) in the amount paid by the Plan to the physician or practitioner for the service;

(b) in the amount paid by the Plan to the health facility, if the health facility submitted an account to the General Manager for the service;

(c) in the amount of the facility fee paid to the health facility under the Independent Health Facilities Act; or

(d) in the case of a health facility other than one referred to in clause (b) or (c), in the amount otherwise payable by the Plan to a health facility that submits accounts to the General Manager for such services. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (8).

Same

(3) Subsections 18.1 (14) to (16) and (18) to (20) apply following a direction. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (9).

Notice

(4) The Committee shall serve the physician with a notice stating that he or she may appeal the direction to the Appeal Board. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Reasons for direction

(5) Upon request, the Committee shall give the physician written reasons for the direction. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

Appeal

(6) Section 20 applies, with necessary modifications, with respect to an appeal to the Appeal Board. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 13.

When services not medically necessary

19. (1) Where there is a dispute regarding a decision by the General Manager that an insured person is not entitled to an insured service in a hospital or health facility because such service is not medically necessary, the General Manager, upon receiving notice of such dispute, shall refer the matter to the Medical Eligibility Committee.

Medical Eligibility Committee to consider

(2) The Medical Eligibility Committee shall consider the facts relevant to the disputed decision, including any medical records and reports about the insured person and, when considered necessary by the Committee, interviewing the insured person and discussing the matter with the person and his or her physician.

Recommendations

(3) After giving consideration to the matter, the Medical Eligibility Committee shall recommend to the General Manager either that he or she pay or refuse to pay, according to the findings of the Committee, the sum or sums claimed by the insured person to be payable to the person or on his or her behalf, as the case may be, and that the General Manager approve or refuse to approve, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee, the provision of the insured service or services that are in dispute and, subject to sections 20 to 24, the General Manager shall carry out the recommendations of the Committee. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 19.

19.1 Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 39.

Refusal of claims, entitlement

19.2 (1) The General Manager may refuse a claim for payment for insured services if, in the opinion of the General Manager, the person who received the services was not an insured person at the time the services were rendered.

Direction by Appeal Board to pay

(2) The Appeal Board may direct the General Manager to pay any claims he or she refused to pay under subsection (1) if, after a hearing, the Appeal Board determines that the person to whom the insured services were rendered was an insured person at the time the services were rendered. 1994, c. 17, s. 71.

Appeal to Appeal Board

20. (1) The following persons may appeal the following matters to the Appeal Board:

1. A person who has applied to become or continue to be an insured person may appeal a decision of the General Manager refusing the application.

2. An insured person who has made a claim for payment for insured services may appeal a decision of the General Manager refusing the claim or reducing the amount so claimed to an amount less than the amount payable by the Plan.

3. The affected physician may appeal a direction of the Medical Review Committee under subsection 18.1 (10) but not a direction of a single committee member under paragraph 2 of subsection 18.1 (6).

4. The affected practitioner may appeal a direction of a practitioner review committee under subsection 18.1 (10) but not a direction of a single committee member under paragraph 2 of subsection 18.1 (6). 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 15; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (10, 11).

Notice of appeal

(2) The appellant shall file a notice of appeal within 15 days after receiving notice of the decision of the General Manager or the direction of the applicable committee. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 15.

Powers of Appeal Board

21. (1) If a person requires a hearing, the Appeal Board shall appoint a time for and hold the hearing and may, by order, direct the General Manager to take such action as the Appeal Board considers the General Manager should take in accordance with this Act and the regulations. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (12).

Same

(1.0.1) For the purposes of making an order under subsection (1), the Appeal Board may amend a direction of the General Manager, the Medical Review Committee or a practice review committee and shall do so in accordance with this Act and the regulations. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (12).

Security for payment

(1.1) The Appeal Board may make an order at any time directing a physician or practitioner to provide security for payment of all or part of an amount determined by the General Manager, the Medical Review Committee or a practitioner review committee to be owing to the Plan and may impose such conditions as the Appeal Board considers appropriate. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 16.

Same

(1.2) The Appeal Board shall make an order for security for payment in such circumstances as may be prescribed. The security must meet such requirements as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 16.

Extension of time for hearing

(2) The Appeal Board may extend the time for the giving of notice by a person requiring a hearing under this section, either before or after expiration of such time, where it is satisfied that there are apparent grounds for granting relief to the claimant pursuant to a hearing and that there are reasonable grounds for applying for the extension, and the Appeal Board may give such directions as it considers proper consequent upon the extension. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 21 (2).

Parties

22. (1) The General Manager is a party to all proceedings before the Appeal Board.

Same

(2) The Medical Review Committee and the physician are parties to an appeal from a direction of the Committee.

Same

(3) The practitioner review committee and the practitioner are parties to an appeal from a direction of the committee.

Same

(4) The Appeal Board may add such other parties to a proceeding as it considers appropriate. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 17.

Evidence

Examination of documentary evidence

23. (1) A person who is a party to proceedings before the Appeal Board shall be afforded an opportunity to examine before the hearing any written or documentary evidence that will be produced or any report the contents of which will be given in evidence at the hearing. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 23 (1).

Board members not to have investigated prior to hearing

(2) Members of the Appeal Board holding a hearing shall not have taken part, before the hearing, in any investigation or consideration of the subject-matter of the hearing and shall not communicate directly or indirectly in relation to the subject-matter of the hearing with any person or with any party or representative of the party except upon notice to and with opportunity for all parties to participate, but the Appeal Board may seek legal advice from an adviser independent from the parties and in such case the nature of the advice should be made known to the parties in order that they may make submissions as to the law. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 23 (2).

Recording evidence

(3) The oral evidence taken before the Appeal Board at a hearing shall be recorded and, if so required, copies of a transcript thereof shall be furnished upon the same terms as in the Superior Court of Justice. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 23 (3); 2006, c. 19, Sched. C, s. 1 (1).

Findings of fact

(4) The findings of fact of the Appeal Board pursuant to a hearing shall be based exclusively on evidence admissible or matters that may be noticed under section 15 or 16 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 23 (4).

(5) Repealed: 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (5).

Release of documents, etc.

(6) Documents and things put in evidence at the hearing shall, upon the request of the person who produced them, be released to the person by the Appeal Board within a reasonable time after the matter in issue has been finally determined. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 23 (6).

Appeal to Divisional Court

24. (1) Any party to the proceedings before the Appeal Board under this Act may appeal from its decision or order to the Divisional Court in accordance with the rules of court. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 24 (1); 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (6).

Record to be filed in court

(2) Where any party appeals from a decision or order of the Appeal Board, the Appeal Board shall forthwith file in the Divisional Court the record of the proceedings before it in which the decision was made, which, together with the transcript of evidence if it is not part of the Appeal Board’s record, shall constitute the record in the appeal.

Minister to be heard

(3) The Minister is entitled to be heard by counsel or otherwise upon the argument of an appeal under this section.

Powers of court on appeal

(4) An appeal under this section may be made on questions of law or fact or both and the court may affirm or may rescind the decision of the Appeal Board and may exercise all powers of the Appeal Board to direct the General Manager to take any action which the Appeal Board may direct the General Manager to take and as the court considers proper and for such purposes the court may substitute its opinion for that of the General Manager or of the Appeal Board, or the court may refer the matter back to the Appeal Board for rehearing, in whole or in part, in accordance with such directions as the court considers proper. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 24 (2-4).

Security for payment

(5) Subsections 21 (1.1) and (1.2) apply, with necessary modifications, with respect to the court. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 18.

Furnishing reasons to professional governing body

25. (1) Where a decision of the General Manager to refuse or reduce a payment or to require and recover reimbursement of any overpayment of any amount paid by the Plan on any of the grounds referred to in paragraphs 1 to 7 of subsection 18 (2) has become final, the General Manager shall furnish the Minister and the governing body of the profession of which the physician or practitioner rendering the services is a member with a copy of the decision and the reasons therefor, and in all other cases the General Manager may furnish such governing body with a copy of the decision and the reasons therefor. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 25 (1); 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (13).

(2) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 40 (1).

(3) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 40 (2).

(4)-(7) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 40 (3).

(8), (9) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 40 (4).

Service of notice

26. Except where otherwise provided, any notice required by this Act to be served may be served personally or by registered mail addressed to the person to whom the notice is being given at the person’s latest known address and, where notice is served by registered mail, the service shall be considered to have been made on the seventh day after the day of mailing unless the person to whom notice is given establishes that the person did not, acting in good faith, through absence, accident, illness or other cause beyond the person’s control receive the notice until a later date. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 26.

26.1 Repealed: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 19.

Proposed revision of O.M.A. schedule of fees

27. At least six months before any proposed revision of the schedule of fees of the Ontario Medical Association, the Ontario Medical Association shall notify the Minister of the proposed revision and the Minister shall arrange and implement discussions with representatives of the said Association respecting the details and extent of any proposed changes in the schedule of fees. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 27.

Contributions to the Plan

27.1 (1) Every physician, practitioner and health facility who provides insured services shall make such contribution to the Plan as may be prescribed relating to the amount of fees payable to him, her or it under the Plan during such prior period as may be prescribed.

Amount

(2) The amount of the basic contribution from each physician, practitioner or health facility shall be determined in accordance with the regulations.

Adjustment

(3) The basic contribution from a physician, practitioner or health facility may be increased or decreased as provided in the regulations based upon such factors as may be prescribed.

Exemption

(4) Such classes of physicians, practitioners or health facilities as may be prescribed are exempt from making a contribution to the Plan. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 20.

Payments, etc., to the Plan

27.2 (1) The General Manager may obtain or recover money that a physician, practitioner or health facility owes to the Plan by set off against any money payable to him, her or it under the Plan. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 21.

Same

(2) The General Manager may obtain or recover money by set off despite a review by the Medical Eligibility Committee, the Medical Review Committee or a practitioner review committee or an appeal to the Appeal Board or Divisional Court concerning whether the money is owed to the Plan. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 21.

(3), (4) Repealed: 2004, c. 5, s. 41.

Payment by contribution to annual expenditures

28. Any amounts payable to or on behalf of an insured person under the Plan in respect of insured services provided by or in a hospital or health facility may be paid in the form of the payment by the Province of all or any part of the annual expenditures of such hospital or health facility, where such payment by the Province is authorized under any Act. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 28.

Disclosure authorized

29. (1) Every insured person shall be deemed to have authorized his or her physician or practitioner, a hospital or health facility which provided a service to the insured person and any other prescribed person or organization to give the General Manager particulars of services provided to the insured person,

(a) for the purpose of obtaining payment under the Plan for the services;

(b) for the purpose of enabling the General Manager to monitor and control the delivery of insured services;

(c) for the purpose of enabling the General Manager to monitor and control payments made under the Plan or otherwise for insured services; and

(d) for such other purposes as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 22.

Immunity

(2) No action lies against a person or organization for giving information to the General Manager under the Act. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 22.

Exception

(3) This section does not apply where the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 applies. 2004, c. 3, Sched. A, s. 85 (2).

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 23 by adding the following section:

Eligible Physicians

Definitions and practice address

29.1 (1) In sections 29.2 to 29.6,

“affiliated”, in respect of a physician and a facility, means associated in a prescribed relationship; (“affilié”)

“facility” means a hospital within the meaning of the Public Hospitals Act, an independent health facility within the meaning of the Independent Health Facilities Act or any other prescribed facility or agency; (“établissement”)

“family practitioner” means a physician who holds a certificate of registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario authorizing the independent practice of medicine and who is not a specialist; (“médecin de famille”)

“oversupplied area” means an area that is determined under subsection 29.4 (2) to be oversupplied with physicians; (“région sursaturée”)

“specialist” means a physician who holds,

(a) a certificate of registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario authorizing the independent practice of medicine, and

(b) certification in a specialty by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. (“spécialiste”)

Location of practice

(2) For the purposes of sections 29.2 to 29.6, a physician is presumed to be rendering insured services in each area for which the records of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario show on such date as may be prescribed an address that is his or her practice address.

Same

(3) Despite subsection (2), the General Manager may determine that a practice address of a physician is different from the address determined under subsection (2). The decision of the General Manager is final.

Same, correction

(4) If the physician’s practice address as shown in the records of the College is incorrect or if the physician also practices at other addresses or practices in such circumstances as may be prescribed, the physician may provide the General Manager with such evidence as the General Manager may require before such date as may be prescribed to establish the physician’s practice address or addresses.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 23, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 24 by adding the following section:

Eligible physicians

29.2 (1) Subject to section 29.4, a physician is an eligible physician if he or she meets the requirements set out in this section.

Same

(2) Subject to subsection (4), the following persons are eligible physicians:

1. A physician who is an eligible physician for the purposes of section 19.1 immediately before this section comes into force.

2. A physician who is granted an appointment that takes effect before the prescribed date to the medical staff of a hospital in Ontario. The appointment must be granted before such date as may be prescribed.

3. A physician who is granted an appointment that takes effect before the prescribed date to the teaching staff of a faculty of medicine in Ontario. The appointment must be granted before such date as may be prescribed.

4. A physician other than one described in paragraph 1 who, on and after the prescribed date, is a family practitioner who does not render insured services in an oversupplied area.

5. A physician other than one described in paragraph 1 who, on and after the prescribed date, is a specialist who is affiliated with a facility.

6. A physician other than one described in paragraphs 1 to 5 who incurs significant financial obligations in connection with the commencement of the practice of medicine in Ontario before the date on which this section comes into force.

7. A physician who is a member of a class of physicians that is prescribed as being eligible physicians.

Exception

(3) A physician is not an eligible physician if he or she is a member of a class of physicians that is prescribed as not being eligible.

Same, conditions

(4) A physician is not an eligible physician unless he or she complies with such additional conditions for becoming an eligible physician as may be prescribed.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 24, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 24 by adding the following section:

Designated eligible physicians

29.3 (1) The Minister may designate as an eligible physician a physician who does not meet the requirements set out in section 29.2 if the Minister considers that,

(a) the services of the physician are required to meet a need in an academic area, a domain of medical practice or a geographic area;

(b) the services of the physician are required to fulfil a prescribed purpose; or

(c) exceptional circumstances exist in respect of the physician.

Conditions

(2) A designation may be made subject to such conditions as are specified.

Delegation

(3) The Minister may delegate his or her authority under this section.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 24, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 25 by adding the following section:

Number of eligible physicians

29.4 (1) The Minister may, by regulation, fix or vary the number of physicians, or the number of physicians in a class of physicians, who may become eligible physicians in an area after the date on which this section comes into force. The Minister may do so without prior notice.

Oversupplied area

(2) The Minister may, by regulation, determine from time to time the areas of Ontario that are oversupplied with physicians.

Same

(3) A determination under subsection (2) may be made by class of physician.

Moratorium

(4) In any of the following circumstances, the Minister may, by regulation, impose a moratorium during which no physician is entitled to become an eligible physician in an area to which the moratorium applies:

1. If the Minister considers that the number of physicians who meet the criteria under section 29.2 and who wish to become eligible physicians under the Act is causing or is likely to cause inequities in the administration of the Act.

2. If the Minister considers that the number of physicians described in paragraph 1 exceeds or is likely to exceed the number of physicians permitted to become eligible physicians in a class or an area as a result of a decision of the Minister.

Time

(5) A moratorium is effective for the period of time declared by the Minister. The Minister may end or extend a moratorium as the Minister in his or her sole discretion considers necessary or advisable in the circumstances.

Notice

(6) The Minister may impose, end or extend a moratorium without prior notice.

Determination of eligibility

(7) If the number of physicians who meet requirements under section 29.2 for an eligible physician and who wish to become eligible physicians under the Act is greater than the number that are permitted to become eligible physicians in a class or an area as a result of a decision of the Minister, the determination of which physicians will become eligible physicians shall be made in accordance with such method and criteria as may be prescribed.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 25, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 26 by adding the following section:

Loss of eligible status

29.5 (1) An eligible physician who fails to comply with such requirements or conditions as may be prescribed for eligible physicians ceases to be an eligible physician.

Specialist

(2) A specialist who becomes an eligible physician after the date this section comes into force and who ceases to be affiliated with a facility ceases to be an eligible physician.

Same

(3) A specialist described in subsection (2) becomes an eligible physician again on the date on which he or she becomes affiliated with a facility.

Change of kind of practice

(4) An eligible physician ceases to be an eligible physician if he or she changes the nature of his or her practice from that of a family practitioner to that of a specialist. This does not apply if the physician is affiliated with a facility as a specialist.

Exemption, ineligible physicians

(5) The Minister may exempt a physician or a class of physicians from subsection (1), (2) or (4) in the following circumstances:

1. If the Minister considers that the services of the physician or class are required to meet a need in an academic area, a domain of medical practice or a geographic area.

2. If the Minister considers that the services of the physician or class are required to fulfil a prescribed purpose.

3. If the Minister considers that exceptional circumstances exist in respect of the physician or class.

Same

(6) An exemption under paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection (5) may be made despite a moratorium under subsection 29.4 (4).

Same

(7) An exemption may be made subject to such conditions as are specified.

Same

(8) The Minister may designate a person to exercise his or her powers and duties under subsection (5).

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 26, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 27 by adding the following section:

Declaration of ineligibility

29.6 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (5), the General Manager may declare that a physician is not an eligible physician in the following circumstances:

1. If the General Manager is of the opinion that the physician is not qualified under the Act to be an eligible physician.

2. If the General Manager is of the opinion that the physician is not an eligible physician, although the physician appears to have acted or to be acting as an eligible physician.

3. If the General Manager is of the opinion that the physician is not in compliance with a condition in respect of continuing to be an eligible physician.

Notice

(2) If the General Manager proposes to make a declaration under subsection (1), he or she shall give notice of the proposal to the physician together with reasons for the proposal.

Written submission

(3) The physician may give the General Manager a written submission about the proposal within 15 days after receiving the notice and the General Manager shall consider it.

Extension

(4) The General Manager may accept a written submission after the time provided under subsection (3) if he or she considers that there are reasonable grounds for so doing.

No declaration

(5) The General Manager may decline to make a declaration under subsection (1) if he or she is satisfied by the written submission that it is in the best interest of the proper management of the health care system or the delivery of health care services in Ontario to do so.

Criteria

(6) The General Manager shall consider such criteria as may be prescribed before declining to make a declaration for the reasons described in subsection (5).

Notice of declaration

(7) The General Manager shall notify the physician of his or her decision and, upon request, shall provide written reasons for it.

Decision final

(8) A declaration by the General Manager under this section is final and binding.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 27, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 28 by adding the following section:

Transition, proceedings

29.7 No proceeding shall be commenced in which compensation is sought for any loss relating to the coming into force of sections 29.1 to 29.6.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 28, 40.

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, the Act is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, section 29 by adding the following section:

Ministerial review

29.8 On or before November 30, 1997, the Minister shall undertake a comprehensive review of the operation of sections 29.1 to 29.6. Following the review, the Minister may make recommendations about those sections to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 29, 40.

Subrogation

Subrogation

30. (1) Where, as the result of the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of another, an insured person suffers personal injuries for which he or she receives insured services under this Act, the Plan is subrogated to any right of the insured person to recover the cost incurred for past insured services and the cost that will probably be incurred for future insured services, and the General Manager may bring action in the name of the Plan or in the name of that person for the recovery of such costs.

Payment by Plan recoverable by insured

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the payment by the Plan for insured services shall not be construed to affect the right of the insured person to recover the amounts so paid in the same manner as if such amounts are paid or to be paid by the insured person.

Cost of hospital services

(3) For the purposes of this section, the cost of insured services rendered to an insured person in or by a hospital or health facility shall be at the rate charged by the hospital or health facility to a person who is not an insured person. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 30 (1-3).

Exception

(4) Despite subsection (1), the Plan is not subrogated to the rights of an insured person in respect of personal injuries arising directly or indirectly from the use or operation, after the 21st day of June, 1990 and before the day section 267.1 of the Insurance Act comes into force, of an automobile in Canada, the United States of America or any other jurisdiction designated in the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule under the Insurance Act. 1993, c. 10, s. 53.

Exception

(5) Despite subsection (1), the Plan is not subrogated to the rights of the insured person, as against a person who is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy issued in Ontario, in respect of personal injuries arising directly or indirectly from the use or operation, after section 29 of the Automobile Insurance Rate Stability Act, 1996 comes into force, of an automobile in Ontario or in any other jurisdiction designated in the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule under the Insurance Act.

Definition

(6) In subsection (5),

“motor vehicle liability policy” has the same meaning as in the Insurance Act. 1996, c. 21, s. 51.

Subrogated claim included in action

31. (1) Any person who commences an action to recover for loss or damages arising out of the negligence or other wrongful act of a third party, to which the injury or disability in respect of which insured services have been provided is related shall, unless otherwise advised in writing by the General Manager, include a claim on behalf of the Plan for the cost of the insured services. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 31 (1).

Recovery paid to Ontario

(2) Where a person recovers a sum in respect of the cost of insured services, the person shall forthwith pay the sum recovered to the Minister of Finance. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 31 (2); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 11 (5).

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund

32. The Plan is not an insurer within the meaning of the Insurance Act, as referred to in section 22 of the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act, and may be awarded payment from the Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 32.

Judge to divide award

33. The judge at trial shall, if the evidence permits, apportion the elements of the injured person’s loss and damages so as to clearly designate the amount of the Plan’s recovery for the past cost of insured services and separate it from the amount of the Plan’s recovery of future cost of insured services, if any. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 33.

Release not to bind Plan

34. No release or settlement of a claim for damages for personal injuries in a case where the injured person has received insured services under this Act shall be binding on the Plan unless the General Manager has approved the release or settlement. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 34.

Insurer to pay Ontario

35. A liability insurer shall notify the General Manager of negotiations for settlement of any claim for damages including insured services and may pay to the Minister of Finance any amount referable to a claim for recovery of the cost of insured services and such payment discharges the obligation of the liability insurer to pay that amount to the insured person. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 35; 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 11 (5).

Future insured services

36. Where a judgment or settlement includes future cost of insured services, the Plan shall provide the future insured services included in the judgment or settlement. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 36.

Direct Recovery

Direct cause of action

36.0.1(1)If the Plan has paid for insured services as a result of the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of a person, the Plan has a right, independent of its subrogated right under subsections 30 (1) and 46 (5), to recover, directly against that person, the costs for insured services that have been incurred in the past and that will probably be incurred in the future as a result of the negligence or the wrongful act or omission.

Action

(2)The General Manager may bring an action in the name of the Plan or the Minister may bring an action in his or her own name for recovery of the costs referred to in subsection (1).

Exception

(3)The Plan shall not recover costs under this section,

(a) against a physician if the negligence or wrongful act or omission of the physician occurred while the physician was acting within the scope of his or her practice and in such circumstances as may be prescribed;

(b) against a hospital under the Public Hospitals Act or a laboratory under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act if the negligence or wrongful act or omission upon which the action is based occurred in the course of providing services that the hospital is approved to provide, or that the laboratory is licensed to provide, as the case may be, and in such circumstances as may be prescribed; or

(c) against such other persons or entities as may be prescribed in such circumstances as may be prescribed.

Preservation of rights of insured persons

(4)An action under this section shall not prevent an insured person from recovering the cost or damages to which the person would otherwise be entitled.

Cost of hospital services

(5)For the purposes of this section, the cost of insured services rendered in or by a hospital or health facility shall be at the rate charged by the hospital or health facility to persons who are not insured.

Disclosure of information

(6)To the extent that any information relating to insured services is produced in a proceeding under this section, the information shall be produced in a manner that protects the identity of the insured person and of the provider of insured services. 1999, c. 10, s. 1.

Third Party Services

Third party service

36.1 (1) For the purposes of this section and sections 36.2 to 36.4, a third party service is a service that,

(a) is provided by a service provider in connection or partly in connection with,

(i) a request or requirement, made by a person or entity, that information or documentation relating to an insured person be provided, or

(ii) a request or requirement, made by a person or entity, that an insured person obtain a service from a service provider;

(b) is not an insured service or is deemed, by a regulation made under clause 45 (1) (i), not to be an insured service; and

(c) is prescribed as a third party service or is prescribed as a third party service in circumstances specified in the regulation.

Third party

(2) For the purposes of this section and sections 36.2 to 36.4, a third party is a person or entity who makes a request or requirement referred to in clause (1) (a).

Service provider

(3) For the purposes of this section and sections 36.2 to 36.4, a service provider is a physician, practitioner, hospital or health facility, or an independent health facility as defined in the Independent Health Facilities Act.

Regulations re third parties

(4) Despite subsection (2), a regulation may be made, in relation to a specified third party service or in relation to a third party service provided in specified circumstances,

(a) prescribing another person or entity as a third party instead of or in addition to the person or entity who makes the request or requirement referred to in clause (1) (a);

(b) if more than one person or entity make the request or requirement referred to in clause (1) (a), prescribing one or more of them as third parties and providing that the others are not third parties; or

(c) providing that there is no third party.

Deemed requirement or request

(5) For the purpose of subsection (1), a person or entity shall be deemed to have required or requested that information or a document relating to the insured person be provided, or that the insured person obtain a service from a service provider, if providing the information or document or obtaining the service is related to the person or entity doing or not doing anything in relation to the insured person or related to the insured person receiving or not receiving anything from the third party. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (7).

Third party liable

36.2 (1) If a service provider who provides a third party service to an insured person renders an account for payment to the third party, the third party is liable for payment of the account, subject to subsection 36.3 (3).

Same

(2) If an insured person pays all or part of an account rendered to him or her by a service provider for a third party service provided to the insured person, the third party is liable to reimburse the insured person for the amount paid, subject to subsection 36.3 (4).

Insured person’s liability to pay

(3) Nothing in this section affects any liability of an insured person to pay a service provider’s account for a third party service.

Right to render account at time of service

(4) Nothing in sections 36.1 to 36.4 affects any right of a service provider to render an account for a third party service at the time the service is rendered.

No double recovery

(5) The total amount that the service provider recovers in respect of a third party service shall not exceed the amount of the account rendered. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (7).

Amounts owing by third parties

Application of section

36.3 (1) This section applies to,

(a) an amount owing by a third party to a service provider under subsection 36.2 (1);

(b) an amount owing by a third party to an insured person under subsection 36.2 (2); and

(c) an amount owing by an insured person to a service provider for a third party service provided to the insured person by the service provider.

Proceeding to recover payment

(2) An amount referred to in subsection (1) may be recovered in a court proceeding or, if a body is designated or established under clause 45 (1.1) (f), in a proceeding before the body.

Court, body may reduce amount payable

(3) In a proceeding to recover an amount referred to in clause (1) (a) or (c), the court or body, in addition to any other order it may make, may order the third party or the insured person, as the case may be, to pay the service provider an amount that is less than the amount charged by the service provider for the third party service if the court or body finds that the amount charged by the service provider for the third party service is excessive.

Same

(4) In a proceeding to recover an amount referred to in clause (1) (b), the court or body, in addition to any other order it may make, may order the third party to pay the insured person an amount that is less than the amount paid by the insured person to the service provider for the third party service if the court or body finds that the amount charged by the service provider for the third party service is excessive.

Determining whether excessive

(5) In determining whether an amount charged by a service provider other than a physician for a third party service is excessive, the court or body shall consider any applicable guidelines respecting third party services and any applicable schedule of fees, and may consider any other relevant factors.

Same

(6) In determining whether an amount charged by a physician for a third party service is excessive, the court or body shall consider the Ontario Medical Association’s guidelines respecting third party services and its schedule of fees, and may consider any other relevant factors.

Same

(7) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, in a regulation, provide that the court or body shall consider other matters in addition to or instead of the guidelines and schedules of fees referred to in subsections (5) and (6).

Adding service provider as party

(8) No order shall be made under subsection (4) unless the service provider has been added as a party to the proceeding.

Same

(9) The service provider may be added as a party to the proceeding referred to in subsection (4) on such terms as the court or body considers just. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (7).

Service provider to reimburse insured person

36.4 If, under subsection 36.3 (4), the court or body orders the third party to pay the insured person an amount that is less than the amount paid by the insured person to the service provider for the third party service, the service provider is liable to repay the difference to the insured person. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (7).

General

General information requirement

37. (1) Every physician and practitioner shall give the General Manager such information, including personal information, as may be prescribed for purposes related to the administration of this Act, the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 or the Independent Health Facilities Act or for such other purposes as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 30; 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (6).

Same

(2) Such persons or organizations as may be prescribed shall give the General Manager such information, including personal information, as may be prescribed and such information as he or she may require for the purpose of administering the Act. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 30.

Time

(3) The information shall be provided in such form and within such time as the General Manager may require. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 30.

Application

(4) This section applies despite anything in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, an Act listed in Schedule 1 to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, the Drugless Practitioners Act or any regulations made under those Acts. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 30.

Record-keeping

37.1 (1) For the purposes of this Act, every physician, practitioner and health facility shall maintain such records as may be necessary to establish whether he, she or it has provided an insured service to a person. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31.

Same

(2) For the purposes of this Act, every physician, practitioner and health facility shall maintain such records as may be necessary to demonstrate that a service for which he, she or it prepares or submits an account is the service that he, she or it provided. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31.

Same

(3) For the purposes of this Act, every physician and health facility shall maintain such records as may be necessary to establish whether a service he, she or it has provided is medically necessary. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31.

Same

(4) For the purposes of this Act, every practitioner and health facility shall maintain such records as may be necessary to establish whether a service he, she or it has provided is therapeutically necessary. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31.

Same

(5) The records described in subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) must be prepared promptly when the service is provided. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31.

Obligation

(6) If there is a question about whether an insured service was provided, the physician, practitioner or health facility shall provide the following persons with all relevant information within his, her or its control:

1. The General Manager.

2. An inspector who requests the information.

3. In the case of a physician or health facility, a member of the Medical Review Committee who requests the information.

4. In the case of a practitioner or health facility, a member of the applicable practitioner review committee who requests the information. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31.

Presumption

(7) In the absence of a record described in subsection (1), (3) or (4), it is presumed that an insured service was provided and that the basic fee payable is nil. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 31; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (18).

Different service provided

(8) In the absence of a record described in subsection (2), the insured service that was provided is presumed to be the insured service, if any, that the General Manager considers to be described in the records as having been provided and not the insured service for which the account was prepared or submitted. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (19).

Information confidential

38. (1) Each member of the Medical Review Committee, every practitioner review committee, the Medical Eligibility Committee and the Appeal Board and each employee thereof, the General Manager and each person engaged in the administration of this Act and the regulations shall preserve secrecy with respect to all matters that come to his or her knowledge in the course of his or her employment or duties pertaining to insured persons and any insured services rendered and the payments made therefor, and shall not communicate any such matters to any other person except as otherwise provided in this Act. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 38 (1).

Exceptions

(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) may furnish information pertaining to the date or dates on which insured services were provided and for whom, the name and address of the hospital and health facility or person who provided the services, the amounts paid or payable by the Plan for such services and the hospital, health facility or person to whom the money was paid or is payable, but such information shall be furnished only,

(a) in connection with the administration of this Act, the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, a health profession Act as defined in subsection 1 (1) of that Act, the Public Hospitals Act, the Private Hospitals Act or the Ambulance Act or the Canada Health Act or the Criminal Code (Canada), or regulations made thereunder;

(b) in proceedings under this Act or the regulations;

(c) to the person who provided the service, the person’s solicitor, other personal representative, executor, administrator, guardian of property, trustee in bankruptcy or other legal representative;

(d) to the person who received the services, his or her solicitor, personal representative or guardian, the committee or guardian of the person’s estate or other legal representative of that person; or

(e) pursuant to a summons by a court of competent jurisdiction. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 38 (2); 1992, c. 32, s. 15; 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (7).

Statistical purposes

(3) The information referred to in subsection (1) may be published by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in statistical form if the individual names and identities of persons who received insured services are not thereby revealed. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 38 (3); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 11 (3).

Exception for professional discipline

(4) If, in the course of the administration of this Act and the regulations, the General Manager, the Medical Review Committee or a practitioner review committee obtains reasonable grounds to believe that a physician or practitioner is incompetent, incapable or has committed professional misconduct, the General Manager, the Medical Review Committee or the practitioner review committee, as the case may be, shall give the following information to the statutory body governing the profession of the physician or practitioner:

1. The information described in subsection (2).

2. Information pertaining to the nature of the insured services provided by the physician or practitioner.

3. Information concerning any diagnosis given by the physician or practitioner.

4. Such other personal information as may be prescribed. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (20).

Filing with court

38.1 A copy of any of the following may be filed with the Superior Court of Justice after the time in which an appeal may be made has passed, and once filed shall be entered in the same way as a judgment or order of the Superior Court of Justice and is enforceable as an order of that court:

1. A decision of the General Manager made under this Act.

2. A decision of the Appeal Board made under this Act. 2004, c. 5, s. 42.

Protection from liability

39. Members of the Medical Review Committee, practitioner review committees, the Medical Eligibility Committee, employees of such committees, the General Manager and persons engaged in the administration of this Act are not liable for anything done or made in good faith by them in the performance of their duties under this Act and the regulations. 1998, c. 18, Sched. G, s. 54 (8).

General review re insured services

39.1 (1) The General Manager may request the Medical Review Committee to review the provision of insured services by a physician. The request may specify the types of insured services to be reviewed and the period during which the services were provided. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Same

(2) The General Manager may request a practitioner review committee to review the provision of insured services by a practitioner. The request may specify the types of insured services to be reviewed and the period during which the services were provided. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Expedited review

(3) The General Manager may request that the review be performed by a single member of the applicable committee. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Same

(4) Subsections 18.1 (6) to (9) apply with respect to a review by a single committee member. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Directions

(5) Following a review or following a reconsideration of a review by a single committee member, the Medical Review Committee or practitioner review committee may direct the General Manager,

(a) to increase the amount paid to the physician or practitioner for an insured service; or

(b) to require the physician or practitioner to repay all or part of any payment made under the Plan. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Same

(6) A direction under clause (5) (b) may be made only in the following circumstances:

1. If the applicable committee has reasonable grounds to believe that all or part of the insured services were not rendered.

2. If the applicable committee has reasonable grounds to believe that all or part of the services,

i. were not medically necessary, if they were provided by a physician, or

ii. were not therapeutically necessary, if they were provided by a practitioner.

3. If the applicable committee has reasonable grounds to believe that the nature of the services is misrepresented, whether deliberately or inadvertently.

4. If the applicable committee has reasonable grounds to believe that all or part of the services were not provided in accordance with accepted professional standards and practice.

5. In such other circumstances as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Same

(7) Subsections 18.1 (14) to (16) and (18) to (20) apply following a review. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33; 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (21).

Notice

(8) The applicable committee shall serve the persons affected by a direction given under subsection (5) with a notice stating that the physician or practitioner may appeal it to the Appeal Board. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Reasons for decision

(9) Upon request, the applicable committee shall give the persons affected by its direction written reasons for it. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Appeal

(10) Section 20 applies, with necessary modifications, with respect to an appeal to the Appeal Board. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 33.

Inspectors, Medical Review Committee

40. (1) The Minister may appoint inspectors from among the persons nominated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. These inspectors shall act only under the direction of the Medical Review Committee.

Powers

(2) The powers and duties of inspectors appointed under subsection (1) relate only to the provision of insured services by physicians.

Inspectors, practitioner review committees

(3) The Minister may appoint inspectors from among the persons nominated by a body referred to in section 6 that nominates persons for appointment to a practitioner review committee. These inspectors shall act only under the direction of the applicable practitioner review committee.

Powers

(4) The powers and duties of inspectors appointed under subsection (3) relate only to the provision of insured services by practitioners engaged in the practice of the applicable health discipline. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 34.

Powers of inspectors

40.1 (1) An inspector has the following powers:

1. To interview a physician or practitioner and members of his or her staff on matters that relate to the provision of insured services.

2. To interview persons employed in a hospital, health facility or such other type of health care facility as may be prescribed in which insured services are provided, or the operator of one, on matters that relate to the provision of insured services.

3. To question a person on matters that may be relevant to an inspection, review or reconsideration of a review, subject to the person’s right to have counsel or some other representative present during the examination.

4. To enter and inspect premises where insured services are provided and to inspect the operations carried out on the premises.

5. To inspect and receive information from health records or from notes, charts and other material relating to patient care, regardless of the form or medium in which such records or material are kept, and to reproduce and retain copies of them.

6. To inspect, at any reasonable time, all books of account, documents, correspondence and records, including payroll and employment records, regardless of the form or medium in which the records are kept, and to reproduce and retain copies of them.

7. To remove material described in paragraph 5 or 6 for the purpose of copying it. The inspector must show the certificate of his or her appointment by the Minister and must give a receipt for the material. The material must be promptly returned to the person apparently in charge of the premises from which the material is removed.

8. To enter premises where material required for the purposes of the Act, and material referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6, is stored for the purpose of inspecting it.

Same

(2) An inspector has the powers of a commission under Part II of the Public Inquiries Act and may exercise them only in relation to those persons described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection (1).

Notice

(3) The inspector shall give five days written notice to the physician, practitioner or administrator of the hospital, health facility or other health care facility that the inspector wishes to conduct an interview described in paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection (1).

Same

(4) The notice must, where practicable, state the subject-matter of the interview and the identity or the position, if known, of the person or persons to be interviewed.

Same

(5) The notice must state that the person to be interviewed is entitled to be represented by legal counsel.

Private residence

(6) An inspector shall not enter a private residence without the consent of an occupier except under the authority of a warrant under subsection (7).

Warrant

(7) A provincial judge or justice of the peace may issue a warrant in the prescribed form authorizing an inspector to enter a private residence for the purpose of conducting an inspection if the judge or justice of the peace is satisfied upon application by an inspector, on information upon oath, that there are reasonable grounds for doing so.

Legible records

(8) If a book, document, item of correspondence or record is kept in a form or medium that is not legible, the inspector may require the person apparently in charge of it to provide him or her with a legible physical copy for examination.

Cost

(9) The cost of providing the inspector with a legible copy under subsection (8) shall be borne by the physician, practitioner or health facility, as the case may be. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 34.

Obstruction

40.2 (1) No person shall obstruct an inspector or withhold or conceal from an inspector any book, document, correspondence, record or thing relevant to an inspection.

Duty to co-operate

(2) Every physician who provides insured services shall co-operate fully with an inspector who is carrying out an inspection under the Act or with a member of the Medical Review Committee who is exercising powers or performing duties under the Act.

Same

(3) Every practitioner who provides insured services shall co-operate fully with an inspector who is carrying out an inspection under the Act or with a member of a practitioner review committee who is exercising powers or performing duties under the Act.

Same

(4) The operator and administrator of every hospital, health facility and other health care facility in which insured services are provided shall co-operate fully with an inspector who is carrying out an inspection under the Act and shall ensure that employees also co-operate fully.

Same

(5) Every person who receives insured services shall co-operate fully with an inspector who is carrying out an inspection under the Act.

Suspension of payments

(6) The General Manager may suspend payments under the Plan to a physician or practitioner during any period when he or she fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) without just cause, whether or not the physician or practitioner is convicted of an offence.

Same

(7) The General Manager may suspend payments under the Plan to a hospital or health facility during any period when its operator or administrator or its employees fail to comply with subsection (4) without just cause, whether or not the person is convicted of an offence. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 34.

41. Repealed: 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (7).

42. Repealed: 2000, c. 26, Sched. H, s. 1 (7).

Offence, benefits by fraud

43. (1) No person shall knowingly obtain or attempt to obtain payment for or receive or attempt to receive the benefit of any insured service that the person is not entitled to obtain or receive under this Act and the regulations.

Idem

(2) No person shall knowingly aid or abet another person to obtain or attempt to obtain payment for or receive or attempt to receive the benefit of any insured service that such other person is not entitled to obtain or receive under this Act and the regulations.

False information

(3) No person shall knowingly give false information in an application, return or statement made to the Plan or to the General Manager in respect of any matter under this Act or the regulations. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 43.

Mandatory reporting

43.1 (1) A prescribed person who, in the course of his or her professional or official duties, has knowledge that an event referred to in subsection (2) has occurred shall promptly report the matter to the General Manager.

Events

(2) Subsection (1) applies to the following events:

1. An ineligible person receives or attempts to receive an insured service as if he or she were an insured person.

2. An ineligible person obtains or attempts to obtain reimbursement by the Plan for money paid for an insured service as if he or she were an insured person.

3. An ineligible person, in an application, return or statement made to the Plan or the General Manager, gives false information about his or her residency.

Definition, “ineligible person”

(3) In subsection (2),

“ineligible person” means a person who is neither an insured person nor entitled to become one.

Defence

(4) It is a defence to a proceeding for failure to make a report required by subsection (1) that the prescribed person delayed making the report because he or she believed, on reasonable grounds, that making the report might be a direct and immediate cause of serious bodily harm to a person, and made the report as soon as he or she was of the opinion that the danger no longer existed.

Voluntary reporting

(5) A prescribed person may report to the General Manager any matter relating to the administration or enforcement of this Act or the regulations.

Subss. (1) and (5) prevail

(6) Subsections (1) and (5) apply even if the information reported is confidential or privileged and despite any Act, regulation or other law prohibiting disclosure of the information.

Protection from liability

(7) No proceeding for making a report under subsection (1) or (5) or for providing information in connection with the report shall be commenced against a person unless he or she acts maliciously and the information on which the report is based is not true.

Exception: solicitor-client privilege

(8) Nothing in this section abrogates any privilege that may exist between a solicitor and his or her client. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (8).

General penalty, individual

44. (1) Every individual who contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations for which no penalty is specifically provided is guilty of an offence and is liable,

(a) for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $25,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months, or to both;

(b) for a subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 12 months, or to both. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (22).

Same, corporation

(2) Every corporation that contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations for which no penalty is specifically provided is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $50,000 for a first offence and to a fine of not more than $200,000 for a subsequent offence. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (22).

Compensation or restitution

(3) The court that convicts a person of an offence under this section may, in addition to any other penalty, order that the person pay compensation or make restitution to any person who suffered a loss as a result of the offence. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (22).

No limitation

(4) Section 76 of the Provincial Offences Act does not apply to a prosecution under this section. 2002, c. 18, Sched. I, s. 8 (22).

Regulations

45. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) prescribing the form of the health card;

(a.1) providing for the registration of persons as insured persons and prescribing waiting periods for registration;

(b) defining “resident” for the purposes of this Act;

(b.1) prescribing the personal information that may be collected, used or disclosed under clause 2 (3) (b);

(c) providing for the continuation and termination of insurance coverage in respect of insured persons who cease to be eligible;

(c.1) prescribing numbers of members for the purposes of clauses 5 (2) (a) and (b) and paragraphs 1 to 5 of subsection 6 (1);

(c.2) enabling the General Manager to require information or evidence relating to eligibility as a condition for a person to become or continue as an insured person and governing the information or evidence that may be required;

(d) designating disciplines for the purpose of section 16;

(e) governing insured services, including specifying those services that are not insured services;

(f) governing fees payable for insured services;

(g) governing payments for insured services;

(h)-(j) Repealed: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (1).

(k) providing for the making of claims for payment of the cost of insured services and prescribing the information that shall be furnished in connection therewith;

(l) prescribing the co-payments that shall be made by or on behalf of an insured person to qualify the person to receive those insured services specified in the regulations as requiring co-payments;

(m) providing for the times when and manner in which physicians shall submit accounts directly to the Plan under section 15;

(n) providing for the times when and manner in which practitioners shall submit accounts directly to the Plan under section 16;

(o) exempting any class of accounts from the application of section 15 or any provision thereof;

(p) exempting any class of accounts from the application of section 16 or any provision thereof;

(q) Repealed: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (2).

(r) prescribing facilities that are health facilities for the purposes of this Act in addition to those referred to in the definition of “health facility” in section 1;

Note: On a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection (1) is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 1996, chapter 1, Schedule H, subsection 35 (3) by adding the following clauses:

(r.1) defining the following terms:

1. for the purposes of subsection 29.1 (2), defining “area”,

2. for the purposes of subsections 29.1 (2) and (4), defining “practice address”,

3. for the purposes of paragraph 6 of subsection 29.2 (2), defining “significant financial obligations”;

(r.2) governing the determination of which physicians from among those who meet the requirements under section 29.2 will become eligible physicians;

See: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, ss. 35 (3), 40.

(s) prescribing procedures for the enforcement of and recovery under rights to which the Plan is subrogated and without restricting the generality of the foregoing,

(i) requiring the insured person and his or her solicitor to act on behalf of the Plan in any action,

(ii) requiring such notices as are prescribed,

(iii) providing for the terms and conditions under which an action to enforce such rights may be begun, conducted and settled,

(iv) prescribing the portion of the costs of an insured person incurred in an action for the recovery of such rights that shall be borne by the Plan;

(t) assigning additional duties to the General Manager, the Medical Review Committee, practitioner review committees, the Medical Eligibility Committee and the Appeal Board;

(u) prescribing forms for the purposes of this Act and providing for their use;

(v) designating classes for the purpose of subsection 11 (3);

(w) prescribing persons for the purpose of subsection 11.1 (2);

(x) prescribing, for the purpose of clause 19.1 (3) (d), what constitutes an application for a provider number or its equivalent;

(x.1) governing the costs that may be recovered under section 36.0.1, including the determination of those costs, and the evidence that is admissible to prove those costs in an action under that section;

(y) prescribing persons for the purpose of subsections 43.1 (1) and (5);

(z) prescribing the co-payments for accommodation referred to in subsection 46 (2);

(z.1) prescribing anything that must or may be prescribed or that must or may be done in accordance with the regulations or as provided in the regulations. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 45 (1); 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (9); 1994, c. 17, s. 72 (1, 2); 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (1, 2, 4); 1999, c. 10, s. 2; 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (1, 2); 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (7).

Regulations

(1.1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a) prescribing, for the purpose of clause 19.1 (3) (g), classes of physicians that are eligible for the purpose of section 19.1;

(b) prescribing the classes of physicians that are not eligible under subsection 19.1 (4);

(c) prescribing, for the purpose of clause 19.1 (7) (b), the purposes for which the Minister may exempt a physician or a class of physicians from the application of subsection 19.1 (1);

(d) prescribing services that meet the requirements of clauses 36.1 (1) (a) and (b) as third party services, or prescribing them as third party services in specified circumstances, and specifying the circumstances;

(e) in relation to a specified third party service or in relation to a third party service provided in specified circumstances,

(i) prescribing another person or entity as a third party instead of or in addition to the person or entity who makes the request or requirement referred to in clause 36.1 (1) (a),

(ii) if more than one person or entity make the request or requirement referred to in clause 36.1 (1) (a), prescribing one or more of them as third parties and providing that the others are not third parties, or

(iii) providing that there is no third party;

(f) designating or establishing a body that shall have power to decide disputes about payment for third party services, including power to summon witnesses and require the production of documents and power to award costs and interest;

(g) governing the composition of the body referred to in clause (f), the qualifications, appointment, functions and remuneration of its members and their immunity from liability;

(h) prescribing the parties to a proceeding before the body referred to in clause (f) and the rules governing practice, procedure and evidence in a proceeding before the body, including prescribing whether or not the body is required to hold a hearing;

(i) prescribing the duties and powers of the body referred to in clause (f) in relation to making decisions and orders;

(j) providing that a court or body acting under subsection 36.3 (4) shall consider other matters in addition to or instead of the guidelines and schedules of fees referred to in subsections 36.3 (5) and (6), and specifying those other matters. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (10); 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (5, 6).

Classes

(1.2) A regulation may create different classes of persons, facilities, accounts, fees payable or payments and may establish different entitlements for or relating to each class or impose different requirements, conditions or restrictions on or relating to each class. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (7).

Adoption of schedules of fees

(2) A regulation may adopt by reference in whole or in part, with such changes as the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary, the fees in any schedule of fees as prescribed amounts payable in whole or in part, by the Plan. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 45 (2).

Ministerial order

(2.1) Upon the advice of the General Manager, and where the Minister considers it to be in the public interest to do so, the Minister may make an order amending a schedule of fees or benefits that has been adopted in a regulation in any manner the Minister considers appropriate for the purposes of the regulation. 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

Duration

(2.2) An order made under subsection (2.1) remains in force until the earliest of the following events occurs:

1. The order is cancelled by an order made under subsection (2.3).

2. A regulation is made adopting a schedule of fees or benefits or an amendment to the schedule of fees or benefits in which essentially the same subject-matter is addressed.

3. Twelve months have elapsed from the making of the order. 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

Cancellation

(2.3) Upon the advice of the General Manager, and where the Minister considers it to be in the public interest to do so, the Minister may make an order cancelling an order under subsection (2.1). 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

Not a regulation

(2.4) An order made under subsection (2.1) or (2.3) is not a regulation for the purposes of the Regulations Act, but has the same effect as if the schedule of fees or benefits as amended by the order had been adopted by regulation. 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

Note: Effective October 19, 2007 or on an earlier day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor, subsection (2.4) is amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 2006, chapter 21, Schedule F, subsection 136 (1) by striking out “the Regulations Act” and substituting “Part III (Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006. See: 2006, c. 21, Sched. F, ss. 136 (1), 143 (1).

Publication

(2.5) The Minister shall publish an order made under subsection (2.1) or (2.3) in The Ontario Gazette, and in any other manner the Minister considers appropriate, and the order is effective from the publication date of the issue of the Gazette in which publication is made, unless paragraph 2 or 3 of subsection (2.2) applies first. 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

Variation

(2.6) An amendment made by an order under subsection (2.1) may be varied at any time by regulation. 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

Restriction

(2.7) An order under subsection (2.1) may not be made more than once with respect to essentially the same subject-matter. 2004, c. 5, s. 43 (3).

When regulation may be effective

(3) A regulation is, if it so provides, effective with reference to a period before it is filed. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 45 (3).

Exemptions

(3.1) A regulation may exempt a class of persons or facilities from the application of a specified provision of the Act or regulations. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (8).

Insured services

(3.2) Without limiting the generality of clause (1) (e), a regulation made under it may provide the following:

1. Which services rendered in or by hospitals and health facilities are insured services.

2. Which constituent elements form part of an insured service rendered by physicians or practitioners.

3. Which constituent elements shall be deemed not to form part of an insured service rendered by a physician or practitioner. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (8).

Restriction

(3.3) A regulation made under clause (1) (e) or (g) shall not include a provision that would disqualify the Province of Ontario, under the Canada Health Act, for contribution by the Government of Canada because the Plan would no longer satisfy the criteria under that Act. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (8).

Services designated without prescribing amounts payable

(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations under clause (1) (e) prescribing services that are insured services without prescribing any amounts payable by the Plan for those services. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 45 (4).

Fees related to independent health facilities

(5) A regulation may prescribe an amount payable by the Plan for an insured service rendered in a hospital that has been approved under the Public Hospitals Act without prescribing an amount payable if the service is rendered in a health facility operated by a person to whom subsection 7 (7) of the Independent Health Facilities Act applies. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 45 (5).

Circumstances

(6) A regulation made under clause (1) (l) may specify the circumstances in which it applies and may establish different entitlements or impose different requirements, conditions or restrictions in the specified circumstances. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (9).

(7) Repealed: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (9).

(8) Repealed: 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 35 (10).

No appeal

45.1 (1) Every decision by a body designated or established under clause 45 (1.1) (f) respecting a dispute about payment for third party services shall be final and binding and shall not be subject to appeal. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (11).

Enforcement of decision

(2) The body designated or established under clause 45 (1.1) (f) or a party to a proceeding before the body may file a copy of the decision or order of the body, excluding the reasons, in the Superior Court of Justice or, if the amount ordered to be paid does not exceed the monetary jurisdiction of the Small Claims Court, in the Small Claims Court and, when so filed, the decision or order may be enforced as an order of the court in which it is filed. 1993, c. 32, s. 2 (11); 2006, c. 19, Sched. C, s. 1 (1).

Mental Illness

Mental illness

Definition

46. (1) In this section,

“hospital” means a hospital established or approved under the Community Psychiatric Hospitals Act, a psychiatric facility under the Mental Health Act, or an institution designated as an approved home under the Mental Hospitals Act. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 46 (1).

Insured person entitled

(2) An insured person who is entitled to insured services under this Act and the regulations and who is admitted to a hospital under this section is entitled to such services as are required for the person’s maintenance, care, diagnosis and treatment in accordance with this Act and the regulations without being required to pay or have paid on his or her behalf any premium or other charge other than a co-payment for accommodation prescribed in the regulations. 1994, c. 17, s. 73.

Exceptions

(3) Despite subsection (2), an insured person in respect of whom, but for this Act, the Government of Canada would have assumed the cost of the maintenance, care, diagnosis and treatment provided under this section is not entitled to receive insured services in a hospital as an insured person.

Accounts

(4) The General Manager shall keep the accounts, if any, of insured persons who receive hospital services under this section separate from the accounts of patients who receive insured services under the Plan.

Subrogation

(5) Where, as the result of negligence or other wrongful act or omission of another, an insured person suffers personal injuries for which he or she receives services under this section, the Plan is subrogated to any right of the insured person to recover the cost incurred for such services, past or future, and the provisions of this Act and the regulations applying to subrogation of the Plan for the cost of insured services apply with necessary modifications to subrogation of the Plan for the cost of services under this section. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.6, s. 46 (3-5).