Health Minister Krista Lynn Howell, Premier John Hogan, President of the NL Nurse Practitioners Association, Jessica Peddle (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
The province is introducing a pilot project allowing nurse practitioners who run their own clinics to bill MCP for services provided.
It’s hoped that the pilot will help patients gain greater access to primary health care, and is something that the Registered Nurses Union has been calling for for some time.
Under the pilot, nurse practitioners will be considered as private contractors, and will receive remuneration equivalent to public sector nurse practitioners. They’ll also receive additional funding to offset business costs, including equipment, clinic space, supplies and administrative support for 1,950 hours of services per year. Most of those hours, (1,660) must involve direct patient care.
The nurse practitioners will be tied to a family care team. President of the NL Nurse Practitioners Association, Jessica Peddle, expects nearly half the existing clinics will sign up to participate in the pilot project.
“What this funding model will do is provide more access to patients across the province that may not be able to have a primary health care provider. So now they have one in their community, and they don’t have to drive hours to see one.”
There is no word on when the pilot project will begin, but it’s expected to last nearly one year.
Opposition health critic Barry Petten says the program doesn’t go far enough. He says residents should be able to see all nurse practitioners for free, something he says a PC government would ensure.