News

Dear members, Thank you for such a warm welcome! I am honoured to join the great team at the OCFP and to continue to support the tremendous work of family physicians across the province. You are th...

The Ontario College of Family Physicians welcomes today’s announcement by the Government of Ontario to further tighten public health measures in the face of the current pandemic. Ongoing attent...

The OCFP has compiled information and resources to assist you in your screening and infection prevention/control activities for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Among the resources is our infographic ...

On June 25, the Ontario Premier's Council released its Second Report on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine, A Healthy Ontario: Building a Sustainable Health Care System, with recommenda...

You have likely heard about Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) and may be wondering if you should get involved.

Evidence highly suggests that successful reforms need to be anchored in a robust primary care sector, and led by family physicians. The OCFP has provided a written submission to the Legislative Assem...

With the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada exploring the possibility of national licensure, the OCFP has reached out to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) -...

Includes new working groups to address pressing issues Following the conclusion of the first phase of the arbitration process between the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Ministry of Health ...

Ontario's Highway Traffic Act, section 203(1), and Ontario Regulation 340/94 Starting July 1, 2018, physicians have been required to report every person 16 years and older who, in the physician's opi...

Members have asked the OCFP to increase our advocacy efforts to further champion the role of family physicians in healthcare and lead much-needed health system changes - and for good reason. It is we...

Tax changes for physicians with incorporated practices On November 15, 2018, the government presented its 2018 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (fall economic statement). Of note, Ontario h...

Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 On October 23, 2018, the Ontario government introduced Bill 47, Making Ontario Open for Business Act, which is now law as of November 21, 2018. Wha...

Effective Nov. 1, 2018, the Government of Canada will implement new reporting requirements for physicians, nurse practitioners and pharmacists around medical assistance in dying (MAID) requests. Unde...

Family medicine is the bedrock of great health systems. And family physicians are the trusted entry point for patients to get the care they need. Without family doctors, the system will not function....

Following the rollout of OHIP+ on January 1, a drug coverage transition strategy was implemented, where insurers have assisted with coverage for some drugs that may otherwise be considered under the ...

No July 1 implementation required by family physicians Implementation of proposed changes to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) and regulations are on hold. The changes would have required ...

After working closely with the CFPC, and hearing from many family physicians, the CPSO is amending its document: Expectations of Physicians Not Certified in Emergency Medicine Intending to Include Em...

Family physicians play a critical role in protecting individual health and the health of their communities. Together you and your staff and teams work hard to help patients, especially children, to a...

In April 2018, the OCFP and CFPC published a Letter to Members about the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) document: Expectations of Physicians Not Certified in Emergency Medicine ...

OCFP/CFPC Letter to Members: CPSO's Guidance for Emergency Medicine in Rural Practice - April 24, 2018 Members have expressed concerns about the recently released College of Physicians and Surgeons o...

Under OHIP+ Children and Youth Pharmacare, OHIP-insured children and youth aged 24 years and under in Ontario will be able to get their prescription medications at no cost when they visit an Ontario ...

The OCFP's 2017 Members' Forum focused on supports for family physicians in Managing Pain and Addressing Opioids. Taking place in Toronto on Nov. 24, the event featured a panel of leading experts fro...

Effective January 1, 2018, children and youth in Ontario will be able to get their prescription medications for free. Coverage will be automatic, with no upfront costs. Here are answers to some commo...

The OCFP is disheartened that the framework for Patients First implementation is now law through the passage of Bill 41, Patients First Act, 2016 when there is a deep and growing impasse between the ...

Please note, the following does not represent a legal opinion about Bill 41, but is an initial internal analysis of the reintroduced bill. The Patients First Act, 2016, Bill 41 (formerly Bill 210),...

"As health advocates, family physicians responsibly use their expertise and influence to advance the health and well-being of individual patients, communities, and populations." - CanMEDS FM Family p...

Ontario Government Throne Speech Commits to Re-Introducing Legislation for Primary Care Transformation Premier Kathleen Wynne delivered a Speech from the Throne on Monday, September 12 entitled "A Ba...

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) have reached a tentative four-year Physician Services Agreement (PSA). The Ontario College of Family Physician...

Physicians and nurse practitioners are legally permitted to assist in the death of a competent and consenting adult with a grievous and irremediable medical condition who is suffering intolerably and...

On June 6, 2016, the Carter v. Canada (Attorney General) decision comes into full effect, which means physicians are legally permitted to assist in the death of a competent and consenting adult with ...

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care launched the next phase of Patients First, with a proposal to strengthen health care in the province. The paper, Patients First: A Pr...

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care released Patients First: A Proposal to Strengthen Patient-Centred Health Care in Ontario describing the need to improve several aspec...

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Ontario College of Family Physicians welcomed Deputy Minister Dr. Bob Bell, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), to an Ontario Members' Forum. This year's Forum, he...

The New Graduate Entry Program was launched by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) on October 23 through an INFOBulletin, and is receiving swift and vocal feedback from family physicia...

Family physicians are angry, confused and discouraged. Sadly, many of our colleagues are stepping away from their leadership roles and others are disengaging. This does not bode well for any primary ...

It is fair to say there is a lot of discussion about what is going on in primary care - the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's plans for ongoing transformation, in addition to fee cuts. While we...

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced additional funding cuts to physician services payments and new fee code changes. The OCFP understands that this is both concerning and frus...

On Aug. 14, 2015, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced a new provincial/territorial expert advisory panel on physician-assisted dying. The OCFP certainly welcomes ongoing discu...

There is no shortage of people knocking on the family physician's door with asks, things that we need to change, new ways to practice or treat our patients. Working in primary care with a variety of ...

Children and youth covered by private insurance to bill those plans first On June 30, Christine Elliott - Ontario's new Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) - announced changes to OHIP+. Ch...

On June 10, Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins announced enhanced privacy measures to protect patient information. The bill will be tabled in the fall and if it should pass, will mean that breaches in ...

A few weeks ago, a long-time patient of mine died. We will call her Barbara. About two weeks before her passing I received an email from her daughters asking for help in navigating care choices on b...

Primary care is an important foundation of the health system and there has been significant work to support quality improvement initiatives. During consultations that took place from September 2014 t...