Timely Access to Care Through the Patient’s Medical Home

Action 1.1: Standardizing the PMH vision across Canada and supporting reforms through a primary health care transition fund
The Conservative Party has committed to maintaining the 3 per cent annual growth of the Canada Health Transfer and the Canada Social Transfer. It has indicated that it would support provinces choosing to use federal transfer money to invest in innovative solutions for improving the health care system, such as through implementing the PMH. However, the party has not said that it would dedicate specific funds for primary health care transition, nor would it take on a leadership role in this area.
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Action 1.2: Adopting the PMH vision in all areas of federal health care delivery
The Conservative Party is open to considering innovative ways to improve health outcomes of the populations for which the federal government is responsible for health care delivery, including using the PMH vision. However, the party has not indicated a plan or funding commitment for adopting the PMH vision, resulting in a yellow grade in this area.
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Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care

Action 2.1: Integrating accessible mental health services as part of primary care practices
The Conservative Party has indicated that it would support provinces choosing to use federal transfer money to invest in innovative solutions for improving the health care system, such as through implementing a collaborative care model. However, the party is not taking a leadership role in allocating specific funds to support the co-location of mental health care workers in primary care settings.
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Action 2.2: Supporting and adopting the principle of mental health parity through a mental health parity act
The Conservative Party has expressed support for treating mental health as a critical priority and has committed to maintaining mental health funding transfers. However, the party maintains the position that health care is a local issue that differs from one region to another. As such it will leave the provinces to allocate health funds according to their needs. The Conservative Party has earned a red grade here for its lack of commitment to introducing a mental health parity act.
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Universal National Pharmacare

Action 3.1: Introducing a universal, single-payer, national pharmacare program
The Conservative Party has dismissed the recommendations of the federal Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. Preference has been given to alternative patchwork approaches such as filling gaps in coverage for people without access to provincial or employer-sponsored plans. This approach would not ensure consistent access across the country and would not achieve the same benefits as having the federal government act as a strong, central negotiating power to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
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Timely Access to Care Through the Patient’s Medical Home

Action 1.1: Standardizing the PMH vision across Canada and supporting reforms through a primary health care transition fund
The Green Party supports the concepts of timely access and comprehensive, patient-centred care embedded in the Patient’s Medical Home (PMH). It has stated it supports using federal funding to assist in systemic reform to help primary care teams transition to the PMH style of practice. However, no specific details or financial pledges have been put forward thus far outlining a concrete plan.
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Action 1.2: Adopting the PMH vision in all areas of federal health care delivery
The Green Party has expressed that the federal government should do more to ensure all populations have equal access to care and has the opportunity to demonstrate best practices in areas of federal health care delivery. While the Green Party supports adopting the PMH vision in all areas of federal health delivery, there is no defined framework in place for directing federal agencies to undertake necessary health care delivery reforms.
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Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care

Action 2.1: Integrating accessible mental health services as part of primary care practices
The Green Party has expressed support for the inclusion of mental health professionals in primary care practices. The party has said it plans to make funding available to assist with integrating mental health professionals into primary care interprofessional teams to provide adequate care to those in need. However, at this point no specific funding commitments to enable this change have been announced.
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Action 2.2: Supporting and adopting the principle of mental health parity through a mental health parity act
The Green Party has stated that access to mental health services is a crucial factor in addressing the social justice and equality challenges facing Canadians. It has stated its support for the adoption of a mental health parity act. The party has also said that it intends to direct Health Canada to better orient its mandate to address mental health and addiction issues. It also said that if it were to form the next government it would establish a cabinet post in charge of mental health and addiction.
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Universal National Pharmacare

Action 3.1: Introducing a universal, single-payer, national pharmacare program
The Green Party was the first party to call for a universal pharmacare system in Canada. It remains committed to this goal and has stated that universal, national pharmacare is the best way to support Canadians’ medication needs while also reducing the cost of medications. The party supports the recommendations made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health and supported by Parliamentary Budget Officer review to expand the Canada Health Act to include prescription drug coverage in this manner. The party also agrees with the recommendations of the final report by the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare calling for the establishment of a $15 billion universal, single-payer public pharmacare system in Canada.
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Timely Access to Care Through the Patient’s Medical Home

Action 1.1: Standardizing the PMH vision across Canada and supporting reforms through a primary health care transition fund
From 2000 to 2007 the Primary Health Care Transition Fund (PHCTF), initiated under the Liberal government of Jean Chrétien, contributed $800 million to support various initiatives such as collaborative team development, chronic disease management, information technology development (including telehealth and electronic medical records), and enhanced access hours up to 24/7. At this time the Liberal Party has not offered any support for a renewal of the PHCTF, however, recent announcements contained commitment to improve access to family physicians, specifically through interprofessional team approach.
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Action 1.2: Adopting the PMH vision in all areas of federal health care delivery
During the Liberals’ most recent term in office (2015–2019) some federal agencies such as the Canadian Armed Forces and the Correctional Service of Canada have enhanced the integrated delivery of health care services for populations in their care. However, no specific commitments to strengthening primary care delivery have been made as part of the current campaign.
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Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care

Action 2.1: Integrating accessible mental health services as part of primary care practices
In August 2017 the Liberal government signed a series of bilateral agreements with provinces and territories based on a Common Statement of Principles on Shared Health Priorities. Among those priorities is a clear commitment to improve access to mental health and addiction services. Budget 2017 confirmed an investment of $5 billion over 10 years in this area. More information is needed on how the Liberal Party supports the integration of mental health services as part of primary care, specifically on how improvements enabled by this investment will be measured. The Liberal Party platform suggests further work to set “clear national standards for access to mental health services” is a priority.
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Action 2.2: Supporting and adopting the principle of mental health parity through a mental health parity act
The Liberal Party supports the inclusion of mental health services within medicare and the Canada Health Act. The party also supports the establishment of a universal system of effective mental health programs and services as a component of Canada’s health care system. However, no specifics have been made available thus far about the adoption of a mental health parity act.
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Universal National Pharmacare

Action 3.1: Introducing a universal, single-payer, national pharmacare program
The Liberal Party has formed and enabled the work of the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare. The Liberal Party’s health platform has included specific steps that will build a foundation for the eventual establishment of a national, universal pharmacare system. Greater clarity on how these steps and the eventual system will be funded is useful.
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Timely Access to Care Through the Patient’s Medical Home

Action 1.1: Standardizing the PMH vision across Canada and supporting reforms through a primary health care transition fund
The NDP has expressed support for a PMH-style interprofessional approach to health care delivery. It has committed to working with provinces, territories, and stakeholders to determine how to reach this goal but has not yet set out any plans or funding commitments.
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Action 1.2: Adopting the PMH vision in all areas of federal health care delivery
The NDP has committed to adopting the PMH vision for federal health care delivery. The NDP commits to working with Health Canada to adopt the PMH principles in health care delivery for groups under federal jurisdiction including veterans, Canadian Forces personnel, inmates, and First Nations and Inuit communities.
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Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care

Action 2.1: Integrating accessible mental health services as part of primary care practices
The NDP has committed to reinvesting in the health care system and working with provinces, territories, and stakeholders to include mental health care as part of a head-to-toe approach to health. It has expressed a commitment to ensuring that Canadians can access the mental health services they need without worrying about out-of-pocket costs. At this time, the NDP has not put forward a timeline for implementation or a specific funding commitment for this work.
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Action 2.2: Supporting and adopting the principle of mental health parity through a mental health parity act
Although the NDP has committed to including mental health care as part of regular medicare coverage, it falls short of committing to implementing a mental health parity act that would protect the principle through legislation.
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Universal National Pharmacare

Action 3.1: Introducing a universal, single-payer, national pharmacare program
The NDP has committed to implementing a universal, single-payer pharmacare system by late 2020 with an annual investment of $10 billion. This investment would support a comprehensive, evidence-based national formulary that would be administered by an independent public agency. Vocal support for universal, national, and public pharmacare has been a long-standing position of the NDP.
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