Bill 13 explained in plain English

Ontario Bill 13 creates a new advisory committee to make recommendations for improving the Northern Health Travel Grant program.

Bill 13 enacts the Northern Health Travel Grant Advisory Committee Act, 2022 in Ontario. The bill requires the Minister of Health to establish a new advisory committee within 60 days of the Act receiving Royal Assent. The committee's job is to make recommendations on how to improve access to health services for people in Northern Ontario by improving the way travel costs are reimbursed. The committee must include recipients of Northern Health Travel Grants and health care providers working in Northern Ontario. The Minister must make reasonable efforts to ensure the committee includes women, Indigenous people, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities, seniors, and persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The committee is required to examine specific issues with the current program, including reimbursement rates, customer service, claim assessment timelines, types of health services covered, pre-payment options, direct payments to providers, travel companion expenses, expense verification processes, and policy reviews. The committee must consult with a wide range of stakeholders, including community health centres, the Ontario Medical Association, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and various health agencies. The committee must report its recommendations to the Minister within six months of being established. Within 90 days of receiving the committee's report, the Minister must inform the Provincial Assembly which recommendations they will implement. The Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.