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OntarioPassed43rd Parliament, 1st Session

Bill 60 explained in plain English

Your Health Act, 2023

Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature
Legislature / Parliament
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Session
43rd Parliament, 1st Session
Bill number
Bill 60
Full title
Your Health Act, 2023
Current status
Passed
Latest event
Royal Assent received
Last updated
May 18, 2023

Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.

Chamber
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Current Stage
Royal Assent received
Latest Activity
May 18, 2023
Plain-language explanation
In plain English (our explanation)

Our plain-language take, written for civic education.

Source: By PoliticalData.ca

AI-assisted, reviewed before publishing
Short Version

Bill 60 creates a new licensing system for integrated community health services centres in Ontario, replaces the old Independent Health Facilities Act, expands the scope of practice for some health professionals, and amends freedom of information rules for certain government data units.

What It Means

Bill 60, the Your Health Act, 2023, makes significant changes to Ontario's health care system. It creates a new law called the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023, which replaces the old Independent Health Facilities Act. This new law sets up a licensing system for integrated community health services centres (which are places like community surgical and diagnostic centres where people receive health services). The bill establishes rules about how these centres can operate, who can run them, what services they can provide, and how they get paid by the government. It also makes changes to several other health-related laws to expand the roles of nurses, pharmacists, and other health professionals, and allows the government to create new rules about who can work as a "physician" or perform other regulated health duties. Additionally, the bill changes freedom of information rules to apply to certain government data units.

What This Bill Does
  • Creates the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023, which establishes a licensing system for integrated community health services centres operated by private or non-profit operators
  • Requires anyone who wants to establish or operate an integrated community health services centre to obtain a license from a Director appointed by the Minister of Health
  • Sets out rules for the Director to issue, renew, transfer, relocate, suspend, or revoke licenses, and allows the Minister to direct the Director on licensing decisions
  • Establishes requirements that licensees must follow, including complying with quality and safety standards, handling patient complaints, reporting incidents, and maintaining truthful records
  • Sets out rules for how the Minister pays for the operation of integrated community health services centres and prohibits charging patients for services covered by public insurance
  • Establishes an inspection system with inspectors and inspecting bodies (such as health organizations) that can inspect centres, issue compliance orders, and establish quality standards
  • Creates processes for patients or licensees to request hearings before the Health Services Appeal and Review Board to challenge certain decisions
  • Repeals the Independent Health Facilities Act and the Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017
  • Makes changes to multiple other health-related laws to allow persons prescribed by regulation to meet definitions of 'physician', 'registered nurse', and other regulated health professions
  • Allows the Minister of Health to make regulations to exempt people from some professional title restrictions (such as the title 'physician')
  • Expands the scope of practice for pharmacists to include assessing conditions for medication therapies
  • Changes freedom of information rules to apply to certain extra-ministerial data integration units
Who Is Affected
  • Operators of integrated community health services centres (private companies, non-profit organizations, or other entities) who must now obtain licenses and comply with the new Act
  • Patients receiving services at integrated community health services centres in Ontario
  • Health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory technologists, respiratory therapists, and medicine practitioners who may find their scope of practice expanded or who may be prescribed as 'physicians' or other professionals under regulations
  • The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) which pays for services at licensed integrated community health services centres
  • The Minister of Health and the Director of integrated community health services centres who have new powers and responsibilities
  • Inspecting bodies (such as health organizations) designated to inspect integrated community health services centres and set quality standards
  • Inspectors who conduct inspections of these centres
  • The Health Services Appeal and Review Board which hears appeals about licensing and payment decisions
  • Staff and employees at integrated community health services centres who must comply with quality and safety standards
  • Government data integration units that collect personal information, which now must comply with freedom of information rules
Rights, Duties, Or Obligations
  • Operators of integrated community health services centres must obtain a license from the Director and comply with all requirements of the Act
  • Licensees must comply with quality and safety standards established by inspecting bodies or prescribed in regulations
  • Licensees must establish and maintain processes for receiving and responding to patient complaints
  • Licensees must establish and maintain processes for reviewing incidents where patients are seriously harmed
  • Licensees must provide truthful, complete and accurate information in applications, reports, and documents
  • Licensees must maintain detailed records of services provided and facility costs charged
  • Licensees must post certain prescribed documents and information in a prominent place visible to the public
  • Licensees cannot use a license as security for any obligation
  • Licensees cannot charge or accept payments for providing patients with preferences in accessing services
  • Licensees cannot refuse to provide services to patients who choose not to pay for optional products or services
  • The Minister may refuse to pay for services that were not rendered, were not in accordance with requirements, or do not meet quality standards
  • The Minister may require reimbursement of payments made for services or may require reimbursement if a patient was not entitled to coverage
  • Interest accrues on amounts owed to the Minister at post-judgment interest rates
  • Patients have the right to request a hearing before the Health Services Appeal and Review Board to challenge payment refusals or reimbursement requirements
  • Licensees have the right to request a hearing before the Health Services Appeal and Review Board to challenge decisions to refuse, not renew, revoke, or suspend licenses
  • Health professionals may be exempt from restrictions on using professional titles if prescribed by regulation
  • Extra-ministerial data integration units must publish annual information about their requests for records and programs
Important Dates
  • The main Act (Your Health Act, 2023) came into force on the day it received Royal Assent (May 18, 2023)
  • Most of the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 (Schedule 1) came into force on the day the Your Health Act, 2023 received Royal Assent, but certain sections come into force on a day to be proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor
  • Some amendments in Schedule 2 (Regulated Professions Amendments) came into force on the day the Your Health Act, 2023 received Royal Assent, but sections 1 to 10, 12 and 13 come into force on a day to be proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor
  • Sections 1 to 5 of Schedule 3 (Freedom of Information amendments) come into force on a day to be proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor
Financial Or Tax Impacts
  • The Minister may pay facility costs or other operating costs of integrated community health services centres (the actual amount will be determined by regulations and government budgeting)
  • Licensees must pay fees established by inspecting bodies for inspections and other activities
  • Interest accrues on amounts licensees owe to the Minister at post-judgment interest rates under the Courts of Justice Act
  • The Ontario Health Insurance Plan may reimburse patients for facility costs charged in contravention of the Act and can recover the amounts through set-off
  • Regulations may prescribe what counts as a 'facility cost' (charges beyond the insured service itself)
Enforcement Or Penalties
  • The Director can refuse to issue or renew a license, revoke or suspend a license, amend license conditions, or refuse to approve license transfers
  • The Director can issue compliance orders requiring licensees to take specific actions or refrain from actions to achieve compliance
  • Inspectors can enter licensed facilities and other places to conduct inspections and examine records
  • Courts can issue orders to compel a justice to authorize entry for inspections if an inspector is prevented from entering
  • Any person who contravenes the Act is guilty of an offence
  • Individuals convicted of offences are liable to fines of up to $50,000 for a first offence or $100,000 for subsequent offences, and up to 12 months imprisonment (except for failure to comply with compliance orders)
  • Corporations convicted of offences are liable to fines of up to $100,000 for a first offence or $500,000 for subsequent offences
  • The Attorney General can seek a restraining order to prevent contraventions of licensing or payment rules
  • Courts can order compensation or restitution to persons who suffered losses due to offences
  • The Minister can set-off amounts owed by a licensee against payments the Minister owes to them
  • Decisions of the Board can be enforced through the courts as if they were court judgments
Uncertainties Or Limits
  • The exact details of what counts as a 'facility cost' and what services are covered will be set out in regulations that have not yet been made public
  • The specific quality and safety standards that licensed centres must comply with will be determined by inspecting bodies and may be prescribed in regulations
  • The identity of inspecting bodies (health organizations that will oversee quality standards and conduct inspections) is not specified in the bill but will be set by regulation
  • The specific regulations that will prescribe persons who can meet the definition of 'physician' or other regulated health professionals have not yet been made public
  • The process for the Minister to approve the exemption of persons from restricted title provisions has not been fully detailed
  • Some provisions of the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act are not in force yet and will only come into force when the Lieutenant Governor proclaims them
  • The bill does not specify how much money the government will allocate to pay for the operation of integrated community health services centres
  • Some provisions about regulated professions amendments are not yet in force and will only come into force on a proclamation date
  • The bill does not provide specific timelines for when certain transitional provisions will be fully implemented
Laws Or Regulations Affected
Independent Health Facilities Act
repealed

The old law that governed independent health facilities is completely removed and replaced by the new Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023

Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017
repealed

This law is removed from the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017

Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023
created

A new law is created to license and regulate community health services centres

Health Insurance Act
amended

Updated to define 'physician' to include prescribed persons (to be determined by regulation) and to add rules about integrated community health services centres

Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act
amended

Changed to allow x-ray machines to be operated under a prescription from a prescribed person (not just doctors)

Medical Laboratory Technology Act, 1991
amended

Allows the Minister to exempt people from rules about using restricted titles

Medicine Act, 1991
amended

Allows the Minister to exempt people from rules about using restricted titles

Nursing Act, 1991
amended

Allows the Minister to exempt people from rules about using restricted titles

Respiratory Therapy Act, 1991
amended

Allows the Minister to exempt people from rules about using restricted titles

Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act, 2010
amended

Updated to allow prescribed persons to dispense and prescribe drugs and exempts some prescribers from recording requirements

Pharmacy Act, 1991
amended

Expands what pharmacists can do to include assessing conditions for medication therapies

Public Hospitals Act
amended

Updated to define 'physician' to include prescribed persons and to reference integrated community health services centres

Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Connecting Care Act, 2019
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres and removes certain provisions about independent health facilities

Excellent Care for All Act, 2010
amended

Updated to include integrated community health services centres as health sector organizations

Health Protection and Promotion Act
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021
amended

Definitions of 'physician' and different classes of nurses are expanded to include prescribed persons

Gift of Life Act
amended

Definition of 'physician' is expanded to include prescribed persons

Ontario Medical Association Dues Act, 1991
amended

Changed to apply to prescribed persons engaged in the practice of medicine in Ontario

Private Hospitals Act
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Quality of Care Information Protection Act, 2016
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres

Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019
amended

Removes provisions related to independent health facilities

Protecting What Matters Most Act (Budget Measures), 2019
amended

Removes provisions related to independent health facilities

Providing More Care, Protecting Seniors, and Building More Beds Act, 2021
amended

Removes provisions related to independent health facilities

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Appeal and Review Boards Act, 1998
amended

Updated to reference the Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, 2023 for appeal and review purposes

Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, 2019
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, 2009
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
amended

Extended to apply to certain extra-ministerial data integration units that are not government institutions

Simpler, Faster, Better Services Act, 2019
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres

Social Contract Act, 1993
amended

Updated to refer to persons operating integrated community health services centres

Substitute Decisions Act, 1992
amended

Updated to refer to integrated community health services centres instead of independent health facilities

The People's Health Care Act, 2019
amended

Removes provisions related to independent health facilities

Economic and Fiscal Update Act, 2020
amended

Removes provisions related to data integration units

Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.

Official text

Process Snapshot

Step 1
First reading
Feb 21, 2023
Step 2
Second reading
Apr 5, 2023
Step 3
Committee review
Apr 5, 2023
Step 4
Third reading
May 8, 2023
Step 5
Royal assent
May 18, 2023

Vote Summary

Yes
68
No
34
Abstain
0
Absent / Other
0
Final recorded vote
May 8, 2023
102 representative positions are recorded in this official snapshot for this vote.
Sponsor
Sylvia Jones
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario | Dufferin—Caledon
Jurisdiction
Ontario Legislature

Representative Voting Breakdown

Vote badges include text labels so the table stays readable for everyone, even without color cues alone.

RepresentativeRoleRidingPartyVoteNotes
MPPBrampton WestProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWindsor—TecumsehProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEssexProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough—AgincourtProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—UnionvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPCambridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSimcoe—GreyProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPRichmond HillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPeterborough—KawarthaProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNewmarket—AuroraProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—MaltonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPCarletonIndependentYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton EastProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBarrie—InnisfilProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNorthumberland—Peterborough SouthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPFlamborough—GlanbrookProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBarrie—Springwater—Oro-MedonteProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEtobicoke NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOxfordProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSimcoe NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThunder Bay—AtikokanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEtobicoke CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHaliburton—Kawartha Lakes—BrockProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPVaughan—WoodbridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond HillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPYork CentreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton East—Stoney CreekProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—StreetsvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPStormont—Dundas—South GlengarryProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—StouffvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPickering—UxbridgeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrampton SouthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough NorthProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPElgin—Middlesex—LondonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara WestProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWillowdaleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOakvilleProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKing—VaughanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLeeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau LakesProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDufferin—CaledonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDurhamProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPChatham-Kent—LeamingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNipissingProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLanark—Frontenac—KingstonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPRenfrew—Nipissing—PembrokeProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga East—CooksvilleIndependentYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThornhillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNepeanProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMarkham—ThornhillProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWhitbyProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPPerth—WellingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPYork South—WestonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLambton—Kent—MiddlesexProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBurlingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMiltonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAjaxProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHastings—Lennox and AddingtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBruce—Grey—Owen SoundProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSarnia—LambtonProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPEglinton—LawrenceProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—LakeshoreProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMississauga—Erin MillsProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPGlengarry—Prescott—RussellProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBay of QuinteProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBrantford—BrantProgressive Conservative Party of OntarioYesRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDon Valley EastOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPParkdale—High ParkNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWaterlooNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa West—NepeanNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSpadina—Fort YorkNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPScarborough SouthwestNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNickel BeltNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPMushkegowuk—James BayNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSudburyNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPSt. CatharinesNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOshawaNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa SouthOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPTimiskaming—CochraneNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPWindsor WestNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPThunder Bay—Superior NorthNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOttawa—VanierOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDavenportNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPBeaches—East YorkOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPAlgoma—ManitoulinIndependentNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPGuelphGreen Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton MountainNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon WestNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPToronto—DanforthNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHamilton West—Ancaster—DundasNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPKiiwetinoongNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPDon Valley WestOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPOrléansOntario Liberal PartyNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon North CentreNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPLondon—FanshaweNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPHumber River—Black CreekNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.
MPPNiagara FallsNew Democratic Party of OntarioNoRecorded without an additional note.

Official sources

Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.

How this data is sourced