Item - 2011.HL2.2

Tracking Status

This item was considered by Board of Health on March 1, 2011 and was adopted with amendments.

HL2.2 - OHIP Coverage for New Immigrants with Tuberculosis

Decision Type:: Information

Status:: Amended

Wards:: All

Board Decision

The Board of Health:

1. Reaffirmed to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care its support for the elimination of the three month waiting period for OHIP coverage for immigrants to Ontario, to enable timely diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases including tuberculosis which pose a risk to the population of Ontario.

2. Forwarded the report (February 10, 2011) from the Medical Officer of Health to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and the Minister of Finance.

Origin

(February 10, 2011) Report from the Medical Officer of Health

Summary

This report provides an update regarding the impact of the three month wait period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage for new landed immigrants, and the resultant potential risks to the community posed by this policy.

This report also serves to inform the Board of Health of a recent submission by Toronto Public Health to the Province of Ontario's 2011 pre-budget consultations urging the abolition of the current OHIP wait period for newly arrived landed immigrants. The submission to the Province of Ontario, while supporting a full removal of the wait period, focussed strongly on communicable diseases of public health importance such as Tuberculosis (TB).

Background Information

(February 10, 2011) Report from the Medical Officer of Health on OHIP Coverage for New Immigrants with Tuberculosis
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-35983.pdf
(February 1, 2011) Attachment 1: Letter submitted by the Toronto Medical Officer of Health to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-35984.pdf
(January 31, 2011) Attachment 2: Letter of support from the Medical Officer of Health, Region of Peel
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-35985.pdf
(January 31, 2011) Attachment 3: Letter of support from the Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public Health
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-35986.pdf
(January 28, 2011) Attachment 4: Letter of support from the Right to Healthcare Coalition
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-35987.pdf
(January 31, 2011) Attachment 5: Letter of support from the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-35988.pdf

Communications

(March 1, 2011) Submission from Thuy Tran, Health Promoter, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, titled "A Business Case for Eliminating the Three-Month Wait for OHIP (HL.New.HL2.2.1)

Speakers

Thuy Tran, Health Promoter, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services

Motions

Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor John Filion (Carried)

That the Board of Health:

1. reaffirm to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care its support for the elimination of the three month waiting period for OHIP coverage for immigrants to Ontario, to enable timely diagnosis and treatment of communicable diseases including tuberculosis which pose a risk to the population of Ontario.

2. forward this report to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and the Minister of Finance.