Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick Call for Provincial Action Following Federal Health Policy Clarification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2026

Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick Call for Provincial Action Following Federal Health Policy Clarification

Today marks an important step forward for equitable access to healthcare in Canada. As of April 1, 2026, the federal government is reinforcing the application of the Canada Health Act to ensure that patients are not charged for medically necessary services — regardless of whether those services are provided by a physician or another qualified healthcare professional.

This clarification recognizes the evolving role of nurse practitioners and other regulated providers who are delivering physician-equivalent care across the country.

What this means:

• No patient charges for medically necessary care: Patients should not be required to pay for services that would be publicly insured if provided by a physician.

• Support for team-based care: Nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other regulated professionals play a critical role in improving access to care.

• A more equitable system: Access to necessary care should be based on need — not on the ability or willingness to pay.

In New Brunswick, this federal policy creates a clear expectation: provincial health systems must ensure that medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners are publicly covered when those same services are insured if delivered by a physician.

This represents a significant opportunity to improve access to care, reduce barriers, and better utilize the full scope of nurse practitioners within the healthcare system.

Nurse practitioners are already providing high-quality, accessible care to patients across New Brunswick. This policy reinforces that patients should not face financial barriers when accessing that care. We now need provincial action to ensure this is reflected in practice.

The Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick call on the Government of New Brunswick to act swiftly to align with this federal direction and ensure patients can access care without out-of-pocket costs.

New Brunswickers are encouraged to contact their elected officials and advocate for their right to accessible, publicly funded healthcare.

Press Release October 10 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 10, 2024

Modernizing New Brunswick’s Healthcare: Empowering Nurse Practitioners to Bridge the Primary Care Gap

Fredericton, NB – With approximately 180,000 New Brunswickers currently lacking a primary care provider, the time has come to modernize our healthcare system. Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick are calling for a transformative approach that will enable nurse practitioners (NPs) to launch their own or join other publicly funded team-based primary care clinics, ensuring timely and comprehensive healthcare access for all residents.

“We have more than two hundred nurse practitioners in the province, and that number is growing.” Chantal Ricard, Nurse Practitioner and President of Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick. “If allowed to practice to our full scope of expertise in publicly funded team-based primary care clinics, we can ensure all New Brunswickers have access to primary care.”

Nurse practitioners are experienced registered nurses with graduate-level education in advanced clinical practice in primary care. They often earn additional certifications and advanced degrees.

Nurse practitioners evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, refer patients to specialists, and oversee comprehensive care. They provide a wide range of services within their scope of practice, training, and expertise, ensuring all aspects of a patient's health are addressed.

“British Columbia and Alberta have successfully implemented a model that allows nurse practitioners to lead primary care clinics or join existing team-based settings,” says Ricard. “Nurse practitioners in Alberta are paid directly by the province at a set salary and, in some cases, receive initial funding to establish their clinics. A similar model can be applied in New Brunswick to expand access to primary care, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient satisfaction.”

Benefits for New Brunswickers

• Expanded Access: More primary care options, especially in underserved areas.

• Cost Efficiency: Lower overall healthcare expenditures due to timely preventative care and chronic disease management.

• System Relief: Reduced burden on emergency rooms and shorter wait times.

• Professional Satisfaction: More attractive working conditions for NPs, leading to better job satisfaction and improved retention.

• Patient Satisfaction: Quicker access to healthcare fosters stronger relationships with providers and enhances the overall patient experience.

“We recognize it’s not a one-size-fits-all model that will address all the growing healthcare strains,” adds Ricard. “Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick are eager to collaborate with provincial politicians, departments, and health authorities and the medical community to modernize our primary healthcare system. It is time we all come together to make our healthcare system better for everyone—New Brunswickers and healthcare professionals. Let’s ensure all New Brunswickers have access to primary care in 2026.”

Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick have reached out to all the provincial party leaders for meetings to discuss the next steps to modernize primary care and how to empower nurse practitioners to transform health care.

Contact:

Sharon Hamilton, President-Elect, Nurse Practitioners of NB, 506-440-0243, npnbexecutiveoffice@gmail.com

About Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick

Nurse Practitioners of New Brunswick is dedicated to advancing the role of nurse practitioners in the healthcare system, ensuring that all residents have access to high-quality, comprehensive primary care.

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