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