Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed additional Master’s level education to expand their scope of practice. They are trained to assess and diagnose health conditions, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe medications.

Nurse practitioners are licensed and regulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Their scope of practice is similar to that of a family physician, allowing them to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care.

For more information: https://npao.org/what-is-a-nurse-practitioner/

Nurse practitioners currently do not have a dedicated remuneration model through the provincial government and are therefore unable to bill OHIP for their services. As a result, like our colleagues in naturopathy, physiotherapy, dentistry, and optometry, we must charge patients directly for care.

This may change in spring 2026, following a recent announcement by the federal government regarding proposed updates to the interpretation of the Canada Health Act. However, how these changes will be implemented in Ontario has not yet been communicated.

Some physicians may ask that their patients avoid accessing care from providers outside their clinic. This is often for reasons related to continuity of care and billing arrangements.

However, because I am not funded through OHIP and operate on a private-pay basis, you are free to access my services without affecting your relationship with your family doctor.

With your consent, I am happy to send a summary of your visit to your primary care provider to help ensure continuity of care.

Many health insurance plans do cover nurse practitioner services however it depends and varies with every insurance provider.