Jones is asking Ottawa to close a gap that has led to increased pay for care clinicians

Ontario's health minister is asking her federal counterpart to help close a loophole she says has led to a “disturbing” increase in clinics charging to access primary care.

In a letter sent to Mark Holland on Monday, Sylvia Jones called for a ban on non-doctors charging for publicly funded health services.

Canada's federal Health Act (CHA) determines which health services are funded at the provincial level. But Jones says the act doesn't clarify what is or isn't allowed when it comes to services provided by non-physicians, including nurses.

“The lack of a ban has created a loophole that some health care providers and their clinics are taking advantage of, knowing there are no legal consequences or risk of closure,” Jones writes.

While Ontario directly funds more than two dozen nurse-led clinics, others outside OHIP coverage have sprung up in cities including Toronto and Ottawa that charge hundreds of dollars in annual membership fees to access care.

Jones writes that allowing the practice to continue would “undermine” the multimillion-dollar investment in expanding access to primary care.

Opposition parties in Queen's Park have argued that the province can eliminate the clinic charge without help from Ottawa.

Jones believes a national solution is needed to prevent non-physician health care providers from moving to a province other than Ontario.

In a statement sent to CTV News Toronto, a spokesperson for MP Mark Holland said he will soon issue a Canada Health Act Clarification Letter to explain the modernization and improvement of the Canada Health Act. This includes virtual care, telemedicine, and expanding the expertise of healthcare workers such as nurses.

“This will help ensure that Canadians can get these services without having to pay out-of-pocket, regardless of where they live or how they get the care they need,” the statement said. “We worked closely with the provinces and territories in developing this letter.”