BILL NO. 99
(as introduced)
3rd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021
Private Member's Bill
Access for Everyone Act
Tim Houston
Pictou East
First Reading: April 8, 2021
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Ensure Universal Access
to Health-care Advice
1 This Act may be cited as the Access for Everyone Act.
2 In this Act,(a) "program" means the virtual primary-health program established under Section 3;
(b) "Minister" means the Minister of Health and Wellness.3 (1) The Minister shall establish a virtual primary-health program.
(2) Any person in the Province who is on a waitlist for a primary health-care provider is entitled to be enrolled in the program.
(3) Subject to Section 6, the program must(a) permit persons enrolled in the program to consult with a primary health-care provider over telephone, voice chat or video chat respecting their primary health needs;
(b) allow for consultations, referrals and follow-up care as appropriate; and
(c) provide additional care as prescribed by the regulations.4 For greater certainty, enrollment in the virtual primary-health program does not affect a person's place on any waitlist for a primary health-care provider.
5 (1) The Minister may make regulations(a) respecting the process for enrollment in the program;
(b) prescribing additional care that may be provided under the program, including allowing for the issuance of prescriptions through the program;
(c) defining any word or expression used but not defined in this Act;
(d) for any purpose the Minister considers necessary or advisable to carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.
(2) The exercise by the Minister of the power contained in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
(3) The Minister shall consult Doctors Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia College of Nursing before making any regulations under this Section.
6 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created April 8, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
