BILL NO. 184

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
71 Elizabeth II, 2022

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Collaborative Care Act

 

Susan Leblanc
Dartmouth North

First Reading: July 26, 2022

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act Respecting
Collaborative Care

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Collaborative Care Act.

2 In this Act,

(a) "collaborative care" means a patient-centred or client-centred health-care process where two or more professions or disciplines interact in their respective scopes of practice to share knowledge, expertise and decision-making in the interest of improved patient or client care;

(b) "Minister" means the Minister of Health and Wellness;

(c) "task force" means the task force on collaborative care established under Section 3.

3 (1) The Minister shall, within four months of the coming into force of this Act, establish a task force on collaborative care.

(2) The task force must be composed of health care providers and health experts appointed by the Minister.

4 (1) With a view to improving health care and establishing collaborative care clinics in the Province, the task force shall study and consider the following health-care matters:

(a) current funding models;

(b) staffing roles and ratios;

(c) scopes of practice;

(d) models from other jurisdictions;

(e) health equity and areas of greatest need; and

(f) any other matter the task force considers appropriate.

(2) In studying and considering the matters referred to in subsection (1), the task force shall consult regulatory colleges, professional groups, unions, member organizations or advocacy groups representing the following professions, entities, groups and communities:

(a) physicians;

(b) nurses;

(c) midwives;

(d) occupational therapists;

(e) paramedics;

(f) pharmacists;

(g) physician assistants;

(h) physiotherapists;

(i) psychologists;

(j) counsellors;

(k) respiratory therapists;

(l) social workers;

(m) speech-language pathologists;

(n) dentists;

(o) dental hygienists;

(p) community health centres and organizations;

(q) health education programs;

(r) patient-advocacy groups;

(s) Indigenous communities;

(t) African Nova Scotian communities;

(u) Acadian communities; and

(v) any other professions, entities, groups and communities the task force considers appropriate.

5 The task force shall, after carrying out its duties under Section 4 and within four months of being appointed, provide recommendations to the Minister respecting

(a) a collaborative-care clinic model;

(b) the establishment of collaborative-care clinic sites in every health zone in the Province;

(c) an implementation plan that includes community consultation and input; and

(d) an evaluation plan to measure success in implementing the task force's recommendations under this Section.

6 The Government shall

(a) for the five years following the coming into force of this Act, publish monthly reports on its progress in implementing the task force's recommendations under Section 5; and

(b) subject to Section 7,

(i) provide appropriate funding to establish, hire staff for and run collaborative care clinics,

(ii) commit to running collaborative care clinics for at least five years, and

(iii) provide necessary resources and appropriate remuneration and expenses to the task force's members.

7 The money required for the purpose of this Act must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.

 

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This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2022 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created July 26, 2022. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.