This enactment amends the Canada Health Act to require provinces to implement an accountability framework in relation to the delivery of health services in order to qualify for a full cash contribution as part of the Canada Health Transfer.

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Purpose of this Act

4 The purpose of this Act is to establish criteria, conditions and Insertion start requirements Insertion end in respect of insured health services and extended health care services provided under provincial law that must be met before a full cash contribution may be made.

Requirements for Cash Contribution — Accountability

Accountability framework

13.‍1 (1) In order that a province may qualify for a full cash contribution referred to in section 5, the government of the province shall develop and implement an accountability framework that sets standards for reasonable access to health services under the health care insurance plan of the province.

Consultation

(2) In developing the accountability framework, the minister responsible for health care in the province may consult with the Minister or with ministers responsible for health care in other provinces.

Content

(3) The accountability framework must include

• (a) benchmarks for assessing timely access to primary care, elective procedures and emergency care; and

• (b) transparent reporting requirements in respect of the achievement of those benchmarks and the efficiency of health care spending by the province.

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Requirement to provide information

(4) The government of the province shall provide the Minister with information regarding the measures it has taken to ensure transparent reporting. Those measures must include publishing on a publicly available website

• (a) the province’s accountability framework; and

• (b) as soon as feasible after the end of each fiscal year, a report that sets out the extent to which the established benchmarks have been achieved in that year and provides information on the efficiency of the province’s health care spending.

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Review of benchmarks

(5) The government of the province shall periodically review and update the benchmarks based on emerging evidence and best practices in health services delivery.

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  (c) the province has failed to implement an accountability framework as required under section 13.‍1,

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Order reducing or withholding contribution

15 (1)  Insertion start If Insertion end , on the referral of a matter under section 14, the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the health care insurance plan of a province does not or has ceased to satisfy any one of the criteria described in sections 8 to 12 or that a province has failed to comply with any condition set out in section 13 Insertion start or with the accountability requirements under section 13.‍1 Insertion end , the Governor in Council may, by order,

Reimposition of reductions or withholdings

16 In the case of a continuing failure to satisfy any of the criteria described in sections 8 to 12 or to comply with any condition set out in section 13 Insertion start or with the accountability requirements under section 13.‍1 Insertion end , any reduction or withholding under section 15 of a cash contribution to a province for a fiscal year shall be reimposed for each succeeding fiscal year as long as the Minister is satisfied, after consultation with the minister responsible for health care in the province, that the default is continuing.