Primary Care Act, Payment Delays & Key Updates

Dear SGFP Members,

In today’s letter, we cover key developments affecting family physicians, including:

• Primary Care Act
• Lump Sum Payment Delay
• For FHO Doctors: Reliable Payments

Primary Care Act

Last week, the government tabled Bill 13: The Primary Care Act—a significant step toward strengthening primary care in Ontario. While this Bill is still moving through the legislative process, its potential to shape family medicine and care delivery will depend on how its principles are ultimately translated into actionable regulations. As it progresses toward becoming law, SGFP will be reviewing its provisions, engaging where possible, and keeping members informed on key developments.

Upon initial review, two objectives within the Act stand out for SGFP:

First, the commitment to “access to timely primary care services.” This is something we all support. However, defining what “timely access” truly means, how it will be measured, and critically how family physicians will be supported to achieve it remain unanswered questions. Family physicians are ready to engage in solutions, but meaningful involvement throughout this process is essential. SGFP will be releasing a discussion paper on access, attachment, and continuity within the next couple of weeks, stay tuned for its release.

Second, the Act references a “digitally integrated primary care system” where individuals can access their personal health information and clinicians can connect seamlessly. Digital integration is fundamental to modernizing primary care, and SGFP’s Digital Health Team has developed a set of Digital Health Principles to help guide this work. These principles outline key priorities for ensuring digital tools are physician-supported, patient-centered, and integrated effectively into care delivery.

SGFP will be closely examining this Act to determine how it can support the advancement of family medicine in Ontario. As regulations are developed, we will engage and advocate to ensure they reflect the needs of family physicians and strengthen primary care delivery.

As the province moves forward with implementing the Primary Care Act, SGFP remains committed to ensuring family physicians have a strong voice in shaping the future of primary care.

Lump Sum Payment Delay

Many of you will have seen the OMA’s update regarding the Ministry of Health’s revised commitment to issue the outstanding lump-sum payment for services delivered in November and December 2024. While the new timeline — no later than the August RA — is a modest improvement over the previously proposed November date, your SGFP Executive remains deeply concerned.

These delays are not just administrative setbacks. They impose real and immediate financial pressures on family doctors, including affecting your ability to meet payroll, manage lines of credit, and absorb rising practice and living costs. At a time of ongoing economic uncertainty, delayed payments undermine both personal and professional stability.

While we are aware that the Ministry’s outdated payment systems are part of the reason for the delay, this is not a justification. The government has a responsibility to ensure the infrastructure it relies on does not compromise its obligations. Timely payment for services already rendered is a basic expectation and not something that required OMA advocacy to secure.

We are extremely frustrated by the continued pattern of shifting consequences onto physicians for systemic issues that lie squarely with government. Family doctors should not be left waiting for months because of preventable back-end failures.

We appreciate that Kim Moran, OMA CEO, is actively pressing for timely resolution and long-term fixes. We are in close and frequent communication on these issues and will continue to voice the concerns of family doctors who are rightfully losing patience with these recurring disruptions.

As discussions on Years 2–4 of the agreement continue, including targeted funding increases, the SGFP remains focused on ensuring that your work is valued and that timely, reliable payment is a foundational part of that respect.

Warm regards,
Dr. David Barber
Chair, SGFP

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