On December 12 2017 the Ontario legislature passed the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act 2017, which enacts or amends 10 statutes, including the Health Sector Payment Transparency Act 2017 (for further details please see "Ontario Bill 160 receives royal assent"). When in force, the transparency act will require the disclosure of financial relationships between pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturers (among other payors) and health care professionals (among other recipients). On February 21 2018 the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care published for consultation proposed regulations under the Transparency Act. The proposed regulations specify:

  • what constitutes a 'transfer of value' that must be reported;
  • who qualifies as an 'intermediary' or 'recipient' of a transfer of value;
  • additional categories of payors;
  • what thresholds and exemptions exist to the reporting requirements;
  • the manner and frequency of reporting; and
  • the process for correcting posted information.

The consultation period ended on April 6 2018.

For further information on this topic please contact Brandon Heard at Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh by telephone (+1 416 593 5514) or email ([email protected]). The Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh website can be accessed at www.smart-biggar.ca.

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