Ont. doctors offer rapid access to NPs for a monthly fee

Adding fuel to the debate over two-tier healthcare in Ont. and the rest of the country, some doctors in Ont. are offering their patients seven-day a week rapid access to appointments with a nurse practitioner for around $30 a month. It's legal under both the federal and provincial Medicare rules but since it involves charging for healthcare, it adds to a growing debate over two-tier healthcare in Canada. The Toronto clinic launched the program in response to overwhelming demand from parents during the surge in respiratory illnesses among kids last fall. The subscription promises an immediate virtual appointment with a nurse practitioner from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. any day of the week and, if necessary, an in-person appointment no later than the next day.