Summary

Bill 614 amends The Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act to prohibit physicians from charging patients any amount beyond what the Minister pays for insured services, including fees for faster or preferred access, membership fees, or fees imposed as a condition of receiving insured care. Physicians who violate the ban face escalating penalties: written warning for first offence, referral to the College of Physicians and Surgeons for second offence, and loss of eligibility for public payment for third offence.

This bill bans physicians from charging patients any private fee related to insured medical services. The ban covers extra billing above what the provincial plan pays, membership or subscription fees, fees for expedited appointments, and any amount charged as a condition of receiving care covered by Saskatchewan health insurance. The bill defines these prohibited payments broadly as "access fees" and specifies they are banned whether paid in advance, after service, as a lump sum, or periodically. Physicians must notify patients in writing if they are charging privately for an insured service and inform them the service is available at no charge through the public system. Physicians can still charge for goods or services not covered by the public plan if reasonably necessary before providing the insured service. The enforcement mechanism is progressive: first violation brings a written warning, second violation triggers referral to the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and third violation results in the physician losing eligibility to bill the public plan for a period determined by the Minister.