Keeping health care providers informed of payment, policy or program changes

To: Independent Health Facilities
Published by: Claims Services Branch, Ministry of Health
Date Issued: April 23, 2020

The Ministry of Health (ministry) recognizes that Independent Health Facilities (IHFs) are a critical partner in the fight against COVID-19. The ministry is committed to working with IHFs who have been affected by the outbreak, including those who are unable to deliver their regular types of services during this time.

The ministry is establishing an advance payment program to provide payments to eligible IHFs to address any cash flow issues that may arise during the COVID-19 outbreak. This will ensure IHFs have funding available to sustain their operations during this difficult time and enable them to return to regular operation as soon as the outbreak begins to subside.

The COVID-19 Advance Payment Program will provide monthly, interest-free, automated advance payments that will be set off against future claims based facility fee payments to IHFs. Payments assessed over the previous 12 months (April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020) were examined, and a monthly average was determined based on payments for that period. The program will automatically top up IHFs' payments to 70% of this average. IHFs who are eligible for advance payments will automatically receive these payments in May, June and July 2020.

By accepting the advance payment, IHFs are deemed to agree with the terms and conditions regarding set off against future facility fee payments. These are as follows:

  • Recovery of advance payments will be made from a future IHF's facility fee payments beginning in November 2020;
  • The total amount of the advance payments will be recovered in five equal installments against future facility fee payments from November 2020 to March 2021; and
  • No interest will be applied.

For IHFs that do not wish to accept payment under these terms and conditions, funds can be returned to the ministry. IHFs may return their advance payment by submitting a cheque to the:

Financial Management Branch
49 Place d'Armes, 3rd Floor
Kingston, Ontario K7L 5J3

The cheque is to be made payable to the Minister of Finance. IHFs should also indicate this cheque is for the re-payment of the advance payment, including the specified month.

For any further inquiries or to discuss other repayment options, please contact the Service Support Contact Centre at 1-800-262-6524.