Federal Legislation Updates

As a result of CNA’s advocacy work, nurse practitioners (NPs) are now recognized as care providers in three key pieces of federal legislation and regulation. These changes remove barriers to NP practice, allowing them to provide a wider range of care and services that enhance patient-centred care while reducing health-care costs.

Disability tax credit certificates

The Income Tax Act recognizes NPs as “medical practitioners” with the authority to certify people for the disability tax credit through Form T2201, the Disability Tax Credit Certificate. People who are eligible for this this tax credit may also benefit from other federal, provincial or territorial programs such as the registered disability savings plan, the working income tax benefit and the child disability benefit.

The federal government has detailed informationon the changes. You can also read CNA’s fact sheet [PDF, 55.3 KB] or watch our webinar.

Employment insurance (EI) certificates

NPs can now sign medical certificates for all three EI caregiving benefits (the compassionate care benefit and family caregiver benefit for adults and children). These is in addition to their previous authority to sign for sickness benefits.

The federal government offers an excellent overview of the changes, including scenarios illustrating the types of situations that may be covered. Service Canada provides more details and contains links to the EI benefits forms for sickness and compassionate care.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits

CPP will accept medical reports from all NPs in any location (not only those in geographically isolated areas) to determine eligibility or continued eligibility for disability benefits.

NPs will have the authority to independently complete:

• an initial medical report (Form ISP-2519), which is included in the application kit for CPP disability benefits
• a terminal illness application report (Form ISP 2530)

CPP’s medical adjudicators make decisions on benefit applications and may request additional information from an NP. An adjudicator may send one of the following forms to an NP to complete:

• Reinstatement of CPP disability benefits (physician or nurse practitioner confirmation, ARCONF-E)
• Impairment evaluation form
• Reassessment medical report (2509-B)
• Medical report for fast track re-application for CPP disability benefits (2525-B)
• Medical clearance FCE-E (MD55R)
• Vocational rehabilitation program for CPP disability benefits recipients (including functional capacity evaluation clearance and psychological evaluation clearance)

Please note that CPP operates throughout Canada, except in Quebec, where the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) provides similar benefits. The CPP and QPP work together to ensure that all contributors are protected.QPP disability benefits apply if your patient meets one of the following conditions:

• worked only in the province of Quebec
• currently lives in Quebec and worked both in the province of Quebec and in another province or territory
• worked in Quebec, currently lives outside Canada and their last province of residence was Quebec

For more details, visit this federal government web page or contact the CPP program.