Election Year Planning: How to prepare your Practice for potential Healthcare Reforms
3 Apr 2025
As Canada gears up for its federal election on April 28, 2025, healthcare practitioners face the prospect of significant policy changes that could reshape the landscape of medical practice. With healthcare remaining a critical issue in election-year discourse, practitioners must proactively prepare for potential reforms to ensure their practices remain compliant, efficient, and adaptable.
This article provides actionable advice to help healthcare providers navigate the uncertainties of an election year while safeguarding their operations and patient care.
Healthcare is consistently one of the top concerns for Canadians during elections. In 2025, political parties are under intense pressure to address issues such as access to primary care, mental health services, and workforce shortages. With over six million Canadians lacking access to a family doctor, voters are demanding concrete solutions rather than vague promises 5.
Election outcomes often lead to sweeping changes in healthcare policies, funding mechanisms, and regulatory requirements. For practitioners, these changes can impact everything from billing processes and staffing requirements to the adoption of new technologies like electronic medical records (EMRs) and telehealth platforms 2 4. Preparing for these shifts is essential to maintaining compliance and ensuring uninterrupted patient care.
Political parties have pledged ambitious plans to improve access to family doctors and primary care teams. For example:
These initiatives could lead to increased funding for primary care practices but may also introduce new reporting requirements or incentives tied to patient outcomes.
Mental health care is becoming a central focus in healthcare reform discussions. Parties are proposing measures such as universal mental health coverage under OHIP and expanded access to psychotherapy programs 3 5. Practitioners may need to adapt their services to include mental health offerings or comply with new billing codes related to mental health care.
The push for modernizing healthcare infrastructure includes investments in EMRs, telehealth platforms, and AI-driven tools 2 3. Parties are advocating for interoperability between systems and enhanced data security measures. Practices may need to upgrade their technology or adopt new compliance standards related to digital health systems.
Addressing healthcare workforce shortages is a priority across party platforms. Proposed reforms include incentivizing rural practice placements, increasing nursing student enrollment, and introducing nurse-to-patient ratios 3. These changes could affect staffing requirements and operational workflows in clinics.
Climate change is emerging as a healthcare issue due to its impact on public health through heatwaves, natural disasters, and vector-borne diseases 2. Practices may need to implement sustainable operational practices or prepare for disaster resilience measures mandated by policymakers.
Review your practice’s current operations against existing regulations and identify areas that may be impacted by proposed reforms. Key areas include:
Monitor party platforms and election promises closely. Look out for keywords such as “interoperability,” “mental health parity,” and “primary care funding” that signal potential reforms 5 6. Subscribe to updates from professional organizations like the CFPC or provincial health ministries.
Adopt advanced practice management software that can adapt quickly to regulatory changes. Features like automated policy updates, real-time alerts, and integrated telehealth modules can help your practice stay compliant while improving efficiency.4
Prepare your team for potential changes by offering training sessions on new policies or technologies. For example:
Election-year reforms can create confusion among patients about their healthcare coverage or costs 4. Use clear communication channels—such as newsletters or patient portals—to explain how potential changes might affect them.
Election years are a time of both opportunity and uncertainty for healthcare practitioners in Canada. While policy changes can bring challenges, they also offer the chance to improve patient care through better funding, expanded services, and modernized infrastructure. By proactively preparing your practice with tools like GoodX Healthcare’s software—and staying informed about political developments—you can turn uncertainty into growth.
The road ahead requires adaptability, but with the right strategies in place, your practice can thrive no matter what reforms come your way.
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