a-29 - Health Insurance Act

Updated to 1 October 1999

This document has official status.

chapter A-29

Health Insurance Act

DIVISION I INTRODUCTION

1. In this Act, unless the context indicates a different meaning, the following expressions and words mean or designate:

(a)  “insured services” : the services, medications, prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment, visual or hearing aids and communication devices contemplated in section 3;

(b)  “professional in the field of health” or “professional” : a physician, dentist, optometrist or pharmacist legally authorized to furnish insured services;

(c)  “professional subject to the application of an agreement” : a professional who practises his profession within the scope of the plan established by this Act, is remunerated in accordance with the tariff provided in an agreement and the amount of whose fees, which include the price of medications in the case of a pharmacist, is paid to him directly by the Board where the beneficiary has presented his health-insurance card or claim booklet, as the case may be, or directly by the beneficiary where he did not present his health-insurance card or claim booklet, as the case may be;

(d)  “professional who has withdrawn” : a professional, other than a pharmacist, who practises his profession outside the scope of the plan established by this Act but agrees to be remunerated in accordance with the tariff provided in an agreement, and the amount of whose fees is paid to his patients by the Board;

(e)  “non-participating professional” : a professional who practises his profession outside the scope of the plan established by this Act but does not agree to be remunerated in accordance with the tariff provided in an agreement or who is the subject of an order issued pursuant to section 77, 77.0.1 or 77.1.1, and all of whose patients alone assume payment of the fees which include the price of medications in the case of a pharmacist;

(f)  “agreement” : an agreement made under section 19;

(f.1)  “basic remuneration” means the basic tariff provided for in an agreement referred to in section 19 in respect of the remuneration by the act of insured services before the carrying out of the rules governing the placing of a ceiling on activities;

(g)  “resident of Québec” : a person declared to be such a resident pursuant to sections 5 to 8;

(g.1)  “beneficiary” : a resident or deemed resident of Québec who is duly registered with the Board;

(h)  “similar plan” : a medical care insurance plan in force during a year in any province of Canada and respecting which a contribution is payable for that year by the federal government under the Canada Health Act (Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, chapter C-6);

(i)  “Board” : the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec established by the Act respecting the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec (chapter R-5);

(j)  “prescribed” : prescribed by regulation;

(k)  “regulation” : a regulation made in accordance with section 69, 69.2 or 72;

(l)  “scholarship” : a scholarship contemplated in Division XI;

(m)  “research scholarship” : a scholarship contemplated in Division XII;

(n)  “hospital centre” : a hospital centre within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) or within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5);

(o)  “institution” : an institution governed by the Act respecting health services and social services or by the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons;

(p)  “laboratory” : a laboratory as defined by the Public Health Protection Act (chapter P-35);

(q)  “Minister” : the Minister of Health and Social Services;

(r)  “incentive premium” : an incentive premium contemplated in Division IX.1;

(s)  “visually handicapped person” : a visually handicapped person as defined by regulation;

(t)  “person with a hearing handicap” : a person suffering from a hearing handicap as defined by regulation.

In this Act, the word “province” includes the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories.

1970, c. 37, s. 1; 1970, c. 38, s. 1; 1971, c. 47, s. 1; 1973, c. 30, s. 1; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1974, c. 40, s. 1; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1977, c. 44, s. 1; 1979, c. 1, s. 1; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1986, c. 79, s. 1; 1989, c. 50, s. 1; 1991, c. 42, s. 556; 1992, c. 21, s. 100; 1994, c. 8, s. 1; 1994, c. 23, s. 23; 1996, c. 32, s. 88.

1.1. For the purposes of sections 10, 11 and 64, the cost of insured services shall be the amount fixed by the Board according to the basic remuneration, within the meaning of subparagraph f.1 of the first paragraph of section 1, for such services, as applicable at the time a health professional provides an insured service to a beneficiary without taking into account any amendment to the remuneration, subsequent to that time.

1991, c. 42, s. 557.

2. Subject to any other applicable legislative provision, nothing in this Act shall restrict the freedom of a resident of Québec to choose the professional by whom he wishes to be treated, or that of such a professional to agree or refuse to treat such a person.

1970, c. 37, s. 2.

3. The cost of the following services rendered by a professional in the field of health are assumed by the Board on behalf of every beneficiary, in accordance with this Act and the regulations:

(a)  all services rendered by physicians that are medically required;

(b)  the services of oral surgery determined by regulation and required by dentistry and rendered by a dentist in a centre operated by a university establishment or in a facility maintained by an institution operating a hospital centre, provided, however, that if rendered in Québec they are rendered in a centre operated by a university establishment determined by regulation or in a facility maintained by an institution operating a hospital centre by a dentist authorized to practise in that centre;

(c)  the services determined by regulation and required by optometry and rendered by optometrists in the practice of optometry within the meaning of the Optometry Act (chapter O‐7); however, the cost of such services shall be assumed by the Board only on behalf of a beneficiary whose age is that fixed for that purpose by regulation or who holds a valid claim booklet issued pursuant to section 71 or 71.1;

(d)  family planning services determined by regulation and furnished by a physician.

The cost of services determined by regulation and required by dentistry and rendered by dentists are also assumed by the Board in accordance with this Act and the regulations on behalf of every beneficiary according to his age and according as to whether or not he holds a valid claim booklet issued pursuant to section 71.1.

The Board also assumes, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations and subject to the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A‐29.01), the cost of the services determined by regulation that are required for pharmaceutical reasons and furnished by pharmacists, the cost of medications furnished by pharmacists on the prescription of a physician, a resident in medicine, a dentist or a midwife and, where applicable, the cost of medications provided as part of the services provided by an institution in accordance with the third paragraph of section 8 of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance, on behalf of every beneficiary who is an eligible person within the meaning of that Act and who

(a)  is 65 years of age or over and is not a member of a group insurance contract or employee benefit plan applicable to a group of persons determined on the basis of current or former employment status, profession or habitual occupation and that includes basic plan coverage, and is not a beneficiary under such a plan, or

(b)  holds a valid claim booklet issued under section 70, or

(c)  is not required to become a member of a group insurance contract or employee benefit plan referred to in paragraph a and in whose respect no person is required, in accordance with section 18 of the said Act, to ensure coverage as a beneficiary under such a contract or plan.

The Board also assumes, in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the regulations and subject to the Act respecting prescription drug insurance, the cost of the services determined by regulation that are required by pharmacy and furnished by pharmacists, the cost of medications furnished by pharmacists on the prescription of a physician, a resident in medicine, a dentist or a midwife and, where applicable, the cost of medications provided as part of the services provided by an institution in accordance with the third paragraph of section 8 of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance, to every beneficiary who is an eligible person within the meaning of that Act and who holds a valid claim booklet issued under section 71.

The Board also assumes, on behalf of every beneficiary whose age is that fixed for such purposes by regulation, the amount determined for services and for prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment compensating for a physical deficiency. The cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board assumes the amount of those insured services, the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such services are furnished, the amount assumed by the Board as well as the physical deficiencies and insured services contemplated shall be determined by regulation.

The Board reimburses to an institution recognized for that purpose by the Minister the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair of visual aids, determined by regulation, lent by the institution to a beneficiary who is a visually handicapped person whose age is that fixed for such purpose by regulation. The cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board reimburses the cost of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such services are furnished shall be determined by regulation. The visual aids lent to a visually handicapped person are unassignable and unseizable.

The Board also assumes on behalf of every beneficiary who is a person with a hearing handicap whose age is that fixed for such purpose by regulation, the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair of hearing aids determined by regulation. The cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board assumes the cost of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such services are furnished shall be determined by regulation.

Not in force

The Board shall reimburse to an institution recognized for that purpose by the Minister the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair of communication devices determined by regulation, lent by the institution to a beneficiary with a communication-related physical deficiency and whose age is that fixed for such purpose by regulation. The cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board reimburses the cost of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which they are furnished shall be determined by regulation. The communication devices lent to a beneficiary with a communication-related physical deficiency are untransferable and unseizable.

Not in force

The Board shall publish the list of institutions recognized by the Minister for the purposes of the sixth and eighth paragraphs and each update thereof in the Gazette officielle du Québec, which will come into force on the date they are published or on any date fixed therein.

However, such services, medications, prostheses and orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment, visual or hearing aids or communication devices do not include those which a person may obtain and is entitled to under another statute of Québec, an Act of the Parliament of Canada other than the Canada Health Act (Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, chapter C-6) or a statute of another province of Canada or another country.

However, the services contemplated in the first paragraph to which a person is entitled under the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S‐4.2), the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S‐5), the Hospital Insurance Act (chapter A‐28) and the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A‐29.01) or which are rendered pursuant to the Act respecting occupational health and safety (chapter S‐2.1) remain insured services under this Act.

The Board also assumes the cost of the services rendered by a professional in the field of health pursuant to the Workmen’s Compensation Act (chapter A‐3) or to the Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (chapter A‐3.001), including those rendered by a member of the Bureau d’évaluation médicale or a member of an occupational lung diseases committee or a special committee acting under Chapter VI of the latter Act, except the services rendered by a professional in the field of health at the employer’s request.

The Board also assumes, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the regulations, the cost of services rendered by a health professional in the discharge of activities or administrative tasks determined by a regulation made under section 69.

The Board also assumes the cost of services and goods provided under the programs it administers by virtue of the first paragraph of section 2 of the Act respecting the Régie de l’assurance‐maladie du Québec (chapter R‐5) according to the conditions and methods provided for under those programs.

Any service furnished by a physician who is in a period of training to obtain his first specialist’s certificate is not an insured service unless it is furnished in a centre operated by an institution other than that where he is in a period of training or for the Corporation d’urgences-santé de la région de Montréal Métropolitain. Where he furnishes a service that is not an insured service within the meaning of this section to a person residing in Québec, he must inform that person, in the cases and form prescribed, that the service is not an insured service.

1970, c. 37, s. 3; 1970, c. 38, s. 2; 1971, c. 47, s. 2; 1971, c. 48, s. 160, s. 161; 1973, c. 30, s. 2; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1973, c. 52, s. 31; 1974, c. 40, s. 2; 1975, c. 60, s. 1; 1977, c. 44, s. 2; 1979, c. 1, s. 2; 1979, c. 63, s. 273; 1981, c. 22, s. 1; 1985, c. 6, s. 488; 1986, c. 79, s. 2; 1989, c. 50, s. 2; 1991, c. 42, s. 558; 1992, c. 19, s. 1; 1992, c. 21, s. 101; 1985, c. 23, s. 1; 1992, c. 21, s. 101, s. 375; 1992, c. 11, s. 77; 1994, c. 8, s. 2; 1994, c. 23, s. 23; 1996, c. 32, s. 89; 1999, c. 24, s. 14.

3.1. The Board may make, with a supplier of prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment, visual or hearing aids or communication devices, which are referred to in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth paragraphs of section 3, a contract in order to establish the terms and conditions of supply to dispensers of services the cost of which is to be assumed or reimbursed by the Board.

Every such contract shall be preceded by a call for tenders made according to the terms and conditions and in the manner prescribed by the Board.

1989, c. 50, s. 3; 1994, c. 8, s. 3.

4. (Repealed).

1971, c. 47, s. 3; 1974, c. 40, s. 3; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 1, s. 3; 1981, c. 22, s. 2; 1984, c. 27, s. 41; 1985, c. 23, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.1. (Repealed).

1985, c. 23, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.2. (Repealed).

1985, c. 23, s. 2; 1992, c. 21, s. 102; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.3. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.4. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.5. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.6. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.7. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.8. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.9. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

4.10. (Repealed).

1992, c. 21, s. 103; 1996, c. 32, s. 90.

DIVISION II BENEFICIARIES

5. A person is a resident of Québec when he is lawfully entitled to be or remain in Canada, makes his home in Québec and is ordinarily present there, unless he is a tourist, a transient or a visitor there.

A person becomes a resident of Québec from the time prescribed by regulation and ceases to be a resident in the cases, conditions and circumstances prescribed by regulation.

However, a person who does not reside in Québec is deemed to be a resident of Québec in the cases, conditions and circumstances prescribed by regulation.

1970, c. 37, s. 4; 1971, c. 47, s. 4; 1973, c. 30, s. 3; 1977, c. 44, s. 3; 1979, c. 1, s. 4; 1989, c. 50, s. 4.

5.1. A resident of Québec who is absent in cases, on conditions and in circumstances prescribed by regulation shall retain his status as a resident of Québec.

1989, c. 50, s. 5.

6. Every person who leaves Québec to settle in a province of Canada where there is a similar plan shall continue to be a resident of Québec for the period determined by regulation.

1970, c. 37, s. 5; 1971, c. 47, s. 5; 1989, c. 50, s. 6.

7. A person who leaves Québec to settle in another country ceases, from his departure, to be a resident of Québec.

1970, c. 37, s. 6; 1971, c. 47, s. 6; 1979, c. 1, s. 5; 1989, c. 50, s. 7.

8. A person who settles in Québec after having left a province where there is a similar plan shall become a resident of Québec when he ceases to be entitled to the benefits of such plan.

1970, c. 37, s. 7; 1971, c. 47, s. 7.

9. Every person who is or is deemed to be a resident of Québec must register with the Board in accordance with the regulations.

The information and documents prescribed by regulation shall accompany every application for registration.

The Board shall issue a health-insurance card to every person so registered. The card is valid for the length of time provided for by regulation. To obtain a new card a person must again register with the Board.

Every health-insurance card is the property of the Board and its holder must return it to the Board and cease to present it to obtain insured services if he is no longer a resident of Québec or deemed to be a resident of Québec.

The Board may address a notice to a holder informing him whether or not he is a resident or deemed to be a resident of Québec.

1970, c. 37, s. 8; 1974, c. 40, s. 4; 1979, c. 1, s. 6; 1989, c. 50, s. 8; 1991, c. 42, s. 559.

9.0.0.1. No person may be required to produce a health-insurance card or eligibility card except for purposes relating to the dispensing of services or the provision of goods or resources in the field of health or social services where all or part of the cost of those services, goods or resources is assumed, directly or indirectly, by the Government pursuant to an Act for the administration of which the Minister of Health and Social Services is responsible.

1992, c. 21, s. 104.

9.0.1. Every person contemplated in subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of the first paragraph of section 10 or in section 10.1 of the Act respecting the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (chapter M‐19.2) who benefits from all or part of the services provided for by this Act must register with the Board in accordance with the regulations.

The information and documents prescribed by regulation shall accompany every application for registration.

The Board shall issue an eligibility card to a person so registered, entitling him to all or part of the said services. The card is valid for the time provided for by regulation. To obtain a new card, a person must again register with the Board.

The eligibility card is the property of the Board and its holder must return it to the Board and cease to present it if he no longer comes under subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of the first paragraph of section 10 or under section 10.1 of the Act respecting the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. He must do likewise if he no longer benefits from all or part of the services provided for.

The Board may send a notice to a holder indicating whether or not subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of the first paragraph of section 10 or section 10.1 of the Act respecting the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux applies to him, or whether or not he benefits from all or part of the services provided for.

Section 22.0.1 applies, with the necessary modifications, to that holder.

1989, c. 50, s. 9; 1991, c. 42, s. 560.

9.0.2. The Board may, in particular, refuse to issue a health-insurance card or an eligibility card to a person applying for registration with the Board or applying for a renewal of registration where that person is already a debtor of the Board in respect of the cost of an insured service paid for him by the Board or in respect of costs exigible by the Board.

1992, c. 21, s. 105; 1994, c. 8, s. 4.

9.0.3. The health-insurance card and the eligibility card shall include a photograph of the beneficiary that complies with the standards prescribed by regulation, and his signature.

However, the Board may issue a health-insurance card or eligibility card without the beneficiary’s photograph or signature, in the cases and circumstances and on the conditions determined by regulation or where the beneficiary resides in any of the places mentioned on the list prepared by the Minister.

The Board shall publish the list and every update thereof in the Gazette officielle du Québec, which come into force on the date they are published in the Gazette officielle du Québec or on any date fixed therein.

1992, c. 21, s. 105; 1994, c. 8, s. 5.

9.0.4. Every application for registration, for renewal of registration or for the replacement of a health-insurance card or eligibility card must be authenticated in accordance with the regulations, with the exception of applications for which the Board issues a health-insurance card or an eligibility card that does not include the beneficiary’s photograph and signature.

1992, c. 21, s. 105.

9.1. In no case may a beneficiary or a person contemplated in section 9.0.1 entrust, lend, give or sell his health-insurance card or eligibility card to, or otherwise alienate it in favour of, a third person, and no person may require or accept that a beneficiary or any such person entrust, lend, give or sell his card to him or that it be otherwise alienated in his favour.

However, every beneficiary or person contemplated in section 9.0.1 may entrust his health-insurance card or eligibility card to an institution, and an institution may require or receive that card.

1979, c. 1, s. 6; 1989, c. 50, s. 10; 1992, c. 21, s. 375.

9.2. Every person who registers with the Board without being entitled thereto or knowingly assists or encourages another person to register with the Board whereas that person is not entitled thereto, or infringes section 9.1, is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000.

1979, c. 1, s. 6; 1990, c. 4, s. 76.

9.3. Any person who, knowingly, gives false or misleading information in or in respect of an application for registration with the Board is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1,000.

1979, c. 1, s. 6; 1990, c. 4, s. 76.

9.4. The following persons are guilty of an offence and are liable to a fine of not less than $200 nor more than $1 000:

(a)  any person who neglects or refuses to return to the Board his health-insurance card or who presents it to obtain insured services when he is no longer a resident or deemed to be a resident of Québec;

(b)  any person who neglects or refuses to return to the Board his eligibility card or who presents it to obtain insured services when he no longer comes under paragraph a of subparagraph 2 of the first paragraph of section 10 or under section 10.1 of the Act respecting the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (chapter M-19.2) or when he no longer benefits from all or part of the services provided for.

1991, c. 42, s. 561.

9.5. No person may enter on a health-insurance card information other than that determined by regulation, or affix to a health-insurance card a substance or object not authorized by the Board.

Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of $50 to $500, and, for any subsequent offence, to a fine of $100 to $1 000.

Every person who performs or fails to perform an act with a view to assisting a person in the commission of an offence under this section or who advises, encourages or incites him to commit an offence is guilty of an offence and is liable to the same penalty as that person.

1991, c. 42, s. 561.

Not in force

9.6. The Board may, directly or through a person it designates, recover any health insurance card or eligibility card that a person not entitled thereto has in his possession and has failed or refused to return.

A health insurance card or eligibility card may be recovered for the following reasons:

(1)   the person is not a resident or temporary resident of Québec;

(2)  the person is not a person referred to in subparagraph 2 of the first paragraph of section 10 or section 10.1 of the Act respecting the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (chapter M-19.2).

A card may not be recovered before the time allowed for applying for a review of the decision under section 18.1 or, as the case may be, for contesting the Board’s decision before the Administrative Tribunal of Québec, has expired.

1999, c. 89, s. 10.

10. A beneficiary is entitled to exact from the Board the reimbursement of the cost of the insured services furnished to him outside Québec by a professional in the field of health, except the pharmaceutical services and medications referred to in the third and fourth paragraphs of section 3, provided that he delivers to the Board the receipts for the fees paid by him, and furnishes it with the information the Board needs to justify the payment claimed.

Notwithstanding the first paragraph, the cost of filling or renewing a prescription and the cost of the medications provided to an eligible person, within the meaning of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A-29.01), outside Québec by a person legally authorized to practise as a pharmacist in the place concerned and with whom the Board has entered into an individual agreement for that purpose, may be reimbursed if the services and medications are furnished in a pharmacy situated in a region bordering on Québec and if no pharmacy situated, in Québec, within a radius of 32 kilometres of that pharmacy provides services to the public.

Not in force

The same applies to the cost of medications provided, outside Québec, to an eligible person within the meaning of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance, as part of the services provided by an institution, in accordance with the third paragraph of section 8 of that Act.

However, he shall only be entitled to exact the lesser of the amount he actually paid for such services and that which would have been paid by the Board for such services to a professional in the field of health of Québec under an agreement.

Notwithstanding the fourth paragraph, a beneficiary may exact the amount actually paid for medical services in the cases and on the conditions fixed by regulation.

1970, c. 37, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 7; 1989, c. 50, s. 11; 1996, c. 32, s. 91.

11. The Board itself may also assume, on behalf of any beneficiary, payment of the cost of the services contemplated in section 10 upon presentation of a statement of fees and after having obtained the information it needs to justify the payment claimed.

Nevertheless, it shall not so pay an amount higher than that which it would have paid upon presentation of a receipt for fees under section 10.

Notwithstanding the second paragraph, it may assume payment of the amount claimed for medical services in the cases and on the conditions fixed by regulation.

1970, c. 37, s. 10; 1979, c. 1, s. 8; 1989, c. 50, s. 12.

12. A beneficiary is also entitled to exact from the Board payment of the cost of the insured services furnished to him in Québec by a professional who has withdrawn or by a professional contemplated in section 30, upon presentation of a statement of fees the form of which is accepted by the Board and the content of which is in conformity with the regulations, provided that the Board has obtained from such beneficiary or from the professional concerned the information it needs to justify the payment claimed.

He is not entitled to exact more than the amount which would have been paid by the Board for such services to a professional who is subject to the application of an agreement.

The Board must, when considering a statement of fees submitted under this section, apply all rules relating to remuneration provided for under the relevant agreement as if payment were made directly to the professional in the field of health.

1970, c. 38, s. 3; 1979, c. 1, s. 9; 1989, c. 50, s. 13; 1991, c. 42, s. 562.

13. A beneficiary is also entitled to exact from the Board payment of the amount fixed by regulation for the services and prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment contemplated in the fifth paragraph of section 3 furnished to him in Québec, by an institution or laboratory or by a person contemplated in subparagraph h.3 of the first paragraph of section 69 or furnished to him outside Québec by an institution or laboratory recognized by the Minister, or by a person contemplated in subparagraph h.3 of the first paragraph of section 69, on presentation of a statement of account the form of which is accepted by the Board and the content of which is in conformity with the regulations, provided that the Board has obtained from such beneficiary the information it needs to justify the payment claimed.

Such beneficiary is not entitled to exact more than the price fixed by regulation for an insured service contemplated in the fifth paragraph of section 3.

The Board itself may also assume for the account of a beneficiary, up to the maximum amounts fixed by regulation, the payment of the cost of the services contemplated in the first paragraph. It shall do so however only if such beneficiary presents a statement of account and furnishes the appropriate information to it.

An institution, a laboratory or a person referred to in subparagraph h.3 of the first paragraph of section 69 that furnishes an insured service contemplated in the fifth paragraph of section 3 shall be paid only for what it has actually executed and only up to the maximum prices fixed by regulation.

1973, c. 30, s. 4; 1974, c. 40, s. 5; 1979, c. 1, s. 10; 1989, c. 50, s. 14; 1990, c. 56, s. 1; 1992, c. 21, s. 375; 1994, c. 8, s. 6.

13.1. A beneficiary who has not presented his health-insurance card or claim booklet, as the case may be, to a professional in the field of health who is subject to the application of an agreement, is also entitled to exact from the Board the reimbursement or the payment of the cost of insured services on presentation of a statement of fees the form of which is accepted by the Board and the content of which is in conformity with the regulations, provided that the Board has obtained from such beneficiary or from the professional concerned the information it needs to justify the payment claimed.

He is not entitled to exact more than the amount which would have been paid by the Board for such services to a professional who is subject to the application of an agreement.

1979, c. 1, s. 11; 1989, c. 50, s. 15.

13.2. Only an institution contemplated in the sixth paragraph of section 3 is entitled to exact from the Board, up to the maximum amounts fixed by regulation, the reimbursement of the cost of purchase, replacement or repair of the visual aids contemplated in the sixth paragraph of section 3 that have been lent to a visually handicapped person, on presentation of a statement of account the form of which is accepted by the Board and the content of which is in conformity with the regulations, provided that the Board has obtained from that institution the information it needs to justify the payment claimed.

It shall not exact or receive for such aids any payment other than that which is payable to it by the Board.

It shall not exact any payment for a visual aid that has already been lent to and recovered from a visually handicapped person, except the payment of the cost of repairs.

It shall not exact any payment for the cost of repairs to a visual aid where such cost is payable under the warranty offered by the manufacturer.

1979, c. 1, s. 11; 1989, c. 50, s. 16; 1992, c. 21, s. 375.

13.3. The professional contemplated in sections 12 and 13.1, must fill out the statement of fees the form of which is accepted by the Board and the content of which is in conformity with the regulations, and remit it to the beneficiary.

1979, c. 1, s. 11; 1989, c. 50, s. 17.

13.4. Every prosthesis, orthopedic device, locomotor or posture assist, medical supplies or other equipment and every hearing aid furnished to a beneficiary under the fifth or the seventh paragraph of section 3 shall be untransferable and unseizable.

Every such prosthesis, orthopedic device, locomotor or posture assist, medical supplies or other equipment and every hearing aid no longer used by a beneficiary owing to his death or a change in his physical condition shall become the property of the Board and shall be recovered in the cases and circumstances and on the conditions prescribed by regulation.

1994, c. 8, s. 8.

14. A beneficiary is not entitled to exact from the Board the payment or, as the case may be, reimbursement of the cost of any service furnished by a professional in the field of health except in accordance with sections 10, 11, 12, 13.1 and 22.0.1.

He is not entitled to exact from the Board payment of the cost of any insured service contemplated in the fifth paragraph of section 3, except in accordance with section 13.

An institution contemplated in the sixth paragraph of section 3 is not entitled to exact from the Board the payment of the cost of purchase, replacement or repair of any visual aid contemplated in the sixth paragraph of section 3, except in accordance with section 13.2.

A person with a hearing handicap is not entitled to exact from the Board the payment of the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair of any hearing aid contemplated in the seventh paragraph of section 3, except in accordance with the prescribed terms and conditions.

1970, c. 37, s. 11; 1970, c. 38, s. 4; 1973, c. 30, s. 5; 1979, c. 1, s. 12; 1989, c. 50, s. 18; 1992, c. 21, s. 375; 1994, c. 8, s. 9.

14.1. A person who is a resident or deemed to be a resident of Québec who receives any insured service while not being duly registered with the Board may exact the payment or reimbursement from the Board of the cost of that insured service provided that he registers with the Board in accordance with section 9.

In such a case, he is considered to be a beneficiary from the date on which he received that insured service.

1979, c. 1, s. 12; 1989, c. 50, s. 19.

14.2. A beneficiary is not entitled to exact from the Board the payment or reimbursement, as the case may be, of the cost of an insured service unless he transmits his claim to the Board within two years of the date on which he received the insured service.

The Board may agree to consider a claim transmitted after the expiry of that period if the beneficiary demonstrates that he was in fact unable to make his claim sooner.

1989, c. 50, s. 20.

DIVISION II.0.1

Repealed, 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

14.3. (Repealed).

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

14.4. (Repealed).

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

14.5. (Repealed).

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

14.6. (Repealed).

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

14.7. (Repealed).

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

14.8. (Repealed).

1992, c. 19, s. 2; 1996, c. 32, s. 92.

DIVISION II.0.2 CONTRACT OF INSURANCE AND SUBROGATION

1992, c. 19, s. 2.

15. No person shall make or renew a contract of insurance or make a payment under a contract of insurance under which an insured service is furnished or under which all or part of the cost of such a service is paid to a resident or a deemed resident of Québec or to another person on his behalf.

If such a contract also covers other services and property it shall remain in force as regards such other services and property and the consideration provided with respect to such contract must be adjusted accordingly, unless the beneficiary of such services and of such property agrees to receive equivalent benefits in exchange.

If the consideration was paid in advance, the amount of the reimbursement or adjustment, as the case may be, must be remitted within three months unless the beneficiary agrees, during such period, to receive equivalent benefits.

If the total amount of the reimbursements or adjustments to be made as regards one person under a contract made for not more than one year is less than $5, the amount shall not be exigible but it shall be remitted to the Minister to be paid to the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec contemplated in section 96.

The first paragraph does not apply to a contract covering the excess cost of insured services rendered outside Québec or the excess cost of any medication of which the Board assumes payment nor does it apply to a contract covering the contribution payable by a beneficiary under the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A-29.01).

1970, c. 37, s. 12; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1971, c. 47, s. 8; 1974, c. 40, s. 6; 1981, c. 22, s. 3; 1983, c. 54, s. 9; 1989, c. 50, s. 21; 1992, c. 19, s. 3; 1996, c. 32, s. 93.

16. (1)  When an employer has undertaken to pay a sum of money for the benefit of his employees for the insurance of the cost of services which become insured services, he must, if the amount which he pays in respect of an employee under section 82 is less than the amount which he would otherwise have paid in respect of such employee, remit the difference to him as the instalments become due until such undertaking has terminated, and indicate to his employees, not later than 1 February 1971, the amount which is so owing to each of them and the manner in which it was established; when the employees are represented by a certified association within the meaning of the Labour Code (chapter C-27), the employer must give such indications to such association.

(2)  The employer shall be relieved of the obligation to remit to an employee the amount owing to him under subsection 1 if such employee accepts equivalent benefits in exchange; when employees are represented by a certified association within the meaning of the Labour Code, such association may accept on behalf of the employees the granting to them by the employer of equivalent benefits.

(3)  Payment of the amounts owing by an employer to his employees under subsections 1 and 2 cannot be claimed by them before 1 February 1971.

(4)  If the undertaking by the employer exists under a collective agreement within the meaning of the Labour Code, any difference arising out of the application of this section shall be a grievance within the meaning of the Labour Code, as if it were a case of the interpretation or application of the collective agreement binding the employer and such association; in other cases, recourse may be had to arbitration as if an arbitration clause had been agreed upon between the parties.

(5)  For the purposes of this section, the word “employee” includes retired persons and this section shall not apply to employees governed by a collective agreement within the meaning of the Labour Code when such agreement expressly provides for the manner of disposing of insurance of the cost of services which become insured services.

1970, c. 37, s. 13.

17. (Repealed).

1971, c. 47, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 13.

18. (1)  The Board shall be ipso facto subrogated in the right of recovery of any person who benefits from insured services, against any third person to the extent of the insured services furnished or to be furnished in respect of injury or illness caused by the fault of such third person.

(2)  In case of contributory negligence the amount of such subrogation shall be subject to reduction in the same proportion as the insured person’s right of recovery.

(2.1)  An insurer of a third person’s liability shall notify the Board in writing as soon as he begins negotiations to settle a claim for any injury susceptible of entailing the payment of insured services.

(3)  An insurer of a third person’s liability shall not discharge his obligation to indemnify the latter of his liability to the Board under this section, otherwise than by payment to the Board.

(4)  An undertaking by a person benefiting from insured services to discharge a third person’s or an insurer’s liability to the Board under this section or to save them harmless from such liability shall be invalid and be deemed unwritten in any agreement, transaction or release.

(5)  The rights acquired by the effect of the subrogation contemplated in this section shall form part of the public domain of Québec from and after the time when such rights arise, and shall be subject to the rules applicable to the rights forming part thereof; however, the right of action resulting therefrom shall be prescribed by three years.

1970, c. 37, s. 14; 1974, c. 40, s. 7; 1989, c. 50, s. 22.

DIVISION II.1 REVIEW AND PROCEEDING BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL OF QUÉBEC

1989, c. 50, s. 23; 1997, c. 43, s. 58.

18.1. A beneficiary or person eligible for a plan or programme administered by the Board under the first paragraph of section 2 of the Act respecting the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec (chapter R-5) who believes he has been wronged by a decision of the Board may apply for a review of the decision. A person whom the Board refuses to consider a beneficiary may also apply for a review of such a decision.

1989, c. 50, s. 23; 1991, c. 42, s. 563.

18.2. An application for review shall be made by means of a written notice to the Board stating the reasons for the application. The application must be made within six months after the date on which the applicant was notified of the decision.

The Board may consider an application for review transmitted after the expiry of that period if the applicant demonstrates that he was in fact unable to apply sooner.

1989, c. 50, s. 23.

18.3. Within 90 days of receipt of the application for review, the Board shall review the case and render a decision with reasons. It shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision, of his right to contest the decision and of the time for bringing a proceeding.

1989, c. 50, s. 23; 1997, c. 43, s. 59.

18.4. An applicant who believes he has been wronged by a decision rendered by the Board under section 18.3 may, within 60 days of notification of the decision, contest the decision before the Administrative Tribunal of Québec.

1989, c. 50, s. 23; 1997, c. 43, s. 60.

DIVISION III PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF HEALTH

19. For the purposes of this Act, the Minister may, with the approval of the Government, enter into an agreement with the representative organizations of any class of health professionals.

An agreement may, in particular, provide that the remuneration of insured services will vary according to rules which apply to an activity, a type of activity or all activities of a health professional, or to the activities of a class of professionals or of a specialty. Such an agreement may also provide different methods of remuneration which include fee-for-service remuneration, flat-rate fees and salary. It may also provide, as compensation or reimbursement, for the payment of various amounts such as premiums, expenses or allowances.

After consulting the representative organizations of the health professionals concerned, the Minister shall determine by regulation the territories or places of practice that he considers to be understaffed. Such regulations may apply to all professionals in a territory or a place of practice situated therein or to part of them, depending on the nature of their activities.

An agreement may provide for a different remuneration for the provision of medical services in a territory or place of practice defined by a regulation made under the third paragraph.

In addition, it may provide for a different remuneration for physicians in the first years of practising their profession or specialty under the plan, according to the territory where they practise or the type of activities they carry on.

An agreement may provide for a different remuneration for physicians according to whether or not they are authorized to participate in the agreement pursuant to sections 360 and the following sections of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) for all or part of their activities in the region. It may also provide for the terms and conditions of participation in such an agreement. The terms and conditions may provide, for the purposes of the first paragraph of section 360 of the Act respecting health services and social services, criteria permitting to determine whether a physician’s professional activity is carried on mainly in private facilities.

An agreement may, to ensure compliance with the regional medical staffing plans referred to in section 377 of the Act respecting health services and social services, provide for different remuneration for certain classes of health care professionals according to the location of their practice or the territory in which they exercise their activities.

Failing an agreement to determine the different remuneration referred to in the fourth and fifth paragraphs, the Government may fix the remuneration by a regulation which shall be in lieu of an agreement. It may likewise determine the number of years of a physician’s practice during which the different remuneration will apply, which shall not exceed three years. Any regulation which reduces the remuneration applicable to physicians during the first years of practising their profession or specialty under the plan applies only to physicians who begin practising their profession or specialty after the date of coming into force of the regulation.

Failing an agreement to determine the different remuneration and the terms and conditions of participation of a physician in an agreement referred to in the sixth paragraph, the Government may fix the remuneration by a regulation which shall be in lieu of an agreement, and determine the terms and conditions of participation referred to in the sixth paragraph. It may likewise determine the number of years during which the different remuneration will apply and the rules of equivalence enabling a physician having held a licence to practise for less than ten years to be released from participation in a particular medical activity, especially by reason of his heavy workload or the number of years spent in practice in a territory or place of practice determined in the regulation.

Failing an agreement to determine the different remuneration referred to in the seventh paragraph, the Government may fix the remuneration in a regulation to stand in lieu of the agreement.

The Minister may, on an experimental basis and for a determined period, enter into a special agreement with the professionals of a clinical department of an institution in order to apply a method of remuneration provided for in an agreement entered into under the first paragraph to those professionals. The agreement shall require beforehand the consent of the health professionals concerned, of the board of directors of the institution and of the organization representing the professionals concerned.

If the diminution of medical services in a territory endangers public health, the Minister may enter, for a fixed period of time, into a special agreement with a health professional in order to allow medical services to be adequately furnished in a facility maintained by an institution of that territory.

Any such agreement shall bind, as the case may be, the Board, the regional boards and the institutions.

The Minister must consult the Board or the regional board, the institution or the group of institutions which may be bound by name by an agreement or part of an agreement. The latter may submit to the Minister their recommendations as to methods of participation in reaching the agreement or any part thereof.

The Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail shall participate in the formulation of any part of such an agreement which deals with the services referred to in the tenth paragraph of section 3.

The provisions of the Labour Code (chapter C-27) and of the Act respecting labour standards (chapter N-1.1) do not apply to a health professional to whom an agreement made pursuant to this section applies who provides insured services in a facility maintained by or on behalf of an institution.

1970, c. 37, s. 15; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1973, c. 30, s. 6; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1974, c. 40, s. 8; 1979, c. 1, s. 14; 1981, c. 22, s. 4; 1984, c. 47, s. 15; 1985, c. 6, s. 489; 1992, c. 21, s. 375; 1991, c. 42, s. 564; 1994, c. 23, s. 7; 1998, c. 39, s. 177.

19.0.1. An agreement entered into under the fifth paragraph of section 19 or, failing such an agreement, a regulation made under the eighth paragraph of that section, may provide for a maximum number of research physicians or teaching physicians as defined in the agreement or regulation and to whom different methods of remuneration do not apply.

1991, c. 42, s. 565; 1998, c. 39, s. 178.

19.1. With the approval of the Government, the Minister may make with a body representing the residents in medicine an agreement on the conditions of employment applicable to the residents in medicine in period of training in institutions having entered into a contract of affiliation or a service contract or agreement in accordance with section 110 of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2), or with a university within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5).

The thirteenth paragraph of section 19 applies to such an agreement.

1981, c. 22, s. 5; 1989, c. 50, s. 24; 1992, c. 21, s. 106, s. 375; 1991, c. 42, s. 566; 1994, c. 23, s. 23; 1998, c. 39, s. 179.

20. Subject to any regulation made under section 69 or 72, the provisions of an agreement shall continue to have effect after its expiry; they shall subsist until the coming into force of a new agreement which may nevertheless contain provisions having effect from the expiry of that which it replaces.

1970, c. 37, s. 16; 1989, c. 50, s. 25; 1991, c. 42, s. 567.

21. An agreement under section 19 shall bind all professionals in the field of health who are members of the body which made the agreement and those whose field of professional activities is the same as that of such members and who are contemplated by the agreement.

An agreement under section 19.1 shall bind all the residents in medicine who are members of the body which made the agreement and those whose field of professional activities is the same as that of such members and who are contemplated in the agreement.

1970, c. 37, s. 17; 1983, c. 54, s. 10; 1989, c. 50, s. 26.

22. A professional in the field of health subject to the application of an agreement is entitled to be remunerated by the Board for an insured service he has furnished in person to a beneficiary who presented his health-insurance card or claim booklet, as the case may be, or to be remunerated by a beneficiary for an insured service he has furnished in person where such beneficiary did not present his health-insurance card or claim booklet, as the case may be, provided that such professional in the field of health has complied with the provisions of the agreement.

Nevertheless, provided that he has complied with the provisions of the agreement, a professional in the field of health who is subject to the application of an agreement is entitled to be remunerated by the Board for an insured service he has furnished in person to a beneficiary even if the latter did not present his health-insurance card or claim booklet, in the following circumstances and cases:

(a)  where the beneficiary is under one year of age;

(b)  where the beneficiary at the time he received insured services was in a condition requiring emergency care;

(c)  where the beneficiary is a minor 14 years of age or over and receives insured services to which he gives his consent alone in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code of Québec;

(d)  where the beneficiary is lodged by an institution which operates a residential and long-term care centre or a rehabilitation centre within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2), or where he is sheltered in a reception centre or a hospital centre belonging to the class of hospital centres for long-term care within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5) and the regulations made under that Act;

(e)  in the other circumstances and cases prescribed.

A pharmacist subject to the application of an agreement is entitled to be remunerated in accordance with the first and second paragraphs, even if the insured service has been legally furnished by one of his employees.

A professional in the field of health subject to the application of an agreement shall not exact or receive for an insured service any other remuneration than that provided for by the agreement and to which he is entitled under the preceding paragraphs; any covenant to the contrary is null ipsofacto. However, a pharmacist may exact the difference between the price of the medication indicated on the list and the amount whose payment is assumed by the Board.

No health professional who is subject to the application of an agreement may receive from an institution any sum of money or any direct or indirect benefit as consideration for providing insured services.

The Board may recover from a health professional who contravenes the fifth paragraph, by compensation or otherwise, any amount or the value of any benefit received, after sending him a notice in writing.

A health professional subject to the application of an agreement shall not exact or receive payment from the Board or a beneficiary, as the case may be, for a service that has not been furnished, that he has not furnished in person, that he has not furnished in conformity with an agreement or that he has falsely described.

He shall not exact or receive payment from the Board for a service not considered insured by regulation or not established as an insured service by regulation.

No person may exact or receive any payment from any beneficiary for a service, the supplying of something or costs accessory to an insured service furnished by a professional subject to the application of an agreement or by a professional who has withdrawn, except in the cases prescribed or provided for in an agreement and on the conditions mentioned therein.

Any service rendered by a dentist in his private consulting office and which is related to the insured service referred to in subparagraph b of the first paragraph of section 3 is deemed to be an accessory service.

A professional in the field of health who contravenes a provision of the fourth, seventh or eighth paragraph, and every person who contravenes a provision of the ninth paragraph, is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of $1 000 to $2 000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of $2 000 to $5 000.

1970, c. 37, s. 18; 1973, c. 30, s. 7; 1974, c. 40, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 15; 1981, c. 22, s. 6; 1984, c. 27, s. 42; 1984, c. 47, s. 16; 1989, c. 50, s. 27; 1990, c. 4, s. 77; 1991, c. 42, s. 568; 1992, c. 21, s. 107; 1991, c. 42, s. 568; 1992, c. 57, s. 435; 1994, c. 23, s. 23.

22.0.1. Whenever the Board believes that a professional in the field of health or a third person has exacted payment from a beneficiary in contravention of this Act, where nothing in the regulations or agreements so permits, it shall reimburse the amount so paid by the beneficiary and notify the professional or the third person in writing thereof. The Board shall make such a reimbursement solely where the beneficiary applies therefor in writing within six months after the date of payment.

An amount so reimbursed and the administrative costs prescribed constitute a debt toward the Board and may be recovered from the professional in the field of health or third person by compensation or otherwise, on the expiry of a period of 30 days from the date of the notice.

Within six months of the compensation, the professional in the field of health may appeal from the Board’s decision before a court of civil jurisdiction or, in the case of a question of interpretation or application of an agreement, before a council of arbitration established under section 54.

1989, c. 50, s. 28.

22.0.2. The amount charged by the pharmacist pursuant to section 31 of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A-29.01) is deemed to be charged as remuneration. The Board shall deduct that amount from the remuneration payable under an agreement entered into under section 19.

1992, c. 19, s. 4; 1996, c. 32, s. 94.

22.1. A professional in the field of health is not entitled to be remunerated by the Board unless he has personally signed the statement of fees the form of which is accepted by the Board and the content of which is in conformity with the regulations, subject to the prescribed cases and conditions.

Every health professional, to be entitled to remuneration by the Board, must submit to the Board his statement of fees duly completed within 90 days of the date on which the insured service was furnished. Every institution must in a like manner submit its statement of fees within 90 days of the date on which the insured service was furnished. The Board may extend such period if a health professional or an institution demonstrates that it was in fact impossible to act sooner, or in the case of death of a professional.

1979, c. 1, s. 16; 1981, c. 22, s. 7; 1989, c. 50, s. 29; 1991, c. 42, s. 569; 1992, c. 21, s. 375.

22.1.0.1. To be entitled to remuneration by the Board, a pharmacist or, where applicable, an institution must indicate to the Board, on the statement of fees or claim for payment, that the contribution referred to in section 31 of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A-29.01) has been collected.

The statement of fees or claim for payment must be submitted to the Board by the pharmacist or institution even if the entire cost of the insured services provided has been charged to that beneficiary in accordance with the Act respecting prescription drug insurance.

Before providing an insured service to a beneficiary, a pharmacist or institution must, to be entitled to remuneration by the Board, obtain prior authorization for payment from the Board by transmitting a statement of fees or claim for payment to the Board by interactive electronic means, in accordance with the conditions prescribed by regulation under section 16.1 of the Act respecting the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec (chapter R-5).

1992, c. 19, s. 5; 1996, c. 32, s. 95.

In the third paragraph, the words “or institution” will come into force on the date to be fixed by order of the Government.

Not in force

22.1.1. Every insured person must be informed, according to the terms and conditions prescribed by regulation, of the cost of the insured services received by him.

1991, c. 42, s. 570; 1999, c. 89, s. 42.

22.2. Where the Board believes that services for which payment is claimed by a professional in the field of health or for which he has obtained payment in the preceding 36 months were services furnished in non-conformity with the agreement, the Board may refuse payment for such services or have them reimbursed by compensation or otherwise, as the case may be. Disputes resulting from this paragraph are settled by the council of arbitration instituted by section 54.

Where, after an investigation, the Board believes that services for which payment is claimed by a professional in the field of health or for which he has obtained payment in the 36 preceding months were services that have not been furnished, that he has not furnished in person or that he has falsely described, or services not considered insured by regulation or services not established as insured services by regulation, the Board may refuse payment for such services or have them reimbursed by compensation or otherwise, as the case may be.

Where the Board decides to refuse payment for services or to make compensation, it must inform the professional in the field of health of the reasons for its decision.

In the cases provided for in the second paragraph, the burden of proof, before the competent court, that the decision of the Board is ill-founded, is on the professional in the field of health.

A professional in the field of health who wishes to appeal a decision of the Board before the competent court must do so within six months of receiving such decision.

For the purposes of this Act and within the scope of the basic prescription drug insurance plan, the second, third, fourth and fifth paragraphs, adapted as required, apply to an institution.

1979, c. 1, s. 16; 1981, c. 22, s. 8; 1996, c. 32, s. 96.

23. No agreement shall provide for additional remuneration for insured services.

1970, c. 37, s. 19.

24. Nothing in this Act or in an agreement shall authorize the Board to refuse to pay the cost of insured services because it questions the quality of an act for which payment is claimed.

The Board shall not determine the frequency of an act for which payment may be made. However, the Board may, whenever it refers a matter to the revisory committee contemplated in section 47, invoke the frequency of an act for which a professional presents a statement of fees.

1970, c. 38, s. 5; 1979, c. 1, s. 17; 1989, c. 50, s. 30.

25. The payment of the cost of insured services must be refused or suspended whenever the committee on discipline of the Ordre professionnel des médecins du Québec, the Ordre professionnel des dentistes du Québec, the Ordre professionnel des pharmaciens du Québec or the Ordre professionnel des optométristes du Québec or the professions tribunal so recommends with respect to a professional in the field of health who is subject to its authority.

1970, c. 38, s. 5; 1971, c. 47, s. 10; 1973, c. 46, s. 49; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1973, c. 51, s. 46; 1973, c. 52, s. 31; 1977, c. 5, s. 229; 1979, c. 1, s. 18; 1994, c. 40, s. 457.

26. An agreement shall not bind those professionals who inform the Board by registered or certified mail, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, that they wish to become professionals who have withdrawn or non-participating professionals; such options shall take effect after the expiry of the delay which is provided for in the agreement and which follows the sending of a notice for this purpose to the Board.

1970, c. 37, s. 20; 1970, c. 38, s. 6; 1971, c. 47, s. 11; 1975, c. 83, s. 84.

27. Failing provisions in an agreement, the manner of notifying the Board and the delay contemplated in section 26 shall be determined by regulation.

1970, c. 37, s. 21.

28. Any professional who has withdrawn from the application of an agreement may re-engage himself by notifying the Board of his intention, by registered or certified mail, according to the manner and within the delay prescribed in the agreement or, failing an agreement, in accordance with the regulations.

The same shall apply to a professional who has become a non-participating professional.

Moreover, a professional who has withdrawn may become a non-participating professional, and vice versa, by the same procedure.

1970, c. 37, s. 22; 1970, c. 38, s. 7; 1975, c. 83, s. 84.

29. The terms and conditions upon which the residents or deemed residents of Québec are notified of the changes made in accordance with section 26 or 28 and the cases in which such terms and conditions must be observed shall be determined by regulation; such a regulation may determine the obligations of the Board respecting such notices and those of professionals who have withdrawn or non-participating professionals in accordance with section 26.

1970, c. 37, s. 23; 1970, c. 38, s. 8; 1989, c. 50, s. 31.

30. When the Minister considers that the number of professionals who are non-participating professionals throughout Québec or in any region of Québec, or the number of those engaged in the same kind of activities who are non-participating professionals throughout Québec or in any region of Québec is too large to allow the insured services to continue to be rendered under uniform conditions, he shall cause a notice to be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec setting forth the situation.

From the eighth day after the publication of the notice, the Government may order, by regulation, that the professionals in the field of health contemplated in the notice shall not exact or receive, from the date of the coming into force of the regulation, for insured services they have furnished to beneficiaries, any remuneration other than that provided for in an agreement in force. The Board shall reimburse to the beneficiaries the cost of the insured services they have received from such professionals.

The decree provided for in the second paragraph shall be for a period of not more than 90 days from the coming into force of the regulation.

The professionals in the field of health contemplated in the second paragraph are the professionals who have become non-participating professionals from the date fixed in the regulation, which may be earlier than the date of the coming into force of the regulation.

The insured services the cost of which is reimbursed by the Board are those that have been rendered by the professionals in the field of health from the date fixed in the regulation.

Sections 31 to 35 apply to those professionals in the field of health, mutatismutandis.

1970, c. 37, s. 24; 1970, c. 38, s. 9; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1979, c. 1, s. 19.

31. A professional in the field of health shall not exact or receive, for insured services furnished by him to a beneficiary as a professional who had withdrawn, any remuneration other than that provided for in an agreement; any covenant to the contrary is null ipsofacto.

Every person who contravenes a provision of this section is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of $1 000 to $2 000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of $2 000 to $5 000.

1970, c. 38, s. 10; 1974, c. 40, s. 10; 1979, c. 1, s. 20; 1981, c. 22, s. 9; 1990, c. 4, s. 78.

32. When the Board forwards a payment to a beneficiary after the latter has presented a statement of fees for insured services furnished by a professional who has withdrawn, it must, at the same time, give a written notice thereof to that professional; the latter shall not exact or receive from the beneficiary any payment of fees for insured services before he receives that notice. A professional who has withdrawn who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and is liable to the fine provided for in section 31.

1970, c. 38, s. 10; 1979, c. 1, s. 21; 1990, c. 4, s. 76.

33. When the Board forwards to a beneficiary a notice informing him that it will not pay him all or part of the amount claimed, it must also forward a copy of such notice to the professional who has withdrawn, who rendered the services for which fees have been claimed; such professional may, from the receipt of such notice, claim before the courts from the Board, in the place and stead of his patient, the amount of fees which the Board intends not to pay provided that he gives notice thereof to his patient in writing.

1970, c. 38, s. 10; 1979, c. 1, s. 22.

34. A professional in the field of health who has not received from the Board a copy of a notice contemplated in section 32 or 33 respecting an amount of fees claimed by him from a beneficiary for insured services which he rendered to him as a professional who had withdrawn, may claim the unpaid amount from the Board before the courts, in the place and stead of his patient, from the ninetieth day following the forwarding of his account to the patient, provided that he has, in writing, notified the Board and his patient of his intention at least thirty days beforehand.

1970, c. 38, s. 10; 1979, c. 1, s. 23.

35. Whenever a professional claims from the Board in accordance with section 33 or 34, the Board must, if it makes a payment following such claim, do so directly to the professional involved but it shall then give notice thereof to the patient.

1970, c. 38, s. 10.

36. A professional in the field of health who is not professional subject to the application of an agreement is not entitled to be remunerated by the Board for insured services which he furnishes to a beneficiary, except in accordance with section 11 or sections 31 to 35 or for services rendered in Québec in emergency cases determined according to the standards established by regulation; he shall then exact from the Board only the remuneration provided for in section 11 or sections 31 to 35 or, in the case of services rendered in Québec in emergency cases, only the remuneration provided for in an agreement.

1970, c. 37, s. 25; 1970, c. 38, s. 11; 1979, c. 1, s. 24.

37. Subject to the third and fourth paragraphs of section 3 and sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 13.1 and 13.2, only a professional in the field of health is entitled to exact payment from the Board for the cost of insured services furnished to a beneficiary.

1970, c. 37, s. 26; 1970, c. 38, s. 12; 1973, c. 30, s. 8; 1979, c. 1, s. 25; 1996, c. 32, s. 97.

38. Subject to the second paragraph of section 18.2 and excepting any proceeding under section 18.4 or 50, a recourse against the Board pursuant to this Act, a regulation or an agreement is prescribed by six months from the decision of the Board giving rise thereto. The period ceases to run while a dispute resulting from the decision is referred to a council of arbitration.

1970, c. 37, s. 27; 1979, c. 1, s. 26; 1981, c. 22, s. 10; 1989, c. 50, s. 32; 1997, c. 43, s. 61.

DIVISION IV

Repealed, 1996, c. 32, s. 98.

1996, c. 32, s. 98.

39. (Repealed).

1971, c. 47, s. 12; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 1, s. 27; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1991, c. 42, s. 571; 1996, c. 32, s. 98.

40. (Repealed).

1971, c. 47, s. 12; 1979, c. 1, s. 28; 1991, c. 42, s. 572; 1994, c. 8, s. 11; 1996, c. 32, s. 98.

DIVISION V REVISORY COMMITTEES

41. For each class of professionals in the field of health, at least one revisory committee is established to make recommendations to the Board in respect of matters it refers to it under section 47.

1970, c. 37, s. 28; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 29.

42. Each committee consists of seven members appointed for a term not exceeding two years by the Government, which shall designate a chairman and a vice-chairman from among them.

The term of office of a member of a revisory committee may be renewed consecutively only twice.

At the end of their term, the members of a committee remain in office until they are re-appointed or replaced.

One of the committees includes five medical specialists, of whom two are chosen from a list of at least four names furnished by the Ordre professionnel des médecins du Québec and three are chosen from a list of at least six names furnished by the Federation of Medical Specialists of Québec; such persons must not hold any elective or full-time office within such order or federation.

Another committee includes five general practitioners, of whom two are chosen from a list of at least four names furnished by the Ordre professionnel des médecins du Québec and three are chosen from a list of at least six names furnished by the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec; such persons must not hold any elective or full-time office within such order or federation.

Another committee includes five specialists in oral surgery, of whom two are chosen from a list of at least four names furnished by the Ordre professionnel des dentistes du Québec and three are chosen from a list of at least six names furnished by the Association of Oral Surgeons of Québec; such persons must not hold any elective or full-time office within such order or association.

Another committee includes five dentists of whom two are chosen from a list of at least four names furnished by the Ordre professionnel des dentistes du Québec and three are chosen from a list of at least six names furnished by the Québec Dental Surgeons Association; such persons must not hold any elective or full-time office within such order or association.

Another committee includes five optometrists, of whom two are chosen from a list of at least four names furnished by the Ordre professionnel des optométristes du Québec and three are chosen from a list of at least six names furnished by the Professional Association of Optometrists of Québec; such persons must not hold any elective or full-time office within such order or association.

Another committee includes five pharmacists, of whom two are chosen from a list of at least four names furnished by the Ordre professionnel des pharmaciens du Québec and three are chosen from a list of at least six names furnished by the Association of proprietary pharmacists of Québec; such persons must not hold any elective or full-time office within such order or association.

The sixth member of each committee, who must be an advocate duly registered with the Barreau du Québec, is appointed on the recommendation of the Office des professions du Québec.

The seventh member of each committee who is non-voting functionary of the Board is appointed on the recommendation of the Board.

If a body contemplated in this section fails to furnish its list of names, the Government, on the recommendation of the Office des professions du Québec, shall appoint, among the members of the body concerned who do not hold any elective or full-time office, the number of members of the committee which must be chosen from among the members of that body. However, the Government shall not exercise that power until 30 days after the Minister has sent to the body concerned notice that it has failed to furnish its list of names; such notice may be sent up to two months before the date on which a term of office is to expire.

1970, c. 37, s. 29; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1974, c. 40, s. 11; 1974, c. 65, s. 109; 1977, c. 5, s. 229; 1979, c. 1, s. 30; 1981, c. 22, s. 11; 1991, c. 42, s. 574; 1994, c. 40, s. 457.

43. The members of the revisory committees shall not be prosecuted by reason of official acts done in good faith in the performance of their duties.

1970, c. 37, s. 30; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 31.

44. The salary or, if necessary, the fees or allowances of each member of such committees are fixed by the Government and paid by the Board, which also assumes the administrative costs of each committee in accordance with the standards set by the Government.

1970, c. 37, s. 31; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 32.

45. The Government shall appoint a secretary to each such committee.

Each committee shall appoint the other staff necessary for its operation in accordance with the standards the Government may prescribe in that regard.

1970, c. 37, s. 32; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9.

46. Three voting members, including the chairman or, if he is unable to act, the vice-chairman, constitute a quorum.

In case of a tie-vote, the chairman or the vice-chairman has a casting vote.

1970, c. 37, s. 33; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 33; 1981, c. 22, s. 12.

47. Where the Board believes that the insured services or a part of them for which a professional in the field of health has claimed or obtained payment during the 36 preceding months were not justified by medicine, optometry, dentistry or pharmacy and therefore were furnished more frequently than necessary or were dispensed in an excessive manner, it shall refer the matter to the appropriate revisory committee and must then inform the professional concerned.

Before making its recommendation, the revisory committee must allow the professional concerned to present observations.

1970, c. 37, s. 34; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1974, c. 40, s. 12; 1979, c. 1, s. 34; 1997, c. 43, s. 62.

48. Every professional in the field of health and every institution must furnish to the committee, on request, any relevant document or information relating to a matter referred to it.

Upon request or of its own initiative, the professional inspection committee of a professional order may communicate to a revisory committee information it considers useful for the performance of the duties of the latter. In like manner, a revisory committee may, upon request or of its own initiative, communicate to a professional inspection committee information it considers useful for the performance of the duties of the latter. In this latter case, the revisory committee must inform the professional concerned.

1970, c. 37, s. 35; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1979, c. 1, s. 35; 1992, c. 21, s. 375; 1994, c. 40, s. 457.

49. The revisory committee to which a matter has been referred under section 47 shall, after study, recommend to the Board either to pay the amount claimed in whole or in part or to refuse to pay that amount, or to require the reimbursement of any overpayment, by compensation or otherwise. The revisory committee may, before making its recommendation, obtain the opinion of the professional order concerned.

The revisory committee may base its recommendation on the fact that, in the dispensation of an insured service for a given period, an appreciable discrepancy is apparent between the record of practice of a professional and the records of practice of the professionals in the same discipline or carrying on the same activities under similar conditions or in similar social health regions.

The recommendation must be substantiated and signed by the chairman or the vice-chairman or the vice-chairman and the assenting members. Any dissenting member may make a separate report.

The recommendation, the separate reports of dissenting members and the opinions obtained must be transmitted by the secretary of the revisory committee, by registered mail, to the secretary of the Board.

1970, c. 37, s. 36; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1979, c. 1, s. 36; 1994, c. 40, s. 457.

50. The Board must render a substantiated decision within 30 days of receiving the recommendation of the revisory committee and make compensation, except where the decision of the Board is not in conformity with the recommendation of the revisory committee. It must forthwith, by registered mail, inform the professional contemplated in the decision, the professional order and the professional federation or association concerned. The notice transmitted to the professional must be accompanied with a copy of the recommendation of the revisory committee.

Any professional aggrieved by a decision rendered pursuant to the preceding paragraph may, within 60 days of notification of the decision, contest the decision before the Administrative Tribunal of Québec. The burden of proof that the decision of the Board is ill-founded is on the professional, except where the decision of the Board is not in conformity with the recommendation of the revisory committee, in which case the burden of proof is on the Board.

1970, c. 37, s. 37; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1974, c. 40, s. 13; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1979, c. 1, s. 37; 1989, c. 50, s. 33; 1994, c. 40, s. 457; 1997, c. 43, s. 63.

51. The decision of the Board may be homologated, upon its request, by the Superior Court or the Court of Québec according to their respective jurisdictions, at the expiration of the time for bringing a proceeding under the second paragraph of section 50, if no proceeding is brought before the Administrative Tribunal of Québec, and, in that case, the decision of the Board becomes executory under the authority of the court which homologated it.

No recommendation of a revisory committee may be interpreted as approving or disapproving the competence of a professional contemplated in it or the quality of the acts in question.

1970, c. 37, s. 38; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1973, c. 46, s. 43; 1973, c. 49, s. 40, s. 45; 1973, c. 52, s. 27; 1977, c. 5, s. 229; 1979, c. 1, s. 38; 1988, c. 21, s. 66; 1997, c. 43, s. 64.

51.1. Whenever the Board refers a matter to the revisory committee concerning a professional in the field of health in respect of which it has already rendered a decision in accordance with section 50 within the past 60 months, it may suspend in whole or in part the payment of the cost of insured services rendered by the professional provided there remains no other recourse against the decision it had rendered.

The suspension shall remain effective until the decision of the Board is rendered.

1989, c. 50, s. 34.

52. The delays for prescription of a recourse against the Board for payment of insured services which have given rise to the application of section 47 are suspended from the time the Board refers the matter to a revisory committee until the Board informs the professional in the field of health of its decision or until the Administrative Tribunal of Québec has disposed of the proceeding, as the case may be.

1970, c. 37, s. 39; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1979, c. 1, s. 39; 1997, c. 43, s. 65.

52.1. Sums owing to the Board pursuant to this Act bear interest at the rate fixed under section 28 of the Act respecting the Ministère du Revenu (chapter M-31) from the forty-fifth day after the date on which the Board so notifies the debtor.

The amount of such interest is recoverable in the same manner as the principal debt.

1981, c. 22, s. 13.

53. Every revisory committee must, not later than 31 March each year, report to the Minister on its activities for the year ending on the preceding 31 December.

1970, c. 37, s. 40; 1970, c. 38, s. 13; 1973, c. 30, s. 9.

DIVISION VI COUNCILS OF ARBITRATION

54. A dispute resulting from the interpretation or application of an agreement is submitted to a council of arbitration, to the exclusion of any court of civil jurisdiction.

The composition of the council of arbitration and the appointment of its members may be determined in an agreement. If the composition and appointment are not so determined, they are determined by the Minister of Labour after consultation with the bodies representing professionals in the field of health.

1970, c. 37, s. 41; 1970, c. 38, s. 14; 1981, c. 22, s. 14; 1982, c. 53, s. 56; 1994, c. 12, s. 15; 1996, c. 29, s. 43.

54.1. The Minister shall appoint the clerk of the council of arbitration. The clerk is remunerated by the Board.

1981, c. 22, s. 15.

55. A member of a council of arbitration shall not have any pecuniary interest in the dispute submitted to the council or have acted in such dispute in any capacity and he must, before acting, be sworn to render the award according to law.

1970, c. 37, s. 42; 1970, c. 38, s. 15.

56. Such a council shall proceed with all dispatch to inquire into the dispute in accordance with such procedure and mode of proof as it deems appropriate.

It must, however, convene the parties to the dispute and allow them to be heard either personally or through their duly appointed representatives, to examine the witnesses and to set forth their arguments.

1970, c. 37, s. 43.

57. The president of such a council shall have all the powers of a judge of the Superior Court over the sittings of the council and any person who testifies before the council shall have the same privileges and immunities as a witness before the Superior Court; the president of such a council, however, cannot order imprisonment.

1970, c. 37, s. 44.

58. Upon application by the parties or the council of arbitration, the witnesses shall be summoned by a written order, signed by the clerk of the council, who may administer the oath.

1970, c. 37, s. 45; 1981, c. 22, s. 16.

59. Any person duly summoned to appear before a council of arbitration who refuses to attend or to testify may be compelled to do so as if he had been summoned under the Code of Civil Procedure (chapter C-25).

1970, c. 37, s. 46; 1990, c. 4, s. 79.

60. Witnesses shall be entitled to the same taxation as witnesses before the Superior Court. Such taxation shall be payable by the party who summoned or examined them.

1970, c. 37, s. 47.

61. The award of a council of arbitration must give reasons for the decision and be signed by its president and, if such council consists of several members, by the members who concur in it.

A dissenting member may make a separate report.

Failing unanimity or majority agreement, the report of the president shall constitute the award of the council.

The clerk of the council shall send the award of the council to the parties by registered or certified mail.

1970, c. 37, s. 48; 1970, c. 38, s. 16; 1975, c. 83, s. 84; 1981, c. 22, s. 17.

62. The award of a council of arbitration binds the parties; it shall be homologated, at the request of one of the parties, by the Superior Court or the Court of Québec according to their respective jurisdictions, and the judgment is then executory under the authority of the court which homologated the award.

1970, c. 37, s. 49; 1981, c. 22, s. 18; 1988, c. 21, s. 66.

DIVISION VII INFORMATION

63. The members, officers and employees of the Board and the members and employees of a revisory committee established under section 41 and of a council of arbitration contemplated by section 54 shall not reveal, otherwise than in accordance with article 308 of the Code of Civil Procedure, information obtained for the carrying out of this Act.

1970, c. 37, s. 50; 1970, c. 38, s. 17; 1973, c. 30, s. 10.

64. A person who has furnished or received a service insured by the Board, his advocate or his representative duly authorized by or acting for him under the law may have access, notwithstanding section 83 of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (chapter A-2.1), only to the following information:

(a)  the date on which the service was furnished;

(b)  the name and address of the person who furnished the service;

(c)  the sums paid by the Board for the service and the name of the persons to whom they were paid.

The Board shall be required to disclose such information to the Minister of Revenue of Québec or to the Minister of Revenue of Canada, to the extent that such communication is necessary for the administration of an Act whose administration is under the responsibility of either of them, whenever he makes application to it therefor and it must disclose to the Minister of National Health and Social Welfare the information which it has obtained for the carrying out of this Act, whenever he makes application to it therefor, but it shall disclose such information only to such extent as is required for the purposes of the carrying out of the Canada Health Act (Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, chapter C-6). In such cases, section 63 shall not apply to the members of the Board or to the officers and employees thereof authorized by it to disclose the information contemplated in this paragraph.

The Board must, in the cases, conditions and circumstances and for the services determined by regulation, transmit to every beneficiary for whom it has paid insured services a statement giving

(a)  the name of the health professional, of the institution, of the laboratory or of any person having furnished the services;

(b)  the dates on which the services were furnished;

(c)  the cost of each provision of service received by a beneficiary; and

(d)  the total sum thus paid for such services.

The Board is bound to make periodic sampling surveys for the purposes of verifying whether the insured services of which it has assumed the cost have in fact been furnished.

1970, c. 37, s. 51; 1974, c. 40, s. 14; 1979, c. 1, s. 40; 1981, c. 22, s. 19; 1986, c. 95, s. 19; 1987, c. 68, s. 20; 1989, c. 50, s. 35; 1991, c. 42, s. 576; 1992, c. 21, s. 375.

65. Section 63 does not prohibit the disclosure of information obtained for the carrying out of this Act to the Bureau of the Ordre professionnel des médecins du Québec, the Bureau of the Ordre professionnel des dentistes du Québec, the Bureau of the Ordre professionnel des optométristes du Québec, the Bureau of the Ordre professionnel des pharmaciens du Québec, or to the committee on discipline or the professional inspection committee of each of such orders or regarding the professionals of an institution, to the council of physicians, dentists and pharmacists of such institution.

The Board is bound to disclose to the body with which the Minister has made an agreement, the name and given names of a professional in the field of health who has received a remuneration from the Board, the amount of the remuneration, the number and nature of the insured services thus remunerated and the date when they were furnished, whenever it has been duly authorized for that purpose in writing by that professional. In such a case, the Board is bound to disclose that information to the Minister, except the name and given names of the professional in the field of health.

The Board is bound to disclose to a regional board established by the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) and to the institution to which Part IV.2 of that Act applies information concerning the participation, in a centre operated by an institution, of a physician who is a party to an agreement entered into under the sixth paragraph of section 19 of this Act and concerning the remuneration for such participation.

The Board may also in accordance with the conditions and formalities prescribed by the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (chapter A-2.1), transmit to an institution which uses the health insurance number for its administrative purposes, the name, given names, date of birth, sex, address, language code, health insurance number, date of death and social insurance number of each user or, as the case may be, beneficiary of the institution. The social insurance number shall not be transmitted except for the sole purpose of verifying its validity or facilitating the transfer of the other information.

It may also in accordance with the conditions and formalities prescribed by the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information, transmit the same information to the Canada Employment and Immigration Commission as well as to the following departments or agencies of the Gouvernement du Québec: the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité, the Ministère du Travail, the Ministère des Transports, the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Faune, the Ministère de l’Éducation, the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration, the Ministère du Revenu, the Ministère des Finances, the Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d’assurances, the Régie des rentes du Québec, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail and the Commission des normes du travail.

The Board may inform the Department of National Health and Social Welfare that the information referred to in the third paragraph, previously transmitted to the Board by that department, is not in conformity with the information it holds. It may also inform that department of the date of death of a beneficiary.

No such institution, department or agency may disclose the information so obtained to any other person.

The Board may transmit to the director of youth protection of a child and youth protection centre, on request, the name, given names, date of birth, sex, address, and date of death of any person entered in its register of beneficiaries for the purpose of enabling a person to find, in accordance with the Civil Code of Québec (Statutes of Québec, 1991, chapter 64), an adopted person or his biological parents.

1970, c. 37, s. 52; 1971, c. 47, s. 13; 1973, c. 46, s. 43, s. 44, s. 49; 1973, c. 49, s. 40, s. 41, s. 45; 1973, c. 51, s. 39, s. 40, s. 46; 1973, c. 52, s. 27, s. 28, s. 31; 1977, c. 5, s. 229; 1979, c. 1, s. 41; 1979, c. 77, s. 34; 1979, c. 63, s. 329; 1979, c. 45, s. 150; 1981, c. 9, s. 7; 1981, c. 22, s. 20; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1984, c. 47, s. 209; 1985, c. 21, s. 18; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1986, c. 95, s. 20; 1988, c. 41, s. 88; 1988, c. 82, s. 215; 1990, c. 19, s. 11; 1991, c. 42, s. 577; 1992, c. 19, s. 6; 1991, c. 42, s. 577; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1992, c. 21, s. 108, s. 375; 1993, c. 51, s. 17; 1994, c. 8, s. 12; 1994, c. 12, s. 16; 1994, c. 15, s. 34; 1994, c. 16, s. 50; 1994, c. 17, s. 76; 1994, c. 40, s. 457; 1996, c. 29, s. 43; 1996, c. 21, s. 33; 1997, c. 63, s. 128; 1997, c. 73, s. 90; 1998, c. 39, s. 180.

65.0.1. The Régie shall transmit to the chief electoral officer, in accordance with the conditions and formalities provided for by the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (chapter A-2.1), any change in the name, address, date of birth or sex of a beneficiary whose name is entered on the permanent list of electors established under section 40.1 of the Election Act (chapter E-3.3), and the date of the person’s death, where applicable. The Régie shall also transmit the name, address, date of birth and sex of each beneficiary of full age who has informed the Régie that he has acquired Canadian citizenship or has stated, on registering for the first time with the Régie, that he holds Canadian citizenship. The Régie shall also transmit the same information concerning any beneficiary who is to reach the age of 18, at least six months before the beneficiary’s birthday.

Furthemore, the Régie shall transmit to the chief electoral officer, upon request, all the Québec residential addresses known to it. The second paragraph of section 68.1 of the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information does not apply to the first transmission of such information.

1995, c. 23, s. 52; 1997, c. 98, s. 19; 1998, c. 52, s. 107.

65.1. Following the registration as beneficiary of a person from another province, the Board may transmit the following information to the persons responsible for the administration of the equivalent plan in the other province to enable them to determine the date of termination of that person’s eligibility for insured services under that province’s plan: the beneficiary’s name, given names, date of birth, sex, date of arrival in Québec, address, health insurance number, as well as his health insurance number in his province of origin and the date on which he became eligible for insured services under the Québec plan.

1990, c. 56, s. 2.

66. The members of the Board and its officers and employees must furnish the persons and bodies mentioned in the first paragraph of section 65, every committee of revision established under section 41 and any council of arbitration contemplated in section 54 with the information which they have and which they have obtained for the carrying out of this Act, whenever required to do so for the purposes of an inquiry held by such a person, body, such committee or council respecting any professional subject to their competence.

The same shall apply to members and employees of the committees of revision established under section 41 and of the councils of arbitration contemplated in section 54 with respect to the persons or bodies mentioned in the first paragraph of section 65, in the circumstances contemplated in the preceding paragraph.

1970, c. 37, s. 53; 1970, c. 38, s. 18; 1973, c. 30, s. 11; 1986, c. 95, s. 21.

66.0.1. For the purposes of sections 57 and 58 of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A-29.01), the Board shall, on request, forward the information referred to in section 59 of that Act to the Conseil consultatif de pharmacologie.

1994, c. 8, s. 13; 1996, c. 32, s. 99.

66.1. The Board shall send to the Minister or to the council of physicians, dentists and pharmacists of an institution, upon request, the group practice profile of the health professionals of an institution or of those who practise the same kind of activity in a facility maintained by the institution. That information must contain no mention of the name or address of any professional.

The Board shall send to the head of a clinical department of a hospital centre, upon request, the individual practice profile in an institution of professionals in the field of health who practise their profession in his department.

The Board shall also send, on request, to the regional medical committee established under section 367 of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2), or to a regional board referred to in the said Act, in a non-nominative form, the individual or group practice profiles of the health professionals who practise in the region concerned together with information, in nominative form concerning the specialty in which general practitioners and medical specialists are classified, the fact that they receive or do not receive remuneration from the Board, and the location of their practice, in other words the name of the institution concerned if they practise in a centre operated by an institution, or the name of the locality, in other cases. The Board shall also, on request, send the practice profiles to the organization representing general practitioners and the organization representing medical specialists with which the Minister has entered into an agreement within the meaning of section 19, and to the group formed by the regional boards.

The Government may, by regulation, determine the information that must be given in the practice profile.

1981, c. 22, s. 21; 1984, c. 47, s. 209; 1991, c. 42, s. 578; 1992, c. 21, s. 109, s. 375; 1998, c. 39, s. 181.

67. Section 63 shall not prohibit the disclosure for statistical purposes of information obtained for the carrying out of this Act, provided that it cannot be connected with individual persons.

No person may use, for purposes other than those provided for by this Act, any information obtained by the Board.

It does not prohibit the disclosure to the Minister of information on insured services furnished by territory or by kind of activity in a territory or facility maintained by an institution. The information must contain no mention of the surname, given name or address of any professional.

Neither does it prohibit the disclosure to the Minister of Employment and Solidarity of the nature of the services, medications, prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment, visual or hearing aids or communication devices the cost of which is assumed or reimbursed by the Board under subparagraphs b and c of the first paragraph, the second, the third, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh and the eight paragraphs of section 3, the date on which such things or services were supplied and their cost with respect to each person and family eligible under a last resort financial assistance program provided for in the Act respecting income support, employment assistance and social solidarity (S-32.001) holding a valid claim booklet issued under sections 70 or 71.1.

Neither does it prohibit the disclosure of information obtained for the carrying out of this Act to the Institut de la statistique du Québec established under the Act respecting the Institut de la statistique du Québec (chapter I‐13.011) where such disclosure is necessary for the carrying out of its functions, in accordance with the conditions and in the manner provided for in the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information (chapter A‐2.1).

Nor does it prohibit the disclosure of information obtained for the carrying out of this Act to the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec and to the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux for the purpose of determining the cost of health services provided following an automobile accident, in accordance with section 155.4 of the Automobile Insurance Act (chapter A-25).

Furthermore, it does not prohibit that information obtained for the carrying out of this Act be disclosed to a person authorized by the Commission d’accès à l’information to use such information for purposes of research in the fields of health and social services.

1970, c. 37, s. 54; 1971, c. 47, s. 14; 1973, c. 30, s. 12; 1979, c. 1, s. 42; 1981, c. 9, s. 37; 1981, c. 22, s. 22; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1984, c. 47, s. 17; 1989, c. 50, s. 36; 1988, c. 51, s. 102; 1991, c. 42, s. 579; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1992, c. 21, s. 110, s. 375; 1994, c. 8, s. 14; 1994, c. 12, s. 17; 1996, c. 32, s. 100; 1997, c. 63, s. 128; 1998, c. 44, s. 45; 1999, c. 22, s. 40; 1998, c. 36, s. 168.

68. Every health professional to whom an agreement applies, whatever his basis of remuneration, is bound to furnish the Board with only the information or documents needed by the Board to evaluate a statement of fees or a request for payment concerning insured services furnished by him to a beneficiary or for purposes of the application of sections 2.1, 24.1 and 24.2 of the Act respecting the Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec (chapter R-5) and sections 18 and 64 of this Act.

An institution which must attest a health professional’s statement of fees or request for payment must do so solely with regard to insured services within the meaning of section 3.

1970, c. 37, s. 55; 1979, c. 1, s. 43; 1990, c. 56, s. 3; 1991, c. 42, s. 580; 1992, c. 21, s. 375.

68.1. The Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec and any university must furnish to the Board, at the request of its director general, the amount of the remuneration paid to the whole body of professionals in the field of health who are subject to the application of an agreement, or to a class of them according to the nature of the activity they practise.

The Board shall transmit the information to the Minister on request.

1981, c. 22, s. 23; 1990, c. 19, s. 11; 1990, c. 56, s. 4.

68.2. The Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux must forward to the Board, on request, the name of persons in residential care who are subject to the contributory plan for adults in residential care, in order to allow the Board to issue, to those persons, a health-insurance card or eligibility card that does not include their photograph and signature.

1992, c. 21, s. 111.

DIVISION VIII REGULATIONS

69. The Government may, after consultation with the Board or upon its recommendation, in addition to the regulatory powers conferred upon it by this Act, make regulations to:

(a)  prescribe anything that may be prescribed under this Act;

(b)  determine among the services contemplated in section 3 those which are not to be deemed insured services, and how often some of those contemplated in subparagraph c of the first paragraph or in the second paragraph of section 3 may be rendered in order to remain insured services;

(b.1)   prescribe the cases, conditions or circumstances in which the services contemplated in section 3 are not considered insured services for all beneficiaries or those beneficiaries it indicates;

(b.2)  determine which services provided by physicians for problems related to colour blindness or refraction must not be considered insured services for beneficiaries determined under such regulations according to their age or according as to whether or not they hold a valid claim booklet issued pursuant to section 71 or 71.1;

(b.3)  determine, for mammography services used for detection purposes, which services are not to be considered insured services for beneficiaries determined under such regulation, according to their age and in the places of practice designated by the Minister for the dispensing of such services, and prescribe the intervals at which such services must be rendered in order to remain insured services. The intervals may vary according to the cases, conditions and circumstances indicated therein;

(c)  determine which services of oral surgery are to be deemed insured services for the purposes of subparagraph b of the first paragraph of section 3;

(c.1)  determine which family planning services are to be considered insured services for the purposes of subparagraph d of the first paragraph of section 3;

(d)  determine which services rendered by dentists are to be considered insured services for the purposes of the second paragraph of section 3 in respect of each class of beneficiaries contemplated therein;

(e)  fix the age at which a person is entitled to insured services under the second paragraph of section 3;

(e.1)  determine which services rendered by pharmacists must be considered insured services for the purposes of the third and fourth paragraphs of section 3 and prescribe the intervals at which certain of those services must be rendered to remain insured services. The intervals may vary according to the cases, conditions and circumstances it indicates;

(f)  prescribe, beyond the amount whose payment is assumed by the Board in conformity with section 60 of the Act respecting prescription drug insurance (chapter A-29.01), the amount or the mode of fixing the fees which may be required from beneficiaries by a pharmacist, the terms and conditions under which they are to be collected and the cases of total or partial exemption, with or without conditions;

(g)  determine which services rendered by optometrists are deemed insured services for the purposes of subparagraph c of the first paragraph of section 3 and fix the age of beneficiaries who may receive such services or some of them;

(h)  determine the services and the prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment that compensate for a physical deficiency indicated therein and that must be considered to be insured services for the purposes of the fifth paragraph of section 3, fix the age at which beneficiaries may be entitled thereto and the classes of such beneficiaries, determine the amount that may be assumed on behalf of a beneficiary indicated therein, the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board assumes the amount of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such services are furnished, and prescribe the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such property may be recovered;

(h.1)  give a definition of “visually handicapped person” and determine the visual aids which are to be considered insured services for the purposes of the sixth paragraph of section 3, fix the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair thereof, determine the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board reimburses the cost of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such services are furnished, prescribe the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such visual aids may be recovered, fix the age of the visually handicapped persons who may benefit thereby and determine classes of such persons;

(h.2)  give a definition of “person with a hearing handicap”, determine the hearing aids which are to be considered insured services for the purposes of the seventh paragraph of section 3, fix the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair thereof, determine the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board assumes the cost of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such services are furnished, prescribe the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such hearing aids may be recovered, prescribe the terms and conditions regarding claims and payments, fix the age of the persons with a hearing handicap who may benefit thereby and determine classes of such persons;

Not in force

(h.2.1)  define what constitutes a person with a communication-related physical deficiency, determine the communication devices to be considered as insured services for the purposes of the eighth paragraph of section 3, fix the cost of purchase, fitting, replacement or repair thereof, determine the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which the Board reimburses the cost of those insured services and the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which they are furnished, prescribe the cases, circumstances and conditions in and on which such communication devices may be recovered, fix the age of the persons with a communication-related physical deficiency who may be entitled thereto and determine the classes of such beneficiaries;

(h.3)  determine what persons, outside Québec and, for each territory defined therein, in Québec other than an institution or laboratory, may furnish certain categories of insured services contemplated in the fifth paragraph of section 3 for which a fixed cost may be exacted from the Board by the beneficiary, the classes of services the cost of which may be so exacted and fix the maximum price that may be exacted from the beneficiary by such persons;

(i)  determine what constitutes a hospital centre outside Québec, or a university establishment, for the purposes of subparagraph b of the first paragraph of section 3;

(i.1)  determine the activities or administrative tasks carried out by a health professional which shall be considered to be insured services for the purposes of the eleventh paragraph of section 3;

(j)  determine the time from which persons or categories of persons become residents of Québec and the cases, conditions or circumstances in which they cease to be residents of Québec;

(j.1)  determine the cases, conditions and circumstances in which a person who is not a resident of Québec is deemed to be a resident of Québec;

(j.2)  determine the cases, conditions and circumstances in which a person who is a resident of Québec retains his status as a resident of Québec despite his absence;

(j.3)  determine the period of extension of eligibility for persons who are resident of Québec who settle in another Canadian province;

(k)  (subparagraph repealed);

(l)  determine the conditions to be met by a person who registers with the Board, the information and documents he must provide, the time of year of registration, and in what cases, conditions and circumstances and by what methods a person must register with the Board and the cases in which an application for registration may be made by one person on behalf of another;

(l.1)  prescribe standards relating to the photograph which a person must supply when registering with the Board or when applying for a renewal of registration or the replacement of a health-insurance card or eligibility card;

(l.2)  determine the terms and conditions according to which an application for registration, for renewal of registration or for the replacement of a health-insurance card or eligibility card must be authenticated, the categories of persons, the government departments, the public bodies and the institutions which, in addition to the Board, are authorized to authenticate such applications according to the categories of beneficiaries it indicates, the documents that must be presented by the applicant, and the conditions the applicant must fulfil at the time his application is authenticated;

(m)  determine the conditions upon which health-insurance cards may be renewed or replaced, and the cases in which they must be returned to the Board, and fix the expiration date thereof;

(m.1)  determine the conditions upon which eligibility cards may be renewed or replaced, and the cases in which they must be returned to the Board, and fix the expiration date thereof;

(m.2)  (subparagraph repealed);

(n)  establish standards to determine the emergency cases in which the Board shall pay the remuneration provided for in an agreement, to a professional who has withdrawn or a non-participating professional, for insured services which he renders to a beneficiary;

(o)  determine the number and categories of scholarships or research scholarships, the amount and the mode of payment of the scholarships and the terms and conditions on which a territory is assigned to any recipient of a bursary;

(p)  prescribe the terms of the engagement to be fulfilled by any scholar in addition to the conditions provided by this Act;

(q)   determine the cases, conditions or circumstances and services for which the Board must send to a beneficiary a statement of insured services that it has paid for him, and how often it must send it;

(r)  (subparagraph replaced);

(s)  prescribe the tenor of the engagement that must be fulfilled by a professional receiving an incentive premium and determine the number and the amount of incentive premiums and the composition and mode of operation of a jury contemplated in section 77.4;

(t)   determine the cases or circumstances where a professional in the field of health who is subject to the application of an agreement is entitled to be remunerated by the Board for insured services he has furnished in person to a beneficiary who did not present his health-insurance card;

Not in force

(t.1)  determine the manner in which a beneficiary is informed of the cost of an insured service provided by a health professional;

(u)  (subparagraph repealed);

(v)  determine the cases in which and the conditions on which the Board may reimburse or assume payment of an amount effectively claimed for insured medical services;

(w)  provide for a different remuneration for physicians practising in a territory or place of practice coming under a regulation made pursuant to the third paragraph of section 19 or for physicians in the first years of practising their profession or specialty under the plan, according to the territory where they practise or the type of activities they carry on;

(x)  provide for different remuneration for physicians according to whether or not they are authorized by a regional board or by the institution to which Part IV.2 of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) applies to participate in an agreement referred to in section 360 of the Act respecting health services and social services for all or part of their activities in that region, determine the terms and conditions of participation in such an agreement and the number of years during which the different remuneration will apply and the rules of equivalence allowing a physician having held a licence to practise for less than ten years to be released from participating in a particular medical activity, especially by reason of his heavy workload or the number of years spent in practice in a territory or place of practice determined by the regulation.

The Minister shall publish, in the Gazette officielle du Québec, a list of the places he designates for the purposes of subparagraph b.3 of the first paragraph and every update of the list; the list and updates come into force on the date they are published or on any later date fixed therein.

Every regulation made pursuant to subparagraphs b to e, g, i or i.1 of the first paragraph shall have effect, even with regard to health professionals bound by a valid agreement and notwithstanding any stipulation of such an agreement, on the date or dates fixed in the regulation.

However, a regulation made pursuant to subparagraph b.1 of the first paragraph shall have effect, even with regard to health professionals bound by a valid agreement and notwithstanding any stipulation of such an agreement, on the date or dates fixed in the regulation, with the exception of a regulation having the effect of determining which services are not considered to be insured services in cases, conditions or circumstances which take into account the place of practice where they are dispensed.

1970, c. 37, s. 56; 1970, c. 38, s. 19; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1971, c. 47, s. 15; 1973, c. 30, s. 13; 1973, c. 49, s. 45; 1974, c. 40, s. 15; 1979, c. 1, s. 44; 1981, c. 22, s. 24; 1985, c. 23, s. 3; 1986, c. 79, s. 4; 1986, c. 99, s. 1; 1989, c. 50, s. 37; 1990, c. 56, s. 5; 1991, c. 42, s. 581; 1992, c. 19, s. 7; 1992, c. 21, s. 112; 1991, c. 42, s. 581; 1992, c. 21, s. 375; 1994, c. 8, s. 15; 1996, c. 32, s. 101; 1998, c. 39, s. 182.

69.0.1. Regulations adopted under subparagraph h, h.1, h.2 or h.2.1 of the first paragraph of section 69 following a contract with a supplier pursuant to section 3.1 are not subject to the provisions concerning the obligation of publication and the date of coming into force which are set out in sections 8 and 17 of the Regulations Act (chapter R-18.1).

1989, c. 50, s. 38; 1994, c. 8, s. 16.

69.0.2. Regulations adopted under subparagraph w or x of the first paragraph of section 69 are not subject to the provisions concerning the obligation of publication and the date of coming into force which are set out in sections 8 and 17 of the Regulations Act (chapter R-18.1).

1989, c. 50, s. 38; 1991, c. 42, s. 582; 1992, c. 21, s. 113; 1996, c. 32, s. 102.

69.1. (Repealed).

1985, c. 23, s. 4; 1991, c. 42, s. 583; 1992, c. 21, s. 114; 1996, c. 32, s. 103.

69.2. The Minister may make regulations to determine the territories or places of practice situated therein that he considers to be understaffed with regard to all professionals or to some of them, taking into account the type of their activity.

1991, c. 42, s. 584.

70. The Minister of Employment and Solidarity shall issue a claim booklet in the form he prescribes to every person or family eligible under a last resort financial assistance program provided for in the Act respecting income support, employment assistance and social solidarity (chapter S‐32.001) or who or which is a recipient of an allowance paid under the second paragraph of section 67 of the Social Aid Act (1969, chapter 63), attesting that he or it is entitled to the services contemplated in the third paragraph of section 3, for the period provided in such booklet.

1971, c. 47, s. 16; 1974, c. 40, s. 16; 1975, c. 60, s. 2; 1977, c. 44, s. 4; 1979, c. 1, s. 45; 1981, c. 9, s. 37; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1988, c. 51, s. 103; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1994, c. 12, s. 17; 1997, c. 63, s. 128; 1998, c. 36, s. 169.

71. The Minister of Employment and Solidarity shall issue a claim booklet in the form he prescribes to every person at least 60 years of age and less than 65 years of age, attesting that he is entitled to the services mentioned in subparagraph c of the first paragraph and in the fourth paragraph of section 3, and to the services determined by a regulation made under subparagraph b.2 of the first paragraph of section 69, during the period provided in the booklet,

(a)  if such person receives an allowance under Part III of the Old Age Security Act (Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, chapter O-9); and

(b)  if such person would but for such allowance be eligible under a last resort financial assistance program provided for in the Act respecting income support, employment assistance and social solidarity (chapter S‐32.001) or would be the recipient of an allowance paid under the second paragraph of section 67 of the Social Aid Act (1969, chapter 63).

1975, c. 60, s. 3; 1977, c. 23, s. 5; 1979, c. 1, s. 46; 1981, c. 9, s. 37; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1988, c. 51, s. 104; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1994, c. 8, s. 17; 1994, c. 12, s. 17; 1997, c. 63, s. 128; 1998, c. 36, s. 170.

71.1. The Minister of Employment and Solidarity shall issue a claim booklet in the form he prescribes to every person or family eligible under a last resort financial assistance program provided for in the Act respecting income support, employment assistance and social solidarity (chapter S‐32.001), attesting that he or it is entitled to the services mentioned in subparagraph c of the first paragraph and in the second paragraph of section 3, and to the services determined by a regulation made under subparagraph b.2 of the first paragraph of section 69, during the period provided for therein.

1979, c. 1, s. 47; 1981, c. 9, s. 37; 1982, c. 53, s. 57; 1988, c. 51, s. 105; 1992, c. 19, s. 8; 1992, c. 44, s. 81; 1994, c. 12, s. 17; 1997, c. 63, s. 128; 1998, c. 36, s. 171.

71.2. The obligation imposed on the Minister under sections 70, 71 and 71.1 does not apply in respect of a person or family who or which may be granted only special benefits relating to legal aid under the Act respecting income support, employment assistance and social solidarity (chapter S‐32.001).

1982, c. 58, s. 15; 1988, c. 51, s. 106; 1998, c. 36, s. 172.

72. The Board may make regulations

(a)  prescribing the content of the statement of fees or of any other form of the Board which may or must be used by a professional in the field of health, a beneficiary, a resident or deemed resident of Québec, an institution or a laboratory;

(b)  prescribing the cases in and conditions according to which a mandatary may claim fees from the Board on behalf of a professional in the field of health, the information, and the tenor of the documents pertaining to the claim that the professional must file with the Board and preserve, together with the time for which such documents must be kept;

(c)  fixing the amount of the costs exigible for the replacement of a health-insurance card before its expiry, and the categories of persons who may be exempt from the payment of such costs;

(c.1)  fixing the amount of the costs exigible by the Board for applications for the renewal of the registration of a beneficiary who is a person deemed to be resident in Québec;

(d)  fixing the amount of the costs exigible for the replacement of an eligibility card before its expiry, and the categories of persons who may be exempt from the payment of such costs;

(d.1)  fixing the amount of the costs exigible by the Board for applications for the renewal of the registration of a person referred to in subparagraph a of subparagraph 2 of the first paragraph of section 10 of the Act respecting the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (chapter M-19.2);

(d.2)  fixing the amount of the costs exigible by the Board from a health professional who submits to the Board a statement of fees or a claim for payment by means of a billing system other than an electronic data processing or telecommunication system, determining the terms and conditions of payment of the costs and exempting, in such cases, conditions and circumstances as it indicates, certain health professionals or certain classes of health professionals from the payment of such costs;

(e)  fixing the amount of the administrative costs exigible by the Board where it believes that payment has been exacted from a beneficiary where nothing in this Act, the regulations or the agreements so permits;

(f)  prescribing the terms, conditions and procedure applicable to calls for tenders for the supply of prostheses, orthopedic devices, locomotor or posture assists, medical supplies or other equipment, visual or hearing aids or communication devices contemplated in section 3;

(g)  establishing the classes of health-insurance cards according to the services for which a person is eligible and determining, for each class of card, the information it shall contain;

(h)  determining the content of a health-insurance card and an eligibility card and the terms and conditions of their issue and determining the cases, circumstances and conditions in or according to which the Board may, or must, issue a health-insurance card or eligibility card that does not include the photograph or signature of the beneficiary.

Before coming into force, such a regulation must be approved by the Government.

1970, c. 37, s. 57; 1979, c. 1, s. 48; 1989, c. 50, s. 39; 1991, c. 42, s. 585; 1992, c. 21, s. 115; 1992, c. 21, s. 375; 1994, c. 8, s. 18.

73. (Repealed).

1970, c. 37, s. 58; 1981, c. 22, s. 25; 1994, c. 8, s. 19.

DIVISION IX PENAL PROVISIONS AND OTHER SANCTIONS

1986, c. 79, s. 5; 1992, c. 61, s. 68.

74. No person may knowingly obtain or receive from the Board, directly or indirectly, the benefit of services which he is not entitled to obtain or receive under this Act, the regulations or a plan or program administered by the Board, or knowingly so obtain or receive the benefit of services in an excessive or unjustified manner.

No person may knowingly aid or abet another person in obtaining or receiving from the Board, directly or indirectly, the benefit of services that such other person is not entitled to obtain or receive under this Act, the regulations or a plan or program administered by the Board, or knowingly aid or abet another person in so obtaining or receiving the benefit of services in an excessive or unjustified manner.

Every person who contravenes a provision of this section is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of not more than $500 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of $100 to $1,000.

1970, c. 37, s. 59; 1981, c. 22, s. 26; 1990, c. 4, s. 80.

75. Every person who contravenes a provision of section 63 is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of $50 to $500 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of $50 to $1,000.

Every person who knowingly contravenes a provision of section 63 is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine of $5,000 to $10,000.

1970, c. 37, s. 60; 1981, c. 22, s. 27; 1990, c. 4, s. 81.

76. Every person who contravenes any provision of this Act or the regulations for the violation of which no penalty is provided, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than $1,000.

1970, c. 37, s. 61; 1981, c. 22, s. 28; 1990, c. 4, s. 82.

76.1. Penal proceedings for an offence under a provision of this Act or any of its regulations are prescribed by two years from the date on which the offence is committed.

1994, c. 8, s. 20.

77. Where a professional in the field of health prosecuted under the Criminal Code (Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, chapter C-46) is found guilty of an infraction or an indictable offence in connection with a claim made to the Board or paid by it, the Board shall, upon pronouncement of final judgment, issue a written order whereby that professional is considered to be a non-participating professional for a period of six months in the case of a first conviction and one year in the case of a subsequent conviction.

Such an order must indicate the date from which the professional is to be considered a non-participating professional and the period for which it applies. The Board must, by registered mail, send a copy of that order to the professional at the last address known to the Board and cause a notice thereof to be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

1970, c. 37, s. 62; 1974, c. 40, s. 17; 1979, c. 1, s. 49; 1981, c. 22, s. 29.

77.0.1. The Board may issue an order of non-participation for six months in respect of a professional in the field of health where

(1)  a matter concerning the professional is referred to a revisory committee and, in the last 60 months, a decision pursuant to section 50 has been rendered by the Board against the professional;

(2)  there remains no other recourse against the decision of the Board rendered in respect of the second matter referred to the revisory committee.

Such an order of non-participation shall be rendered in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for in section 77.

1989, c. 50, s. 40.

77.1. In proceedings instituted under this act, a statement of fees or a demand for payment signed by a mandatary authorized by a professional in the field of health in accordance with section 72 is presumed to have been signed by that professional in the field of health.

1979, c. 1, s. 49.

77.1.1. Upon receiving a notice from an institution under section 257 of the Act respecting health services and social services (chapter S-4.2) or under section 132.2 of the Act respecting health services and social services for Cree Native persons (chapter S-5), the Board shall issue a written order attesting the non-participation of the physician or dentist contemplated in the notice.

The order must indicate the date from which the physician or the dentist is a non-participating professional and the period during which the order applies.

Where two or more physicians or dentists of the same institution are contemplated in such notices, the Board may, after consultation with the institution concerned, indicate different dates for the beginning of the period of non-participation of each of such physicians or dentists and spread such dates over the period it considers appropriate.

The Board shall send a copy of the order by registered mail to the physician or dentist at his latest address known to the Board and cause a notice thereof to be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec and in a newspaper circulating in the region where he practises his profession.

1986, c. 79, s. 6; 1992, c. 21, s. 116, s. 375; 1994, c. 23, s. 23.

DIVISION IX.1 INCENTIVE PREMIUMS

1979, c. 1, s. 50.

77.2. In accordance with this act and the regulations, the Minister may grant an incentive premium to the professional in the field of health who agrees to furnish insured services to beneficiaries in a territory recognized by the Minister as insufficiently provided with insured services.

An agreement may provide the conditions and terms for the granting of incentive premiums.

1979, c. 1, s. 50.

77.3. No person is entitled to an incentive premium unless, in the opinion of a jury,

(a)  he is domiciled in Québec;

(b)  he holds a permit to practise issued by the Bureau of the professional order governing his profession and is a member in good standing of that order;

(c)  he has signed the prescribed engagement.

1979, c. 1, s. 50; 1994, c. 40, s. 457.

77.4. The examination of professionals in the field of health who apply for incentive premiums is effected by a jury, whose composition and mode of operation are determined by regulation.

The examination is intended to determine the applicant’s ability to fulfil his engagement.

1979, c. 1, s. 50.

77.5. Every jury shall submit a written report of its examination to the Minister, together with a list of the eligible applicants, by order of priority.

1979, c. 1, s. 50.

77.6. The Board shall, in its annual report, give a separate detailed report of its activities in relation to the application of this division.

1979, c. 1, s. 50.

77.7. Incentive premiums granted by the Minister for each fiscal year are paid by the Board during that year. The Board shall, in its annual report, make a separate statement of account of the sums paid for such purposes.

1979, c. 1, s. 50.

DIVISION X

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

§ 1 . —

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

78. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 1; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

§ 2 . —

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

79. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 2; 1978, c. 35, s. 1; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

80. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 3; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

81. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 4; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

§ 3 . —

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

82. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 5; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

§ 4 . —

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

83. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 6; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

84. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 7; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

§ 5 . —

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

85. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 8; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

§ 6 . —

Replaced, 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

1978, c. 70, s. 12.

86. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 9; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

87. (Replaced).

1976, c. 27, s. 13; 1978, c. 70, s. 12.

DIVISION XI SCHOLARSHIPS

88. The Minister may, in accordance with this Act and the regulations, grant scholarships to persons who agree to furnish insured services as professionals subject to the application of an agreement.

The scholars shall furnish such services, after obtaining a permit to practise one of the health sciences or a specialist’s certificate, or after two years of post-doctoral training in general practice, in a territory and for a period fixed by the Minister.

The scholarships thus granted shall be paid by the Board.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1981, c. 22, s. 30; 1985, c. 23, s. 5.

89. No one shall be entitled to a scholarship if, in the opinion of the Minister:

(a)  he is not domiciled in Québec;

(b)  he does not have a working knowledge of the official language of Québec;

(c)  he is not registered in a theoretical and practical course of studies leading to a diploma in one of the health sciences;

(d)  he has not subscribed to the engagement prescribed by regulation to furnish the insured services which such permit to practise qualifies him to furnish;

(e)  he receives a scholarship or other direct pecuniary assistance under the Act respecting financial assistance for education expenses (chapter A-13.3) or any other law of Québec.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1984, c. 47, s. 18; 1990, c. 11, s. 58; 1997, c. 90, s. 14.

90. Any sum of money paid to a person as a scholarship shall be unseizable.

1974, c. 40, s. 18.

91. A scholar who abandons the studies agreed to or who otherwise fails to keep his engagement must reimburse to the Board, within six months of the date of the abandonment or failure, all sums of money received by him as a scholarship, with interest from the date they were paid to him.

A scholar who fails to keep his engagement by ceasing to provide services before the expiry of the period fixed by the Minister shall reimburse to the Board all sums of money received as a scholarship pro rata to the period remaining to him to cover.

A scholar who fails to go to the territory determined by the Minister to provide services there shall, before the next 31 December after the date of receipt of the Minister’s letter determining his territory, reimburse to the Board all sums of money received by him as a scholarship.

The obligation to reimburse is extinguished on the scholar’s becoming permanently unable to practise his profession or on his death.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1984, c. 47, s. 19; 1985, c. 23, s. 6.

92. The Minister shall see to the establishment and operation of one or more juries, each composed of not less than three members, who shall examine the persons who apply to him for scholarships.

The object of such examinations shall be to determine the aptitude of the candidates to fulfill their engagements.

The members of each jury shall be appointed by the Minister.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1984, c. 47, s. 20.

93. Each jury shall send a written report of its examination to the Minister, who shall prepare a list of qualified applicants by order of priority.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1984, c. 47, s. 21.

94. The Board shall, in its annual report, render a separate and detailed account of its activities in respect of the application of this division.

1974, c. 40, s. 18.

DIVISION XII RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS

95. The Minister may, in accordance with this Act and the regulations, grant research scholarships to persons who wish to do research in Québec in one of the health sciences.

1974, c. 40, s. 18.

96. No one shall be entitled to a research scholarship if, in the opinion of the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec established pursuant to the Act respecting the Ministère de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie (chapter M‐19.1.2),

(1)  he is not domiciled in Québec;

(2)  he does not have a working knowledge of the official language of Québec;

(3)  he is not pursuing, for a university body or for an institution, research in connection with one of the health sciences.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1979, c. 1, s. 51; 1981, c. 22, s. 31; 1983, c. 23, s. 102; 1992, c. 21, s. 117, s. 375; 1999, c. 8, s. 21.

97. The fund may constitute one or several juries, each composed of not less than three members, who shall examine the persons who apply for research scholarships.

The object of such examinations shall be to determine the aptitude of the candidates to accomplish their work in accordance with their engagements.

The members of each jury shall be appointed by the Minister from among the persons whose names appear on a list to be furnished for that purpose by the fund.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1981, c. 22, s. 31.

98. Each jury shall send a written report of its examination to the fund which shall send the list of admissible candidates that it recommends as recipients of research scholarships.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1981, c. 22, s. 31.

99. Every research scholarship must serve to establish and maintain a research post; it shall not be used to pay for the operating cost of the activities of an institution.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1992, c. 21, s. 118, s. 375.

100. A research scholarship shall be granted for a maximum period of three years.

1974, c. 40, s. 18.

101. The sums paid as research scholarships shall be unseizable.

1974, c. 40, s. 18.

102. No one shall receive more than one scholarship at the same time; however, the Minister may renew a scholarship if the conditions prescribed by the Act and the regulations are complied with.

Renewal is obtained in the same manner as the initial scholarship.

1974, c. 40, s. 18.

103. The amount of research scholarships granted by the Minister for each fiscal year shall be paid to the Minister by the Board up to a total amount equal to 0.4% of the total remuneration paid to the professionals in the field of health during the preceding fiscal year; the Board shall, in its annual report, make a separate statement of the sums thus paid.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1981, c. 22, s. 31.

104. The fund shall, in its annual report to the Minister, render a separate and detailed account of its activities in regard to the application of this division.

1974, c. 40, s. 18; 1981, c. 22, s. 32.

DIVISION XII.1

Repealed, 1991, c. 42, s. 586.

1989, c. 50, s. 41; 1991, c. 42, s. 586.

104.0.1. (Repealed).

1989, c. 50, s. 41; 1991, c. 42, s. 586.

104.0.2. (Repealed).

1989, c. 50, s. 41; 1991, c. 42, s. 586.

DIVISION XIII MISCELLANEOUS

104.1. This Act is of public order.

1981, c. 22, s. 33.

105. The Minister of Health and Social Services is entrusted with the application of this Act.

1970, c. 37, s. 88; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1979, c. 1, s. 52; 1985, c. 23, s. 24.

The Minister Responsible for Government Administration and Chair of the Conseil du trésor assumes responsibility for developing and coordinating a global collective negotiation strategy for the government administration. Order in Council 1638-2022 dated 20 October 2022, (2022) 154 G.O. 2 (French), 6513.

106. (Repealed).

1970, c. 37, s. 89; 1979, c. 1, s. 53.

107. (This section ceased to have effect on 17 April 1987).

1982, c. 21, s. 1; U. K., 1982, c. 11, Sch. B, Part I, s. 33.

REPEAL SCHEDULES

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes (chapter R-3), chapter 37 of the statutes of 1970, in force on 31 December 1977, is repealed, except sections 79, 80 and 90 to 92, effective from the coming into force of chapter A-29 of the Revised Statutes.

In accordance with section 17 of the Act respecting the consolidation of the statutes and regulations (chapter R-3), sections 10c, 11a and subparagraph o of the first paragraph of section 56 of chapter 37 of the statutes of 1970, in force on 1 November 1980, are repealed effective from the coming into force of the updating to 1 November 1980 of chapter A-29 of the Revised Statutes.

Sections 42 and 50 of this Act will be amended upon the coming into force of paragraph 2 of section 574 and of section 575 of chapter 42 of the statutes of 1991 on the date or dates fixed by order of the Government.

Sections 13.2, 14, 19 and 69 of this Act will be amended upon the coming into force of section 7, of paragraph 3 of section 9, of section 10 and of paragraph 8 of section 15 of chapter 8 of the statutes of 1994 on the date or dates fixed by order of the Government.

Sections 67, 70, 71, 71.1 and 71.2 of this Act will be amended upon the coming into force of sections 168 to 172 of chapter 36 of the statutes of 1998 on the date or dates fixed by order of the Government.

Section 41 of this Act will be replaced upon the coming into force of section 573 of chapter 42 of the statutes of 1991 on the date fixed by order of the Government.

Any provisions referred to in this Act as “not in force” will come into force on the date or dates fixed by order of the Government (1991, c. 42, s. 622; 1994, c. 8, s. 26; 1996, c. 32, s. 119).