Am J Psychiatry 1977; 134:248-252
Copyright © 1977 by American Psychiatric Association
The effects of National Health Insurance on Canadian Psychiatry: the Ontario experience
B Liptzin
After studying psychiatric coverage under national health insurance in
Ontario, the author concludes that psychiatric benefits can be provided on
the same basis as other medical benefits and that a government system can
maintain confidentiality. Costs have been reasonable and in line with the
proportion of psychiartists to the total number of physicians, and
psychiartists' incomes have increased substantially, even with
comparatively low official fees. Despite the existence of NHI, the public
mental health system has been maintained in Canada and has been expanded in
regard to children's services. There appears to be a continued need for
direct public funding of services for certain other groups such as the
elderly, chronic patients, ans substance abusers.
