Under the CHA, what determines if a healthcare professional can bill the provincial plan?

The correct choice is based on the principle that healthcare professionals are allowed to bill the provincial health insurance plan for services they provide only if those services are deemed medically necessary. This concept is grounded in the Canada Health Act (CHA), which mandates that provincial and territorial health insurance plans must cover medically necessary hospital and physician services to qualify for federal funding.

Medically necessary services are those that are essential for diagnosing or treating an individual's condition, with the intent of improving or maintaining health. This ensures that all Canadians have access to necessary medical care without direct charges at the point of service.

By focusing on medically necessary services, the act helps maintain a system where patients receive care based on need rather than ability to pay, supporting equitable access to healthcare across Canada. Other options, while relevant in healthcare discussions, do not represent the criteria established by the CHA for billing purposes in the context of provincial plans. Ambulatory services, elective services, and universal coverage address different aspects of healthcare delivery but do not directly determine billing eligibility under the CHA.