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Collecting
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health card
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information will be mandatory for submitting the MHA PDS. What does this mean?
Some data elements within the MHA PDS are mandatory, while others are optional. While we recommend service providers collect as many data elements they can over the client journey, only mandatory data elements are required for a successful submission. For example, "client last name" is mandatory; if you do not include a last name, then the client record will not be submitted to Ontario Health.
In PDS 1.0, the "health card number" field is optional. In PDS 2.0, which will be rolled out after March 2025, collecting health card information will be mandatory. In order to have the client record be submitted to Ontario Health, the Health Service Provider will need to enter:
- A valid health card number, OR
- Indicate the reason why a health card number could not be provided; standard response options for missing health card numbers will be included as part of PDS 2.0 (e.g. client did not want to provide, client did not have a health card).
If the health card number information is left completely blank, the record In PDS 1.0, "health card number" was optional. In PDS 2.0, "health card number" will now be mandatory; if "health card number" is left blank then the record will not be submitted to Ontario Health. Note: a valid health card number is not required for submission, see more information below and will therefore be excluded from any provincial analysis. The more complete client records that are submitted to Ontario Health gives both Health Service Providers and Ontario Health a better sense of service utilization and outcomes, and can better inform service planning and delivery. Further, by collecting OHIP numbers, Ontario Health and Health Service Providers will be able to map the client journey across the health care continuum (including primary care, other community care and acute/emergency care), and provide more informed care in all settings.
Will clients without an OHIP card be denied service?
The collection of Ontario Health Insurance Plan (PHIPOHIP) numbers should not pose a barrier to care provision. Mental health and addictions clients unable or unwilling to provide an Ontario Health Insurance Plan Number within functional centres not included above will not be denied service. For more information on the collection of client Ontario Health Insurance Plan Numbers, please visit our resource hub (place holder for link to OHIP FAQ).
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If service providers are unable to collect a valid health card number they can input either: "client does not have a health card" or "client does not want to provide health card."
Do I have to collect
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health card number
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at referral?
No. While we recommend collecting a health card number as early as possible, service providers can leave the field blank, or input a placeholder such as "health card pending intake" (depending on the configuration of your CMS) until the health card number is collected.
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How does Ontario Health use OHIP numbers submitted to the MHA PDS?
I need to work on this part-- not done!OHIP numbers submitted to the MHA PDS are compared against the Registered Persons Database, which is the database containing all people with OHIP cards in the province. For our analytics purposes, we collect OHIP number to be able to link clients across the health care continuum (e.g., client interactions with community, emergency and hospital providers) to understand the client journey.
Do you have any guidance on how to begin collecting OHIP card numbers?
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