Collecting a health card information is now mandatory for submitting the MHA PDS. What does this mean?
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 will not be submitted to Ontario Health 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 (OHIP) 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).
What do I do if a client does not have a health card, or does not want to provide their health card?
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 health card number 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.
Do all health programs have to collect health card numbers?
No. The Mental Health & Addictions Centre of Excellence will not be monitoring or expecting health card number collection from the following functional centres. Service providers may still collect health card numbers as they see fit for these services.
- 7*50710 | COM Medical Resources - Psychiatrists
- 7*50720 | COM Medical Resources - Other Medical Staff
- 7*51576 | COM Crisis Intervention - Mental Health
- 7*5507610 | COM Health Prom. /Education MH - Awareness
- 7*5507630 | COM Health Promo. /Education MH - Women
- 7*5507640 | COM Health Promo. /Education MH - Community Development
- 7*5507810 | COM Health Prom./Educ. Addictions - Drug Awareness
- 7*5507820 | COM Health Prom./Educ Addictions - Problem Gambling Awareness
- 7*5507840 | COM Health Prom./Educ. Addictions - Community Development - Substance Abuse
- 7*5517611 | COM Consumer Survivor Initiatives - Peer/Self Help
- 7*5517612 | COM Consumer Survivor Initiatives - Alternative Businesses
- 7*5517620 | COM Consumer Survivor Initiatives - Family Initiatives
- 7*57010 | COM Information and Referral Service – General
- 7*57076 | COM Information and Referral Service - Provincial - Mental Health
- 7*5707811 | COM Information and Referral Service - Provincial - Substance Abuse
- 7*31076 | AC Emergency - Mental Health Services
Does Ontario Health use OHIP numbers submitted to the MHA PDS for billing purposes?
No.
How does Ontario Health use OHIP numbers submitted to the MHA PDS?
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?
Your organization may benefit from adopting OHIP card readers. You can find more information on how to get an OHIP card reader here.
