College of LPNs and HCAs updates bylaws and approves education programs

Health policyTodayCanada

Canadian Dental Care Plan costs exceeded budget by 1.1 billion dollars

Auditor General Karen Hogan found benefit payments under the Canadian Dental Care Plan ran $1.1 billion over initial budget commitments across 2024-25 and 2025-26, driven by higher-than-expected claim payments per member. As of March 31, 2026, 6.9 million of 10.5 million eligible Canadians had registered and 4.2 million had submitted claims, with average out-of-pocket spending of $264. A newer forecast cut the projected shortfall to 2032 from $2.4 billion to $1.2 billion. Health Minister Marjorie Michel acknowledged a funding shortfall and said the program is under review.

Dental coverage costs and eligibility shape access to oral care for low- and middle-income Canadians, and any change to funded services or eligibility could affect patients frontline workers see every day.

Health policyYesterdayAlberta

Alberta LPNs may perform death pronouncements under specific practice conditions

The College of Licensed Health Professionals of Alberta clarifies that LPNs can perform death pronouncements by assessing for signs of life. Practitioners must follow employer policies, notify the most responsible health practitioner, and document findings. LPNs remain unable to certify the cause or manner of death on official certificates.

If you are an LPN, you can perform death pronouncements provided you follow your employer's specific requirements and document the assessment in the patient record.

Health policy2 days agoCanada

Public funding for ovarian cancer drug Elahere moves closer to approval

The Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance and the manufacturer of Elahere have reached a funding agreement. This targeted chemotherapy for FRα-positive, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is now recommended for public reimbursement by Canada’s Drug Agency. Provincial and territorial governments must now finalize the process to include the drug in their respective public plans.

If you treat patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, this agreement moves the drug closer to being covered by provincial public drug plans.

Health policy3 days agoCanada

Federal government introduces bill to restrict MAID for mental health conditions

The federal government is tabling legislation to permanently exclude individuals with mental illness as their sole underlying condition from accessing medical assistance in dying. The bill also introduces provisions for advance requests, allowing patients with degenerative conditions to consent to MAID before losing capacity. The legislation must pass by March 17, 2027.

If this bill passes, provinces will decide whether to implement advance request procedures within their own health systems.