Abstract

In “Medicare Makeover: Reimagining the Canada Health Act at 40,” Flood and Thomas (2025) study access and comprehensiveness in the Canada Health Act (1985). They note a decline in timely access to care and advocate for the establishment of benchmarks for access, suggesting provinces should meet those standards in exchange for federal funding. They call for a re-evaluation of what constitutes “medically necessary” services, proposing a broader list of supports while ensuring equitable access regardless of financial status. Building on their recommendations, we argue for deeper systemic reform to Canadian medicare. Collaborative care models and decision making by local teams will enhance service delivery and outcomes. We also expand on the process for determining insured services, including a multi-government task force and public consultation. We suggest that proactive measures should be implemented immediately while advocating for a stronger legislative framework as proposed by Flood and Thomas to ensure the sustainability of Canadian medicare.