FAQ

Foria’s roots are in Connect-Clinic, an Ontario-based clinic that pioneered virtual gender-affirming care. In December 2022, Connect had to stop services following the Government of Ontario’s changes to virtual care billing codes, making its operations unsustainable. These changes left 1,500 patients without access to critical life-affirming care and nearly 2,000 prospective patients on its waitlist. PurposeMed has worked with Connect’s Medical Director, Dr. Kate Greenaway, to build a new home for the clinic and its patients. That home is Foria.

Virtual gender-affirming care provides you with the safety of meeting an experienced nurse practitioner from your location. For some people, in-person care might be a better choice, and if so, your nurse practitioner will discuss this with you.

Foria is currently available in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta. Patients must be physically in Ontario or Alberta at the time of their virtual consult. (Updated June 2024)

Foria has launched in Ontario and Alberta, with plans to expand thoughtfully to other provinces.

Foria provides gender-affirming hormone therapy, surgical referrals, letters for gender marker change, and trans-affirming psychotherapy. Foria is for any trans, non-binary or gender-diverse people who think they would benefit from our care.

Foria’s services are available without a referral. Simply click the “Book consult” button to get started, or visit our “Services” tab to learn more about what we offer.

You'll need the following to access your video appointment:

• A supported computer or mobile device with a web browser, camera, good quality speakers, and microphone

• An internet (wi-fi) or a phone data plan (for connections via mobile device)

• A strong internet connection

• An email account. You will receive an email 5 minutes before the appointment, with a link and code to join the visit.

The frequency of your appointments will depend on the type of service you’re receiving. For more information on the frequency of appointments, check out our “Services” tab.

There is no waitlist to join Foria - if you meet our eligibility criteria below, you are welcome to book an appointment.

Patients in Ontario can typically book an appointment within six to eight weeks for Initial Consults, Surgical Assessments and Follow Up appointments.

We are currently offering services to residents of Ontario who are 16 years and older.

There may be some reasons such as other health conditions that would make it safer for you to receive ongoing care from an in-person or specialist service. Your clinician will discuss this with you at your first appointment.

Please note: In these cases, there is still a fee for the appointment (outside Northwestern Ontario) because we will still provide a detailed assessment prior to referring you on.

We are currently offering services to individuals 16 years and older, and we are working to expand age eligibility in the future.

Patients in Ontario do not need a provincial health card to use Foria. This is because our Ontario appointments are with nurse practitioners, who are not covered by the provincial health system.

To use Foria in Ontario, you will still need a government-issued ID (federal or provincial). For a full list of IDs we accept, see "What if I don't have a provincial health card or identification?" in this FAQ.

For Ontario patients, you do not need a provincial health card to access our services, but you do need a government-issued ID (federal or provincial). You must also be physically located in the province of Ontario at the time of your appointment.

Here are a list of valid identification cards you can use:

• Health card issued by a Province or Territory in Canada

• Valid driver’s licence or temporary driver’s licence (issued by Ontario or other jurisdiction)

• Ontario Photo Card

• Birth certificate from a Canadian province or territory

• Government-issued employee identification card

• Ontario Outdoors card

• BYID (age of majority card)

• Certificate of Indian Status

• Valid passport – Canadian or other country

• Certificate of Canadian citizenship

• Canadian immigration identification card

• Permanent resident card

• Old Age Security identification card

• Canadian Armed Forces Identification Card

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police/provincial/municipal police identification

• Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence

If you’re applying for OHIP approval for your surgery, you’ll need to meet these criteria:

• You have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. This can be a previous diagnosis or the clinician can make the diagnosis in your appointment, based on your history.

• Other health conditions (like diabetes or depression) are treated and/or under good control.

• You’ve considered the alternatives to surgery, like binding for chest surgery.

• Surgery could help you achieve the goals you have.

• You understand the risks and benefits of surgery and can give consent.

• You’ve been on hormones for at least a year (for everything except chest surgery).

• You’re over the age of 18.

If your clinician can verify all of these, they fill out the Ministry of Health form (called Prior Approval Form) to request funding. For all TRS except chest or breast surgery, two different clinicians must verify this information and fill out the form. These are separate parts of the same form.

No, you do not need a referral to access Foria.

No, you do not need a family doctor to access Foria’s services.

Foria Clinic is committed to protecting your confidentiality and privacy. The clinic adheres to strict privacy policies and complies with all relevant Canadian healthcare regulations, including the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). For any digital communications regarding health information, Foria uses secure and encrypted platforms to ensure that your information is safeguarded.

Foria Clinic stores your medical information using a secure electronic medical record (EMR) system. This system is designed to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of your information. The clinic adheres to Canadian healthcare data storage regulations and employs security measures such as encryption and access controls to protect your records.

Foria does not bill OHIP for services, meaning OHIP will not receive a record of appointments from Foria. We do require blood work completion as part of our care where lab tests can be completed at a local lab, and these lab tests are covered by OHIP. Labs send reports directly back to our clinic since we are the ordering clinic/clinician. Lab reports are also made available through ConnectingOntario — this means all lab reports for a patient are visible to any provider reviewing your lab results through that system regardless of ordering clinic/clinician.

Additionally, if you are eligible for Ontario Drug Benefit, the medication will be listed on the Drug Profile Viewer and health care providers in your Circle of Care will see which medications have been prescribed. If you use private insurance or pay out-of-pocket, this won’t be applicable.

Foria is not obligated to communicate with your primary health care provider, however, we always recommend that you share health information with them since gender-affirming hormones could have impacts on other parts of your health.

We will not share your information with third parties without your consent, except in cases where it is legally required as per PHIPA. There are exceedingly rare circumstances where Foria would be required to provide information to other parties, such as if a patient is determined to be a danger to themselves or others. In these circumstances, only the minimal required information is shared as privacy concerns are seminal. Answers to common questions about PHIPA regulations can be found here.

At Foria Clinic, you can request access to your health records by contacting the clinic directly at support@foriaclinic.com. There will be a $30 fee to have your records sent to you.

The clinic will provide you with information on the process and any forms that may be necessary to fill out. It’s important to know that Canadian healthcare regulations also support patients' rights to access their own medical records, and Foria is committed to facilitating this in a timely manner.

Yes, Foria Clinic uses a secure video platform for virtual consultations through our electronic medical record (EMR) system. The platform employs encryption and other security measures to ensure that your privacy is protected during video calls. This is in line with Canadian healthcare regulations, which mandate the use of secure and confidential communication methods in healthcare settings.

You will be charged at the time of booking your appointment using our booking system.

The appointment fees will depend on the type of service you’re receiving. For more information on fees for specific types of appointments, visit our Hormones, Surgical Assessments or Mental Health pages.

Included in all appointment fees are the following:

• A review of your medical history

• Monitoring of your health including vitals and blood work

• Sexual health monitoring and check-ins

• Management of secondary effects

Connect Fund is a non-profit organization partnered with Foria that provides financial assistance for 2SLGBTQ+ healthcare costs.

Any community member with healthcare costs that are not covered by provincial health insurance can apply – this includes surgeries, travel and accommodation for surgeries, and counselling.

Connect fund will begin taking applications at the end of 2024. To register your interest to donate or apply for funding, click here.

Credit card payments are completed via our secure online payment processor.

Yes, we have a partner pharmacy that offers free and discreet shipping to most patients in Ontario and Alberta. You can also get your prescription filled at any pharmacy of your choice.