LET'S TALK: Ontario optometrists agree to mediation but still won't see OHIP patients starting in September

Ontario’s optometrists have agreed to work with a third-party mediator in hopes of persuading the province to at least cover their costs for delivering eye care to patients. But until the Ministry of Health can agree with the Ontario Association of Optometrists on this “principle of cost recovery,” patients whose eye care appointments would normally be covered by OHIP will be turned away as of September 1. “Optometrists continue to have their patients' best interests and the sustainability of the publicly funded optometry system at heart,” the association said in an August 9 press release. “For this reason, the OAO is willing to immediately begin intensive mediation with a third party mediator in an effort to achieve an agreement with the Ministry.” For the past eight months, the association has been asking the province to fund OHIP-insured eye care to at least cover the cost of delivery. According to the association, OHIP pays an average of $44.65 for an eye exam—just $5.50 more than what it paid three decades ago. Read: Optometrists threaten to reject OHIP covered eye exams In the meantime, the costs of running an optometry practice—including clinic space rental, employees’ salaries, equipment and supplies—have risen exponentially over the years. OHIP pays only an average of 55% of the cost of an eye exam, said the OAO. Optometrists cover the balance. The Ministry of Health met with the association on August 5, but the meeting ended in an impasse after the province rejected an OAO proposal that included a commitment to the principle that optometrists no longer be forced to subsidize the delivery of eye care to OHIP patients. After the failed meeting, the ministry offered mediation to help resolve the dispute. The association said 100,000 patients had written the province asking them to fund OHIP-insured eye care to the cost of delivery. "The outpouring of support from patients is the reason why we have been working around the clock to try and save publicly funded eye care for children and seniors", OAO president Dr. Sheldon Salaba said through a press release. "We are disappointed that it took this level of public pressure for the government to finally reach out.” If the suspension of service goes through, people up to the age of 19 and those who are 65 years or older needing eye exams will not be able to see an optometrist starting September 1. Ontarians aged 20 and 64 are less likely to to be affected by the suspension of service because their optometry appointments are not covered by OHIP unless they were referred by a physician or have a medical condition that affects the eye. Provincial law prohibits Ontarians from paying out-of-pocket or through private insurance for a medical service covered by OHIP, which accounts for about 70% of an average optometrist’s patient load. "We want to provide Ontarians with the high-quality eye care that they deserve", added Dr. Salaba. "We're just looking for fairness from the government." Read: New 24-hour interpreting app being piloted in Ontario hospital

LET'S TALK: Ontario optometrists agree to mediation but still won't see OHIP patients starting in September

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