Thirty-two years of the Provincial Government's failure to recognize and seem to value the high quality level of primary eye care that Optometry offers to the publicly funded O.H.I.P. health care system has resulted in an eye care crisis. If nothing changes in the funding method of eye exams in Ontario, the future is bleak. Wait times for eye exams for developing youth and the vulnerable elderly will surely rise since O.H.I.P. doesn't pay enough to actually cover the real cost of delivery of the service. Quality of care will suffer. New graduate Optometrists are leaving Ontario. The fee paid by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan has only changed $5 since 1989. Optometrists have had no contract with the Government since 2011 and there is no binding plan for regular discussion with the Ministry of Health.
Consequently, effective September 1, 2021, in effort to protect the future of our profession and help sustain excellent care of our patients, the vast majority of Ontario's Optometrists are NOT accepting O.H.I.P. funded cases. This Job Action is planned to continue UNTIL the Ministry of Health agrees (at a minimum) to cover the cost of diagnostic care and to establish a formalized method of regular negotiation (that is offered to all other Regulated Professions). Fair warning was provided in December of 2020 that this drastic change in service would occur if there was no productive response from Government to Optometry's concerns.
At this point many exams will have to be postponed and we now worry about the ocular health of our patients as we await an end to Government procrastination. If you get caught in this fight, we apologize, but it is important that the system be fixed. To date, much support for Optometry's position has already been offered by patients, fellow health care providers, other organizations, specialized clinics and from many Members of Provincial Parliament. Progress will happen but timing is uncertain.
We will try our best to connect with all affected patients with appointments in our schedule that need to be shuffled or postponed. We just ask that you have patience with us and treat our office staff with the respect they deserve in this trying time.
If you'd like to help and voice your concern to the Government, please contact our local MPP or visit www.saveeyecare.ca
Consequently, effective September 1, 2021, in effort to protect the future of our profession and help sustain excellent care of our patients, the vast majority of Ontario's Optometrists are NOT accepting O.H.I.P. funded cases. This Job Action is planned to continue UNTIL the Ministry of Health agrees (at a minimum) to cover the cost of diagnostic care and to establish a formalized method of regular negotiation (that is offered to all other Regulated Professions). Fair warning was provided in December of 2020 that this drastic change in service would occur if there was no productive response from Government to Optometry's concerns.
At this point many exams will have to be postponed and we now worry about the ocular health of our patients as we await an end to Government procrastination. If you get caught in this fight, we apologize, but it is important that the system be fixed. To date, much support for Optometry's position has already been offered by patients, fellow health care providers, other organizations, specialized clinics and from many Members of Provincial Parliament. Progress will happen but timing is uncertain.
We will try our best to connect with all affected patients with appointments in our schedule that need to be shuffled or postponed. We just ask that you have patience with us and treat our office staff with the respect they deserve in this trying time.
If you'd like to help and voice your concern to the Government, please contact our local MPP or visit www.saveeyecare.ca
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