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Brings solutions to Ontario Medical Association
TORONTO, Nov. 26 /CNW/ - Health and Long-Term Care Minister, George
Smitherman, met today with Ontario Medical Association (OMA) president Dr.
John Rapin and members of the Executive Committee to offer solutions to
concerns raised by OMA members.
"We've heard the feedback from OMA members, and we have come forward with
solutions that address each and every one of their concerns," said Smitherman.
"Our government remains absolutely committed to our plan to improve health
care by providing Ontarians with better access to front-line health care in
their communities, reduce wait times and continue to improve the quality of
care for all patients."
The government was able to address the concerns of the OMA without any
new funding. "By bringing forward certain elements of the original agreement,
we're able to give family physicians and specialists more financial support
immediately," Smitherman said. "Our goal is to support doctors in the
excellent work they do by investing in initiatives many doctors and patients
have long been asking for."
"We are determined to work in partnership with Ontario doctors to fulfil
our commitments to patients. We're hopeful that they will work with us on our
plan to improve access to quality health care," Smitherman said.
The government remains committed to its key priorities including:
- Bringing more doctors to communities across Ontario that need them and
relieving the physician shortage in 142 underserviced communities.
- Improving health care for seniors by supporting general practitioners
to spend more time treating seniors, manage chronic diseases like
diabetes and heart disease, and provide on-call service to long-term
care homes, home care and palliative care.
- Reducing wait times for key medical services such as hip and knee
replacements, cataracts, MRI and CT, cardiac and cancer care.
- Bringing more physicians together working in teams to ensure their
patients receive care on weekends and after hours and rewarding them
for prevention and health promotion including assisting people to stop
smoking and screening for cancer.
"Our government's top priority is ensuring that patients receive the care
they need, when they need it," said Smitherman. "We are moving forward.
Ontario patients expect and deserve nothing less."
This news release, along with other media materials, such as matte
stories and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
Version française disponible
Backgrounder
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McGUINTY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLAN TO
IMPROVE HEALTH CARE
Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman met today with Dr.
John Rapin, president of the Ontario Medical Association and members of the
Executive Committee of the OMA Board, to offer solutions to concerns raised by
OMA members. The solutions stay within the $1.077 billion offered to Ontario's
doctors in the original agreement while reallocating funds to meet the
concerns of physicians.
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OMA Concerns Solutions
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Recognition of senior - Effective October 1, 2004, the Family Practice
family physicians visit fee will be increased from $28.50 to
$29.50. Existing increases under the agreement
will then continue.
- The total increase to this fee will be $3.75
over the term of the agreement. This will
result in a $30 million increase on an
annualized basis (13% increase over term of
agreement).
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Better recognition - The government will work with the OMA to assess
of solo physicians appropriate supports to enable solo
comprehensive care physicians to ensure their
patients have access to 24/7 care.
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Further improvements - The government will increase exemptions from
to reduce wait times billing thresholds to physicians providing
services targeted at wait list priorities e.g.
cataract surgery, hip and knee replacements,
cardiac and cancer care.
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Fee increases in - Family physicians will receive $15 million in
Year 1 and 2 fee increases in 2004/05
- Specialists will receive $15 million in fee
increases moved forward from 2005/06 to 2004/05
with a similar shift for subsequent years. The
government will invest an additional
$15 million in fees in 2007/08
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Clarify process for - An independent panel, including a medical
improving drug therapy ethicist, will be established to ensure patient
to ensure patient care care is fully protected.
is not compromised
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Agreement re- - The re-assessment process will be eliminated
assessment process and the $30 million funding linked to this
process will be moved forward.
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Achieving Cost Neutrality
The agreement's re-assessment process will be eliminated and the
unallocated $30 million in funding for this process will be used to support
earlier investments in the agreement.
With the expectation that the government will work in good faith with the
OMA to develop initiatives for safe and appropriate drug therapy, the $50
million investment that was previously tied to the success of this initiative
will be allocated up front to support other initiatives earlier in the
agreement.
$30 million from the agreement's comprehensive primary care management
initiative will be reinvested to further support fee-for-service family
physicians. This recognizes that the government's plan to increase and improve
access to primary care is on track. There has been a 72% increase in patients
enrolling in comprehensive primary care models since January 2004 alone.
Keeping Ontario Competitive
According to an analysis based on information from the Canadian Institute
for Health Information (CIHI), at the end of the agreement, Ontario's family
practitioners will be the highest paid in the country. Currently Ontario's
family practitioners are the fourth highest paid (after Newfoundland, Alberta
and PEI).
At the end of this agreement, Ontario specialists will be the 2nd highest
paid in the country (behind Newfoundland). Currently they are the fifth
highest paid (after Newfoundland, Alberta, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan).
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For further information: Members of the media: Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; Dan Strasbourg, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
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