Millions unable to book eye exams as negotiations with Ontario government stall
For the last three weeks, children, teenagers and seniors in Ontario have been unable to book eye appointments with their doctors—and with negotiations between optometrists and the province stalled, it doesn’t appear as though they will be able to do so any time soon.
Susan Hepp has called nearly 50 optometrists trying to get an appointment for her daughter, who is attending university in Toronto. The 19-year-old is taking all virtual classes, and is experiencing challenges with all the screen time.
“I don’t want her suffering for a whole term and not being able to see properly,” Hepp said. “When you have eye strain you start to get headaches and you don’t want to be on screen as long, so it’s hard because she’s in third year so the courses are pretty intensive.”
As part of the Ontario Association of Optometrists’ (OAO) job action, doctors are not providing eye exams to those covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). This includes those under the age of 20 and over the age of 65.
Dr. Wes McCann, a member of OAO, said that he understands people are frustrated, but most patients understand why it’s necessary.
“This is not something we're excited about doing. We care greatly for our patients,” he told CTV News Toronto on Thursday. “When we've spoken to those patients and explained the full situation, they completely support our position and are baffled that the government isn't reacting to this challenge. There's a lot of misinformation out there.”
According to the OAO, Ontario is the lowest publicly-funded eye care province in all of Canada. On average, the provincial government provides about $44.65 per examination covered under OHIP.
McCann says that a third-party report funded by the OAO found the actually average cost for optometrists was about closer to $75.51 in 2019.
“And that doesn’t even include any sort of compensation for the optometrist,” he said. “That's just overhead labor, like cost of staff, electricity, etc.”
In 1989, the Ontario government covered an average of $39.15 per eye test. Thirty-two years later, that fee has only increased by about $5.
The Ministry of Health will be providing optometrists with a one-time payment of $39 million as a “catch up” fee for the time they were left without an agreement and is proposing an 8.48 per cent increase for exams.
“Our government has made every effort possible to lay the foundation for a long-term relationship with the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO),” a spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday. “We are disappointed that the OAO recently declined the third-party mediator's conditions that would allow us to resume mediation and reach a deal that supports high-quality vision care for Ontarians. The Ministry of Health agreed to the conditions of the third-party mediator to continue discussions and we urge the OAO to do the same.”
“We put forward a fair and reasonable proposal that is designed to take immediate action to address years of neglect and represents a starting point for further discussions.”
The ministry also notes that not every province funds optometrists and that "Ontario is also the only province where patients don’t have to pay an additional amount out of their own pockets for an insured eye exam."
However, the OAO says that an eight per cent increase in fees still leaves optometrists paying out of pocket for every exam covered by OHIP. In fact, they argue that to even reach the fees in the next lowest-funded province of Manitoba, the increase would have to be about 65 per cent.
McCann says that an eight per cent increase is not a sustainable model.
“It still only moves the ball from $44 to $48, which is way far off our $80 cost of delivery,” he said.
“We're happy to come back to the negotiating table. We're ready and willing and we will stop the job action if they commit to cost of delivery or commit to not being the lowest publicly funded province in Canada. If any of those are met, we're willing to come out of job action and start having negotiations and discussions again. But right now, they're not even willing to commit to that.”
McCann says they have not heard from the government since the job action started. In fact, he says that the OAO has held a total of three meetings with the government—a one-hour call over zoom and two mediation sessions. The Ministry of Health says they last proposed a condition to resume remediation on Aug. 28—but McCann says the OAO did not want to waste taxdollars knowing that covering the cost of an eye exam was not on the table.
A spokesperson for the ministry added that they cannot agree to an increase without first "engaging in a process of due diligence to validate the facts." To do so they have offered to set up a joint working group to "dig deeply" into the issue.
While negotiations have stalled, patients have taken to social media to express their frustration that they can’t get eye examinations. Some say their senior family members need to get their prescriptions updated and can’t, while others say their kids can’t see the chalkboard in class.
Other residents argue that if they can’t be covered by OHIP, they should be given the option to pay for the examination themselves.
Hepp says that at this point, she would be willing to pay for an appointment rather than wait until her daughter turns 20 and is no longer covered by the provincial program. However, she also realizes that once the job action concludes, it may take a while for optometrists to catch up.
“Now, people who have missed appointments for three weeks or however long ago it goes, it’ll get so backed up that trying to get an appointment with anyone will be impossible," she said, adding that she has not received a referral by anyone she has reached out too.
McCann acknowledges that the job action does put a burden on the health-care system, but also said that once patients understand what they are fighting for, most understand.
“Every patient feels that our cost of delivery should be covered. They all think it's ludicrous that that we pay out of pocket to see a patient and do it at no cost, and we don't get paid for it,” he said. “They think it's just absolutely crazy. And they don't understand why the ministry of health isn't willing to commit to covering that cost.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said that if individual optometrists decide to withhold care from patients, they are “expected to take steps to ensure patients can continue to receive appropriate care, such as referrals.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.