Ontario optometrists poised to withdraw provincially covered services Wednesday
Optometrists in Ontario are poised to withdraw services covered by provincial health insurance starting Wednesday after a breakdown in talks with the government over reimbursement for procedure costs.
Dr. Sheldon Salaba, president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, said Tuesday afternoon that the work action would likely go ahead the next day, after hearing no further word from the government.
"Unfortunately, both parties aren't talking currently and it does look like a service withdrawal is going to happen," Salaba said in an interview.
That means people whose eye exams are insured by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan -- including children, teenagers, seniors and people with specific health conditions -- will have their appointments cancelled starting Wednesday and won't be able to schedule appointments going forward, he said.
"People are going to be putting patients on waiting lists until the government commits to covering the operating costs of providing services and we're able to get back to the table with them," Salaba said.
He estimated that around 25,000 appointments could be cancelled in a day.
The optometrist group has argued its members are underfunded for the services and are absorbing about 45 per cent of eye exam costs.
Salaba argued the current situation is untenable because it forces optometrists to pay for the services, using revenue that would otherwise go to equipment upgrades or staff salaries. He said it would take an increase of about 70 per cent reimbursement to cover current operating costs for services.
The government has offered an 8.48 per cent increase for reimbursements. It has also said it will pay optometrists $39 million to retroactively account for increased costs of services, funds that will go out in October regardless of the outcome of the talks.
Health Minister Christine Elliott said in a tweet on Tuesday that the professional association "said no" to further mediation over the weekend.
"There is a fair and reasonable plan on the table. I urge the (Ontario Association of Optometrists) to commit to working with us to reach an agreement," she wrote.
The province said approximately 2.9 million Ontario residents received provincially insured optometry services in the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
A spokeswoman for the health minister said the rate for provincially insured eye exams ranges from $42.50 to $47, with additional fees for other assessments.
Salaba said optometrists will help patients navigate their options during the period of service withdrawal and encouraged people to still call with urgent needs.
"We don't want to see anybody harmed during this time," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 31, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.