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
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.