Media
Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION
OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS OF ONTARIO ANNOUNCES
IT
DOES NOT ENDORSE THE OMA/MOHLTC DEAL
(March
17, 2005, Toronto, Ontario)
– Dr. Douglas Mark, President of the
Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP), announced
today that the Coalition has decided not to endorse the recent
deal between the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).
“There
are many reasons for not endorsing this agreement,” said Dr.
Mark, “but the most important by far is that the needs of
family practice in Ontario remain unmet .”
While
Dr. Mark acknowledged that there are some benefits in the
new agreement, they do not offset the concerns of family doctors.
“This
contract won't reverse the family physician shortage,” said
Dr. Mark, “doesn't encourage retention and recruitment of
family physicians, hasn't adequately addressed the issue of
relativity and thus doesn't make Ontario competitive enough
to save family practice.”
Dr.
Mark also revealed that a resounding 98 per cent of family
doctors who responded to last week's survey by the Coalition
believe this deal will not restore family practice or solve
the family doctor shortage. Furthermore, only 20 per cent
believe that this deal will allow family doctors to remain
in practice.
The
Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario, representing frontline
providers of health care, is a grassroots organization dedicated
to the provision of top quality health care to the people
of Ontario. We strive to protect the rights, freedoms and
independence of family physicians of Ontario and to continually
improve the health-care system. To learn more, please visit
the Coalition's Web site at www.cofp.com.
Backgrounder
v
The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario has the following
concerns about the new OMA/MOHLTC agreement :
- The
2.5 per cent retroactive increase is paid for by delaying
Family Health Group (FHG)/Comprehensive Care Management
(CCM) and all other bonuses by five months, which means
that there will be little or no new money for family doctors
until the vulnerable fourth year reopener of this agreement.
- In
four years, our A007 code fee will not even equal the equivalent
codes in other provinces that exist today.
- There
is no clear reason why the redefinition of A001 and A007
will be deferred for 18 months.
- Fee
for Service (FFS) doctors who provide equal services are
not equally compensated over the course of four years and
will continue to see their net income fall behind the pace
of inflation.
- There
is no pension or benefits package.
- There
is no statutory binding arbitration or independent arbitrative
resolution process.
- There
are no cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA).
- There
is no significant correction of net income relative to specialists.
- The
removal of the billing cap will not have any impact on the
vast majority of family physicians.
- Best
prescribing guidelines will form the basis for the government
to implement an Health Management Organization (HMO)-type
control over the practice of medicine.
- Incorporation
will unlikely be of benefit to most family physicians.
- Section
29.6 allows the government to change the Schedule of Benefits
(SOB) without the OMA's consent.
- There
is a continuation of the combined OMA-MOHLTC Physician Services
Committee (PSC) and “at least” two new subcommittees with
wide-ranging powers and limited accountability.
-
30 -
Contact:
Stephen
Skyvington
Vice
President
PoliTrain
Inc.
Phone:
(416) 985-2239
E-Mail:
politrain@aol.com |
