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Family
Health Networks Ignore MD Fees' Severe Under-Valuation
Re: "Top
10 questions," the Medical Post, July 30.
I read with
interest the questions posed to Dr. Ruth Wilson in her capacity
as head of the Ontario Family Health Network. I find it difficult
to find merit in FHNs. A survey by the Coalition of Family
Physicians echoed my feelings: 98% voted against them.
I wish to
point out FHNs do not address the severe under-valuation of
family physician fees; in fact, the more a patient sees you,
the less you are paid per visit.
Family medicine
is a wonderful but challenging profession. The unfilled spots
Dr. Wilson refers to would definitely attract interest if
we were paid properly.
In all fairness,
the questions were undoubtedly put to Dr. Wilson before the
recent news from Quebec. These intrusions represent an assault
on our freedom. Dr. Wilson advises us the government has the
power to suspend the CPSO and the schedule of benefits, but
reassures us "physicians still have a great deal of bargaining
power." What is left to bargain about?
Dr. Wilson
mentions income predictability as a plus for FHNs. A quick
survey of physicians would tell you this is not a problem.
There is a shortage of family physicians in Ontario. About
70% of family doctors are not accepting new patients. This
suggests most family doctors are already doing as much work
as they can handle or wish to do in view of our poor fees
and/or the income cap. As long as OHIP clerical staff are
working, doctors get paid, with predictability.
Dr. Wilson
boasted about what OFHN can do. What about what OFHN doesn't
do? It doesn't allow access to IT, reimburse CME costs or
provide on-call payment for non-enrolled physicians. Have
the pilot projects proven beyond doubt FHNs should replace
fee-for-service? If the health ministry was serious about
promoting the delivery of effective primary care, why not
enhance a system already in place that patients are satisfied
with? In fact, a government report indicated more than 90%
of the Ontario population could identify one family doctor
as their primary care provider, and they rated the care received
as an "A." I ask Dr. Wilson, would she not be pleased
with such a rating?
Just imagine
what family doctors could do if we received the same support,
interest and access to funding from the ministry/OMA as FHNs
have!
Dr. Suzanne
Strasberg, COFP executive member, Toronto.
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