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Chiropractic Treatments
cut Many of you know that the government limit
for chiropractic treatments was 22 visits per year.
In December 1998, this was cut by one third to only 15
visits per year. Unlike medical doctors, chiropractors
are allowed to charge above or beyond OHIP fees.
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Miscellaneous Physical
Therapies (reduced to 20 visits per year). OHIP
physiotherapy accounts for a significant proportion of
the physiotherapy provided in the province. This
reduction in service will primarily affect the people
of lower income status. In addition, according to
the Ontario Medical Association, this service
was to be removed form OHIP entirely on April 1, 1999. It
had been postponed for several months. It was abruptly
cut on July 1, 2001, but was reinstated for 5 weeks.
This would force Ontarians and private industry to pay
the cost. Thousands would no longer be able to access
or afford the service.
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Hearing Aid Testing
is also on the chopping block with miscellaneous physical
therapies.
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Treatment of common warts
This service has been delisted. You now pay your
doctor for this service or you can purchase treatments
at your pharmacy. Plantar and other types of wart
therapy is still covered.
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Pre-travel health advice
and immunisation (treatment of illnesses acquired
by travel has not been cut) We are concerned that
more travel illnesses will be acquired.
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Treatment
of Obesity of patients weighing less than a body
mass index of 27 (This was designed to end OHIP-run
obesity treatment clinics) |
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Eye examinations to only
every 2 years and not a day less
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Bone density testing
for osteoporosis limited to not more than once per year
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Normal Pap Testing
limited to one per year (not one day less); however, the
Ministry of Health correctly points out that your doctor
often provides this service for free when included in
a general check-up or consultation. Current recommendations
for healthy sexually active women are three consecutive
annual paps followed by biannual paps until age 70.
We do not feel that this will save money.
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Routine normal pregnancy
ultrasound limited to two. One of these ultrasounds
has been limited to a lower cost one to help determine
the fetus' gestational age. The other one is a standard
full assessment for fetal well-being. This has
actually increased the number of ultrasound testing by
some doctors who previously only screened with one near
the critical 16 week gestation point, but can no longer
get a detailed assessment done.
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Special visit ("house
call") premiums for second or more patients in homes,
nursing homes and similar non-hospital locations.
Current special visit fees are nominal at best.
This cut is aimed at reducing current convenient home
visit services; unfortunately, this hurts physicians who
currently care for nursing homes
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For
answers to your question about the Ontario Health Insurance
Plan such as who is eligible for it or how to replace a lost
or stolen Health Card, please