Franzmann explained that OHIP “covers” eye examinations for Ontarians who are under 20, 65-plus, who have health conditions like diabetes and glaucoma, and who are on some forms of social assistance. However, the provincial insurance only reimburses optometrists for about half of the actual cost of the service.Franzmann pointed out that over the last 30 years the OHIP rate has only increased by 8 percent while during that same time, inflation has increased by 75 percent….

“The Ontario Association of Ontario (OAO) has determined the basic cost for providing an eye exam is $80.00. OHIP pays $47.00 for a senior’s eye exam, $42.50 for a child’s eye exam, and $43.80 for a patient with an eye disease or diabetes. As you can see, the OHIP remuneration doesn’t cover the cost of providing the service, and the optometrist or clinic is subsidizing the rest.“

“Optometrists can’t reopen practices that have been financially devastated by COVID-19, only to provide OHIP-insured services at an even greater loss. If this happens, practices in both rural and urban communities will struggle to survive.”

PRACTICES IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES WILL STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

read more at Porch Views: Corrective lenses, COVID-19, OHIP underfunding and the future of eye care (link to article)

For comparison, inflation alone has increased 78.8 per cent since 1989, whereas the funding for OHIP-covered eye exams has only gone up 8.6 per cent for children’s exams, 11.9 per cent for exams for adults with chronic conditions, and 20.1 per cent for exams for seniors

So, optometry is at a crossroads. We are worried that if this chronic underfunding situation is not remedied, optometry clinics will begin closing, and access to primary eye care will become limited across the province. This will put a strain on our health-care system, as many family doctors and/or emergency rooms are already at capacity, and are not necessarily equipped with the appropriate tools to manage patients’ ocular concerns

Statistics show that one in three Ontarians will have some form of vision-threatening eye disease by the age of 65, so finding a sustainable solution is more pressing than ever. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to find a better way forward.Go to saveeyecare.ca to urge Ontario’s government open their eyes to the crisis that eye care in our province is at risk.

Optometrists say provincial underfunding puts eye care at risk (link to the Kingston Whig)