This is an important update about the Statistics Canada overhead study. This project is intended to strengthen the OMA bargaining position in relativity discussions with the Ontario government and is currently on hold pending further discussion at the November 28-29 OMA Council meeting.
As referenced in the October 31 OMA Member Update, the Ontario Specialists Association (OSA) recently initiated a petition and letter writing campaign citing concerns that the OMA is seeking personal physician and professional corporation tax data from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). This is incorrect.
All members can be assured that no private tax information about any doctor or medical professional corporation will ever be disclosed to the OMA. The OMA continues to maintain the highest measure of security and safety in protecting the privacy rights of members.
To clarify, the OMA or Statistics Canada would have no contact with CRA and, if approved by Council, the project would obtain from Stat Can ONLY aggregated anonymized overhead by specialty. Every legal and privacy measure has been taken to ensure that no individual physician or practice would be identified.
On November 5, the OMA Executive Committee and staff met with leaders of the Ontario Specialists Association to discuss the Statistics Canada overhead study. The meeting was productive, and the OMA committed to a follow-up meeting in the coming weeks to address any outstanding concerns.
For further transparency, please see OMA correspondence to date from both Statistics Canada and the Privacy Commissioner, and the Statistics Canada Overhead Methodology Report. Furthermore, as a result of the OSA campaign, the OMA awaits a review by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. This will provide extra assurance for members.
In February 2019, the arbitrator demanded a more objective and thorough assessment of physician overhead. The OMA has identified three possibilities:
Survey data: historically used to inform CANDI, this has met much criticism surrounding response rates and intrinsic bias and is accepted by neither membership at large nor the independent arbitrator.
A model office: currently used by the government to inform RAANI, is dependent on the assumptions made therein, and was again accepted by neither membership at large nor the independent arbitrator.
Collection and analysis of overhead data as described in this project.
It is important to know that in addition to the Statistics Canada project, the Relativity Advisory Committee is developing a model office to counter that presented by the government. The intent is that the model office will validate the Stat Can results and invalidate the government’s low-balling of physician overhead. Simply, the OMA is exploring all possible avenues to best defend member interests during negotiations.
The OMA takes this matter very seriously, and member input on this project is highly valued. Thank you to all members for your interest and engagement on this issue.
