Our advocacy work for you has helped secure an investment of $110-million from the Ontario government to support team-based care – triple its original funding plan.
Minister of Health Sylvia Jones was in Peterborough yesterday where she announced the funding would connect more than 300,000 Ontarians with primary care teams. OMA President Dr. Andrew Park and CEO Kimberly Moran were on hand to reinforce the OMA’s stance to find sustainable health-care improvements, while emphasizing the need for immediate action on Ontario’s primary care crisis. For years, we've been demanding the government's attention – during events like Queen’s Park Day, when seated at tables with MPPs, meeting with Premier Doug Ford and the minister of health, as well as through our health-care advocate campaigns. While the announcement is a positive step forward, we know more needs to be done. We will continue to drive home our solutions to health care
outlined in the OMA’s Prescription for Ontario: Doctors’ Solutions for Immediate Action report, which were prioritized by you. Watch the news conference. Access the MOH news release. Read the Solutions Report.
A staggering 2.3 million Ontarians are without a family doctor and that number is expected to nearly double in two years.
We are watching this crisis unfold in real time. The Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie recently announced that 10,000 patients will lose access to their family doctor as of May 31, caused by both a physician shortage and recruitment challenges. Another 6,000 patients may be at risk if trends continue. The Group Health Centre has requested emergency stabilization funding from the government.
We are calling for an immediate expansion of team-based care, a sustainable strategy to bolster the northern and rural physician workforce and a significant reduction in administrative burden. I have been actively promoting these messages in the media this week, speaking to more than 20 outlets throughout Ontario.
The government is listening to physicians.
OMA CEO Kimberly Moran and I joined Minister of Health Sylvia Jones in Peterborough yesterday, where the government announced $110 million ($30 million of which was announced last year, and an additional $80 million today) to create new primary care teams – triple the amount they originally planned to invest. This investment also offers some hope to the people of Sault Ste. Marie. Minister Jones mentioned two proposals from the community will be funded from yesterday's announcement. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
This is a good start. And while it’s clear our advocacy is working, more needs to be done. We will continue to advocate on your behalf.
Joint forms committee makes headway.As a result of the continued hard work and tenacious efforts of the OMA Forms Committee and Bilateral Forms Committee, the Ministry of Health no longer requires a physician signature on the Assistive Devices Program Application for Funding Hearing Devices form. Effective Jan. 29, eligible Ontarians only need the signature of an audiologist or speech language pathologist who is registered with the ADP program as an authorizer. The version of the form requiring prescriber and authorizer signatures will continue to be accepted, but physicians have been removed as prescribers.
The OMA and Joint Forms Committees and the Bilateral Burnout Task Force continue to work on reducing burden from additional forms and sources, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction. We will share any progress made. Read a fall 2023 forms update.
Vote in OMA elections by noon today
Dr. Rose Zacharias, Immediate Past President
It is so important for physician leaders to engage in the work of the OMA. That is why I hope you will cast your vote in the current leadership election, which closes today at noon. Before voting, please visit the elections website and read about the candidates and the key skills the board is looking for this year. You can also renew your OMA membership when logging in to vote. I want to thank everyone who has voted so far and renewed their memberships. Read about the candidates and cast your vote.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario has released four policies for consultation: Professional Behavior; Physician Treatment of Self, Family, or Others Close to Them; Principles of Medical Professionalism; and Consent to Treatment. You can submit feedback on them to the OMA until Feb. 6, or directly to the CPSO until Feb. 13. Submit feedback to the OMA. Learn more and send comments directly to the CPSO.
Apply to the Northern Physician Retention Initiative. The Ministry of Health is accepting applications to the Northern Physician Retention Initiative, which supports recruitment and encourages doctors to stay in northern Ontario and maintain active hospital privileges. Application packages, a Q-and-A and information about eligibility requirements and funding access are available on the ministry’s website. The NPRI application deadline is March 31. Applicants are encouraged to save a copy of their submission. Apply to the NPRI.
ODB program ends access to select originator biologics. The Ministry of Health is reminding doctors that under its revised biosimilar policy, the deadline for patients enrolled in the Ontario Drug Benefit program to access funding for certain originator biologics has now passed. The following drugs are no longer funded for ODB recipients, with limited exceptions: Copaxone®, Enbrel®, Humalog®, Humira®, Lantus®, NovoRapid®, Remicade® and Rituxan®.
Physicians may see a rise in new prescription requests, as about 35 per cent of affected patients have not yet transitioned to an equivalent biosimilar. Requests made through the Exceptional Access Program will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Read about the biosimilars policy change.
Federal government proposes delay to MAID expansion. The federal government is proposing a delay to the expansion of MAID to people who have mental illness as their sole underlying medical condition. The delay would last three years until 2027. We will continue to work with the provincial regulators to ensure all of you understand your rights and responsibilities as they pertain to MAID. Read the news release.
Events
Attend a webinar on money, marriage and maternity.The OMA Women Committee invites you to a lecture on the unique financial challenges faced by women in medicine when building their net worth. Attendees will hear from Dr. Stephanie Zhou, addictions physician and assistant professor at the University of Toronto for the Financial Literacy Curriculum, and members of the OMA Women Committee, a panel of multigenerational women. They’ll share experiences navigating financial topics such as prenuptial agreements, divorce, wedding costs, funding maternity leave and child care, and building overall financial stability. This virtual event will take place on Feb. 7 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Register for the webinar.
Learn to live more sustainably. Join the Green Is Health MIG for a webinar to hear from OMA speakers Dr. Teela Johnson, Dr. Vineet Nair and Dr. Nate Charach, who are committed to “greening” their lives. This event on Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. will be an open discussion, and Green is Health looks forward to addressing any questions you have on sustainable living. Register for the webinar.
OMA Insurance has heard your desire for permanent life insurance and is excited to include it in its suite of offerings. There are six Canadian insurance partners on OMA Insurance’s platform to help you select the right option. Home care assistance is also available in partnership with MyDignity. Speak with an OMA Insurance advisor to learn more about how these new products can work best for you. Learn more about OMA Insurance’s permanent life insurance. Read more about home care insurance.
Travel stress-free with VIA Rail Canada. Skip the hassle of airport delays and travel in comfort with VIA Rail Canada this March break. Save 15 per cent on fares for yourself and up to three guests. Escape fares, Travel passes and Bizpak are excluded from this offer. Book your travel with VIA Rail Canada.
Gain greater security this RRSP Season. An annuity can help protect you against outliving your retirement savings. If you’re age 50 or older, talk to an OMA Insurance advisor today to learn how to use your RRSP savings to purchase the Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity, available through the Advantages Retirement Plan™. Learn how annuities can complement your retirement strategy.
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