TORONTO, April 16, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — New report released today. Illegal, illegal, unethical: A case study of patients charged for medical treatment at private clinics in Ontario.featured evidence from more than 100 patients who say they are being charged fees at private clinics in Ontario. The medical coalition released the report at a press conference for patients who were charged hundreds or even thousands of dollars for treatment at for-profit clinics. Most of the patients were elderly people on fixed incomes and were charged up to $8,000 or more for eye surgeries and tests, the health coalition reported. The fees impose a huge financial burden, with some patients forced to return to work at age 71 to pay their bills, and others falling into debt, using up all their savings, or losing money. You end up renting something or leaving the house without any other needs.
The coalition points out that when Premier Doug Ford announced his government's plan to privatize surgery and diagnostics, he made headline-grabbing promises that Ontarians would: There is no need to pay by credit card, you can only pay by OHIP card. The government also promised strong “guardrails” to protect patients from additional charges and fees. Natalie Mehra, executive director of the coalition, said these promises were belied by the reality of patients being charged fees in private clinics, and that the guardrails were not only staged and impractical; In fact, he pointed out, the government had widened the door to privatization of critical health services. Checks and balances are reduced and user fees are expanded.
In response to patient complaints, the coalition conducted a statewide investigation from February 5 to March 8. Of the 231 patients investigated, 120 patients were illegally billed by private clinics. In addition to the investigation, the coalition obtained receipts and evidence to compile her 18 more detailed case studies to explain what is happening to the patients.
The most common charges were for eye surgery at commercial clinics. Patients reported being charged fees ranging from $50 to $8,000 for cataract surgery, including:
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Patients are told that they are responsible for paying out-of-pocket for medically necessary surgeries, which are actually covered by OHIP.
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Patients were told that if they did not pay, they would face extreme waiting times (from two years to up to five years in most cases). In its report, the coalition showed actual wait times on a public website that lists wait times for all public hospitals in Ontario. High-priority patients are seen by specialists and undergo surgery within an average of three months. Even for the lowest priority patients, he has less than 7 months from initial referral to specialist to completion of surgery.
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Patients were not given important information about the effectiveness of OHIP-eligible eye surgeries to force patients to pay. OHIP provides everything a patient actually needs in connection with all medically necessary eye surgeries. Patients don't have to pay to receive effective, quality care.
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For-profit clinics charge patients for additional eye measurements, tests, and special lenses, and these unnecessary additional options are necessary and safer or “better” than cataract surgery services covered by OHIP. I told the patient.
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Patients reported that private clinics were mixing unnecessary and necessary services in order to charge fees. These patients were either billed for these unnecessary services without discussion or denied surgery without additional out-of-pocket costs.
In addition to cataract surgery, patients reported being charged primary care appointment fees, membership fees, administrative fees, and fees for diagnostic and physician-ordered lab tests.
“The Ford government is expanding privatization at the very for-profit clinics that violate the Health Care Act, charge exorbitant fees to patients, and manipulate them into paying for a rapidly increasing number of medically unnecessary items. ,” warned Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Medical Center. Health Coalition.
“The Health Coalition has been monitoring the situation for decades. Such large-scale surcharges and charges to patients had never been seen before for-profit clinics began taking over surgeries from public hospitals. , from our experience, the situation has never been as bad as it is now,” she reported. She said, “Ontarians need to speak out in uncertain terms and force the Ford government to end privatization of ownership and control of public hospital services.”
Patient testimonials:
Kate Armstrong, a small business owner in Toronto, was told by a surgeon at a private clinic that there were incredibly long wait times and that public hospitals could not provide her with “upgraded” lenses, forcing her to undergo additional tests. Eye surgery at a private clinic that I was willing to pay for: “I think the nearly $8,000 out-of-pocket expense should have been covered by OHIP. I was never told that.'' Any Of these, it was covered under OHIP. This was not a cosmetic procedure. This was a necessity. I couldn't function without it. ”
Shalom Schacter of Toronto reports an experience at a for-profit clinic where she was recommended additional vision testing and lenses. He ultimately paid his $350 for the use of diagnostic evaluation equipment, $190 for lenses in one eye, and $575 for lenses in the other eye. You will get better results if you use their specialized equipment. I was promised that the information would be emailed to me the same day. However, the only information that was forwarded to me was the same schedule of additional charges that I was given at the office. I responded asking for an actual “scientific” explanation, but received a response saying they had no plans to respond to my inquiry substantively and that if they were not satisfied, they would find another eye doctor. ”
Maureen Monroe from London reports being told she would have to pay thousands of dollars or wait two years for cataract surgery. Since I live alone, I didn't want to lose my quality of life. Therefore, she paid $7,000. I'm a senior on a fixed income, so I'm still trying to recoup the bills from this surgery. ”
Mike Sta's wife was charged $3,000 for cataract surgery. “The optometrist told her it would take two years to get the surgery done, but if she wanted it done right away it would cost $3,000. She didn't want to have headaches for the next two years. So I told him I was willing to use all of my life savings, $3,000, to pay for it.The optometrist called me back and I was able to get an appointment with the same surgeon who had performed my first surgery at this hospital four years earlier. , who now operates a for-profit eye surgery clinic.My wife had the surgery done at a for-profit clinic, and it cost $3,000 more than if she had had it done at a hospital.I have one question. Who will protect us from this?”
For more information: All of Ontario – Natalie Mehra, Executive Director (416) 230-6402, natalie@ontariohc.ca and Operations Director Sarah Shadir (647) 648-5706; salah@ontariohc.ca; algoma – Al Dupuis, algomahc@gmail.com; brampton caledon – Janine Herman McLeod, 647-237-6276, info@BramptonCaledonHC.ca; cornwall – Louise Lanctott louiselanctot18@gmail.com; gray blues – Brenda Scott greybrucehc@gmail.com; Halton – Trudy Ford, ohchalton@gmail.com; hamilton – Janina Lebon janinalebon44@gmail.com; kingston – Joan Jardin kingstonhealthcoalition@gmail.com; London – Peter Bergmanis, 519-860-4403, pbergmanis@rogers.com; Niagara – Sue Hot niagarahealthcoalition@yahoo.ca; Oxford – Brian J. Smith bryasmit@oxford.net; port dover – Ron Keating lorettaaron@aol.com; thunder bay – Jules Tapker jtupker@tbaytel.net; Waterloo Region – jim stewart519-588-5841, Waterlooregionhealthcoalition@gmail.com
