‘This has been a brewing problem:’ Ottawa optometrist on end of OHIP-covered services

UPDATE, August 6, 4:15 p.m.: In a statement to CityNews Ottawa, a spokesperson for Ontario's minister of health writes, “The Ministry and the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) resumed discussions concerning our shared commitment to develop a plan that is fair, sustainable and effective in supporting the province’s optometrists in delivering high-quality care to Ontarians now and into the future. 

To that end, today [August 6] the Ministry proposed to engage a third-party expert mediator to assist us in finding a resolution and the OAO is considering this option.”

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An Ottawa optometrist is blaming a lack of communication between doctors, the Ontario Association of Optometrists and the provincial government, for a recent decision which will see eye care no longer covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

The new rule comes into effect September 1.

“This has been a brewing problem for three decades,” said practicing optometrist in Ottawa and past president of Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) Dr. Joshua Smith. 

“The government and Ministry of Health have stopped communicating with our association altogether,” he said. “Even the minimal informal communications stopped as of December last year.” 

Despite attempts by the OAO to converse with the government and Ontario optometrists, Dr. Smith explained it’s the lack of support and communication over the years that’s led their members to make a decision they ultimately felt they had to make. 

At their meeting in March of this year, 96 per cent of the association’s optometrists voted in favour of withdrawing from OHIP, also deciding on a deadline of September 1 at that time.

“We chose a long enough future date to give the government ample time to respond,” said Dr. Smith. “But also, to give the public ample time to understand the issue and express their support or concerns.”

The Ontario government currently covers roughly 55 per cent of the costs of an OHIP covered eye exam and, according to the doctor, has left optometrists to cover a variety of additional costs.

“We need to be able to offer the highest level of quality, it’s not fair to use 80’s and 90’s equipment,” said Smith. “We have to be able to invest and then constantly make reinvestments.”

MPP for Ottawa Centre Joel Harden, shared that he wished the situation didn’t have to get to this point.

“This is a problem for a lot of healthcare professionals,” said Harden. “They all say the same thing, ‘negotiations are left to the very last minute’ and in the optometrists’ case, they’re way overdue.”  

Being the critic for the province for disability rights and issues, Harden is urging the government to make considerations for the 2.4-million individuals living with disabilities in Ontario who are also living with lower incomes and won’t be able to afford access to vision care.  

“I would really like this government to avoid this game of chicken they're playing,” said Harden. “They need to sit down at the table and get a deal hammered out that makes sense for the finances and for the province.” 

Harden shared, the petition put forth by the OAO is by far the busiest their office is seeing currently, showcasing the amount of support within communities. Harden believes the requests made by Ontario optometrists within the petition are well within reason, and that a deal should be made before September 1. 

“Consider getting back to the table now,” he said, “There’s still more than a month left for this deadline.”

Sharing that sentiment Dr. Smith agreed there is more than enough time for conversations to be had if the government is motivated to act.

“Our association has been ready to sit down and hammer through these issues for months, years,” said Dr. Smith. “I’m hopeful it can be done if the government is ready to do it.”

Until then the September 1 deadline is firm. 

Dr. Smith went on to explain that 80 per cent of what children learn is through their visual system. For children under the age of 10 it can be very difficult to voice that they’re experiencing visual problems and they rely heavily on regular visual exams for early prevention. 

Ottawa West-Nepean Progressive Conservative Party MPP Jeremy Roberts was contacted to explain the provincial government's stance regarding this issue, but this reporter did not hear anything in return.

Over 100,000 Ontarians have written to their MPP through the OAO’s petition on their website. Dr. Smith encourages anyone who values eye care as healthcare to take immediate action to visit saveeyecare.ca and directly message the Ministry of Health.