Ontarians undergoing publicly funded surgeries such as cataract, hip or knee replacement at clinics outside of a regular hospital setting should not be paying out of pocket, according to the Ministry of Health.
Five years ago, the Ford government began privatizing cataract surgeries and recently announced plans to expand privatization to other hospital services, including knee and hip procedures.
In last month’s budget, the government allocated $280 million to private clinics to perform orthopedic surgeries and other procedures.
Representatives from CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE) — which represents 50,000 hospital and long-term care staff —have been sounding the alarm on this plan, expressing concern that private clinics disproportionately benefit the most affluent people while marginalizing others.
That is not the case, according to Ema Popovic, press secretary for Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s deputy premier and minister of health.
Popovic tells BarrieToday that the province has provisions through legislation that prohibit a patient from being charged for an OHIP-covered service, legislation that was strengthened by the government through Bill 60.
According to the government’s website, the bill creates prohibitions on charging or accepting payments for providing a preference in obtaining access to an insured service at an integrated community health services centre.
It also prohibits refusing to provide insured services to a person who chooses not to pay for any product, device or service offered at the integrated community health services centre.
“If someone has been charged for an OHIP-covered service, they can contact the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act program to open a review. Those who have been charged for an insured service will be reimbursed in full,” said Popovic.
In 2024, 32,000 Ontarians received their publicly funded cataract surgery at community surgical and diagnostic centres, with nearly half being performed at four new centres, opened by the Ford government in 2023, she noted.
"This year’s Canadian Institute of Health Information report shows Ontario is leading the country with some of the shortest wait times for critical surgeries and procedures," said Popovic. "Our government will continue to deliver more connected, convenient care in every corner of the province, always ensuring that people are accessing the care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card."