The Ontario Association of Optometrists have been trying to negotiate with the Ontario Government about services covered under OHIP for people in three groups; 19 years old and younger, 65 years old and older, and people with eye conditions.
The Save Eye Care campaign stated that on September 1st, if a deal was not met Optometrists would have to halt services for these patients.
Well the date has hit, and no deal has yet been met. Dr John Mastronardi, an optometrist, and past president of the association explains what happens now.
He explains what they would need to see from the government to reinstate these services.
Due to government laws, no patients in these groups can access eye care services, even if they are willing to pay out of pocket or use their own insurance to cover it Mastronardi says.
From 1989 to 2021 optometrists received $39 for the free eye care services for the three groups of patients. In 2021 it was raised to only $44.
This is the lowest rate in the country for optometrists, and now the association is asking for a 70 per cent increase from the government, which would tie for the lowest in the country.
The provincial government at the last meeting brought forward only about an 8 per cent increase, which is just a few dollars.
At this time, all talks with the government have stopped.
For more information on the Save Eye Care campaign, click here.
