Barrett calls on Minister to “maintain” physio services

Letter to Minister notes physiotherapy cuts put seniors at risk and increase health costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 12, 2013

QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk’s MPP is stepping up his push against Ministry of Health physiotherapy cuts.

Toby Barrett has issued a letter to Minister Deb Matthews yesterday calling on government to rethink, “plans to dramatically alter government-funded physiotherapy effective August 1, 2013” that will cause, “LTC residents [to] see their service levels decrease dramatically.”

“The recent decision made by your government to cut physiotherapy services will not only put our seniors at risk but result in greater numbers of hospital visits and increase costs to our system,” Barrett wrote. “As physiotherapy is critical to keeping seniors out of hospitals, and in their homes, this decision will only increase health costs by reducing mobility, and increasing falls leading to increased hospitalizations and staffing requirements.”

Barrett indicated that the April 18 announcement – purported to herald expanded physio services – “represented a cut of some $44 million per year.”

“Government’s claim that they can expand physiotherapy to 200,000 more Ontarians while cutting the budget is unrealistic,” noted Barrett.

In the Legislature, Barrett has joined caucus colleagues in reading in local petitions against the cuts – many of the signatures were garnered from physiotherapists protesting the issue at the MPP’s Simcoe office several weeks ago.

“The changes were made without proper consultation, and ignored the concerns of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association and the Ontario Long Term Care Association,” Barrett’s letter continued. “With regard to the proposed changes to physiotherapy announced April 18, 2013, I request the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care take the necessary steps to maintain a level of service our seniors are accustomed to and deserve.”

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For more information contact Toby Barrett 519-428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629

 

The Hon. Deb Matthews Minister of Health and Long-Term Care 10th Floor, Hepburn Block 80 Grosvenor Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4

June 11, 2013

Dear Minister Matthews,

Your government’s announced plans to dramatically alter government-funded physiotherapy effective August 1, 2013 has generated considerable concern, as well as a number of meetings, petitions and communications, from residents across my riding of Haldimand-Norfolk.

We all want the best health care possible for Ontarians.  We also know that current spending levels are unsustainable and savings need to be achieved in order to deliver the quality care Ontarians deserve. However, the recent decision made by your government to cut physiotherapy services will not only put our seniors at risk but result in greater numbers of hospital visits and increase costs to our system.

I am told that the expenditure for OHIP funded physiotherapy was just over $172 million in the fiscal year ended March 31st, 2013. On March 28, 2013, MOHLTC officials confirmed that for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2013, the expenditure for OHIP funded physiotherapy was tracking to just over $200 million. Your announcement on April 18, 2013 therefore represents a cut of some $44 million per year.

Government’s claim that they can expand physiotherapy to 200,000 more Ontarians while cutting the budget is unrealistic. The only way to expand coverage to more Ontarians while reducing the budget is to cut services to seniors that currently depend on multiple treatments annually.

Even at the lowest possible cost ($12.20 per treatment) provided by Designated Physiotherapy Clinics under OHIP (which will soon be delisted), funding for LTC, and therefore service levels, can be expected to be cut in half. Given that no other physiotherapy provider comes close to providing the service at $12.20 per treatment, it can be expected that LTC residents will see their service levels decrease dramatically.

For retirement home residents, no provisions have been made at all in the government’s announcement. Retirement home residents will now be treated no differently than ambulatory seniors who live in their own private residences. They can look forward to 12 treatments at a clinic, or some unspecified level of service through CCAC’s.

As physiotherapy is critical to keeping seniors out of hospitals, and in their homes, this decision will only increase health costs by reducing mobility, and increasing falls leading to increased hospitalizations and staffing requirements.

The changes were made without proper consultation, and ignored the concerns of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association and the Ontario Long Term Care Association. Further, your government amended Regulation 552 on OHIP funded physiotherapy without posting the proposed changes for public comment. Normally, a proposed change to a regulation is posted for 45 days before a decision is made.

With regard to the proposed changes to physiotherapy announced April 18, 2013, I request the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care take the necessary steps to maintain a level of service our seniors are accustomed to and deserve.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

 

Toby Barrett – MPP, Haldimand Norfolk