Colleagues,
 
I’m going to break from focusing on COVID-19 news, and instead I want to deliver some important news about the OHIP Schedule of Benefits. We received confirmation that the OHIP computers have, in fact, been updated with the new Schedule of Benefits, as determined by our Arbitration Award. All codes have been updated to reflect the new values that were communicated to you earlier this year for your Section. Additionally, for those of you on Alternate Payment Plans (of whatever kind), your base rate will also increase effective today by the amounts that were previously communicated to you.
 
Please note, this does NOT apply to the new telephone codes (K080, K081, K082, K083, K087, K088 and K089) and the new assessment centre sessional fees (H409 and H410). Those have yet to be programmed into the OHIP computers and I ask that you please continue to hold those billings.  We will notify you ASAP when they can be submitted.
 
The changes to the Schedule are permanent and form the new baseline going forward. It has frankly been far too long since we have seen permanent increases to the Schedule, and I want to thank the Negotiations Committee and the staff of the OMA for their hard work in getting this done. I also want to thank your Sections Chairs. They contributed a lot of information that helped us to develop our initial ask, and they contributed more information (sometimes on short notice) when it came to distribution of the award. 
 
The OMA Economics, Policy and Research Department has prepared the summary below to highlight some of the changes to the OHIP Schedule of Benefits effective today, April 1, 2020.
 
As a reminder, these permanent Schedule revisions are based on the Medical Services Payment Committee (MSPC) 2019 Specialty Allocation process. The Arbitration panel awarded us a 3.54% global increase to the Physicians Services Budget (PSB) – approximately $425 million.  However, the Arbitration panel also stipulated that this $425 million be distributed to each OHIP Specialty in accordance with their hybrid relativity adjustment, as agreed upon with the Ministry (see Table here).  The new Schedule reflects this process.  
 
A complete listing of the recommended Schedule changes, as well as Section-specific reports are available on the OMA website here.  
 
The OMA website has an interactive table here that allows you to search all the Schedule changes by Specialty, Fee Code, or Type of Revision. You can access the MOH Bulletin pertaining to these changes here.

As per the Arbitration Award, office-based technical fees and facility fees (but not hospital technical fees) will be increased by 3.54%, effective April 1, 2020. 
 
Primary Care Models
Increases were applied to Primary Care models with the principles to address relativity and remain within the specifications of the Hybrid OMA-MOH Relativity adjustment (here). Details of base rate changes to various primary care models will be communicated through a Section Chair letter. For a complete list of details, please click here.
 
Alternate Payment Plan (APP) Flow Through
Changes to the Schedule will flow through to APP/AFP groups. We expect that payment adjustments to these groups will be reflected on their regular monthly transfer from the Ministry in April 2020.
 
Please refer to the April 1, 2020 version of the Schedule for a complete list of changes and applicable payment rules (here). If you have any questions on the new Schedule changes, please email info@oma.org.
 
Year II Retroactive Pay
A further reminder that the retroactive pay for the first two years of this current Physician Services Agreement (April 1, 2017 - March 31, 2019) will be paid on the April Remittance (click here for additional details). Please ensure you watch for this.

 
Reminder – COVID-19 Teletown Hall Thursday Night
Just a brief reminder that there will be another Teletown Hall open to all members Thursday, April 2 at 8:00 pm. These town halls are extremely well attended and provide valuable updates from the staff of the OMA, and Dr. Greg Rose, an infectious disease specialist who is also a member of the OMA Board. To register, go here.
 
That’s it for now, I will have more information on Friday. In the meantime, please be safe, look after yourself and your families, and remember…

Ontario’s Doctors Rock!