OHIP delisting

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By EMC News

EMC Editorial - The EMC recently received a press release from the Campaign Life Coalition detailing its position regarding the Ontario government considering delisting certain procedures from OHIP as part of Ontario's action plan to tackle its $16 billion deficit.

In said press release, the coalition notes that it is urging Deb Matthews, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to delist elective abortions as part of that action plan. It quickly became clear that the coalition is of the opinion all abortions are elective when Mary Ellen Douglas, Ontario President for Campaign Life Coalition was quoted saying, "A procedure that kills a child in the womb is never medically necessary and therefore we call on the Liberal government to stop funding this elective surgery with our tax dollars."

As of press time, Ontario's action plan on health funding had yet to be released. We hope that upon reading the outcome of this slash and burn we will see OHIP still footing the bill for medically necessary abortions.

Contrary to Mary Ellen Douglas' statement that "a procedure that kills a child is the womb is never medically necessary", there are medical conditions that require a pregnancy to be terminated for the health and well-being of the mother, and there are lawful circumstance that can warrant the termination of a pregnancy for the mental health and well-being of a person as well.

It has been said by ministry staff that if a procedure is deemed medically necessary it will continue to be covered by OHIP.

We are hopeful that this might perhaps also lead to some additions to OHIP, as there are other medical procedures and services currently not covered by the program that are in some cases medically necessary.

For example, eye exams for persons aged 20-64 who do not have medical conditions requiring regular eye examinations are not currently covered by OHIP. Eye exams can and are used as a diagnostic tool for patients with an undefined medical condition and should be covered. Alternative health remedies are also often recommended by doctors when western medicine is failing a patient, however, acupuncture, chiropractic services and neuropathic remedies are not covered even though they are in some cases medically necessary.

Our only hope once it is revealed what health services have been cut and perhaps added to OHIP is that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has thoroughly examined what constitutes a "medically necessary" service.