The names of clinics and physicians found to have engaged in extra-billing for health services, with advocates arguing this lack of transparency could impact public trust in the health-care system
Data obtained by CTV News Toronto through a freedom of information request found that 183 complaints were made about extra-billing in Ontario between January 2021 and Dec. 30, 2022.
They argued the disclosure of the records could prejudice the competitive position of a person or organization, and therefore, are exempt from freedom of information laws.When asked why the information could not be disclosed, a spokesperson for the minister of health said that violations related to extra-billing may be unintentional or the result of a misinterpretation by a provider or staff.
Between January 2003 and April 2023, there were 2,884 complaints made about extra-billing. Of those, just over 31 per cent, about 916 complaints, were found to have violated the CFMA. More information on the licensing process will be released closer to the program launch date on April 1, the spokesperson said.
Some of the more common complaints, Thompson said, surround upgraded hospital accommodations and ambulance transfers. Under the new Integrated Community Health Services Centres Act, it is illegal for a service provider to offer preferential treatment in exchange for payment or to ask a patient to pay for a service covered under OHIP.
“But at the end of the day, there's nothing in law that allows us to compel those organizations to act on anything that we recommend,” he said. “But we have a very good track record with working with our organizations to understand that the fairest processes are the best processes.”Thompson says that in order to get the best results for the complainant, he doesn’t believe it would be productive to “name and shame.
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