Doctors often charge patients to write reports and to provide access to the patient’s own medical records. This is a key issue for people applying for the Ontario Disability Support Program and other public disability benefits. Doctors are able to charge these fees because providing medical reports and records is an “uninsured service”, meaning it is not covered by OHIP, and doctors deserve to be compensated for their time.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the professional regulator for doctors, recently held a consultation to get feedback from doctors and the public about the CPSO’s policy on uninsured services. ISAC provided submissions as part of the consultation to raise the concerns of Ontario’s community legal clinics and the people they represent.
People depend on their doctors to provide medical evidence to pursue vital disability benefits. The out-of-pocket fees to access medical evidence can be very hard for low-income patients to pay. For those relying on social assistance, every dollar matters — and many are forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying for a doctor’s note.
ISAC made recommendations on how to improve the CPSO’s guidance for doctors on uninsured services. You can read the full submissions at this link.