Latest news with #MichaelHurley
CTV News
10 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Providing public health care dollars to private clinics for surgeries resulting in health inequality: Union
A union says the plan by the Ford government to continue expanding hospital services to include more for-profit clinics will lead to a wider gap in health equit The head of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) is on a cross-province tour with a senior researcher highlighting data compiled on impacts within health care. 'We believe if the public is more familiar with the details of this [government] policy it will lose popular support, and the government will have to reconsider it,' Michael Hurley, CUPE regional vice president in Ontario, said to media in Sudbury on Thursday. Michael Hurley of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries Michael Hurley of CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario 'So, I think we have to wear them down over time, to be honest with you.' Five years ago, the Conservative government approved plans to allow public health care dollars to go to private for-profit clinics to perform cataract surgeries, stating it would help reduce wait times. Last year, the Ministry of Health announced that private clinics could also perform hip and knee surgeries covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The union said data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows that wait times have worsened since 2020. It's also concerned that gaps in health inequality will grow wider. 'Twenty per cent of the population, the wealthiest 20 per cent, actually saw a significant increase in cataract surgery access with the increased funding. Whereas every other demographic group -- the other four quintiles -- saw less access to care. Worst of all among the poorest among us,' said Doug Allan, a CUPE senior researcher. 'For example, we know in Sudbury that there is significant inequality in terms of access to cataract surgery based on your income and that level of marginalization in the community.' CUPE researcher Doug Allan CUPE researcher Doug Allan discusses research in Sudbury on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario The union also said many of the private, for-profit clinics upsell or charge user fees. In fact, after hearing numerous complaints from her constituents in Nickel Belt who were charged add-on fees for extras during their surgeries, the NDP health critic, MPP France Gelinas, issued an open letter to Health Minister Sylvia Jones. Gelinas said many of the fees charged by private for-profit clinics are in violation of the Canada Health Act. France Gelinas France Gelinas, Ontario health critic and Nickel Belt MPP. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario She told CTV News that patients who are in need of cataract surgery are seniors on a fixed income who don't have an extra $600 to $1,200. 'The surgeon is about to put a laser to your eye and says to you that he prefers to use this [special lens]. You don't argue. You're not in a position to bargain, you just pay,' Gelinas said. 'If you are really rich, this is perfect. You will pay to be at the front of the line and you will get really good access. If you're like the rest of us, not very rich, the wait times will be longer in our public hospital.' In an email to CTV, News a Ministry of Health spokesperson said, 'Ontario is leading the county with some of shortest wait times for critical surgeries and procedures,' adding 32,000 people received 'publicly funded cataract surgery at community surgical and diagnostic centres' last year. 'Our government will continue to deliver more connected, convenient care in every corner of the province, always ensuring that people are accessing the care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card,' a statement from the ministry reads. Statement from Ontario Ministry of Health on private clinic surgeries Statement from Ontario Ministry of Health on private clinic surgeries. June 19, 2025 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario The email also stated that Ontario has legislated provisions that prohibit a patient from being charged for an OHIP covered service.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Union says private surgical clinics move the wealthy to the front of the line
As the province expands use of private surgical clinics , a union is raising alarm about research showing wealthy Ontarians going to the front of the line for cataract operations. 'The wealthiest have increased access to surgeries and middle-class and lower-class people do not,' Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU), said during a recent stop in Hamilton to raise awareness. 'What we're trying to do is deepen public understanding of the consequences of these surgeries. They redirect access to those who can afford it the most.' The union's claims are backed up by a study — involving a McMaster University researcher — that found the rate of cataract surgeries rose 22 per cent for patients with the highest socioeconomic status at private for-profit surgical centres. Meanwhile, the rate fell 8.5 per cent for those with the lowest socioeconomic status, concluded the study led by Ontario research institute ICES and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) in August 2024. In stark contrast, no difference in access between the wealthy and the poor was found in public hospitals by the research that examined 935,729 cataract surgeries in Ontario from January 2017 to March 2022. 'We observed a large difference in socioeconomic status of patients undergoing cataract surgery in private for-profit surgical centres compared with those treated in public hospitals,' concluded the study. The researchers stated that addressing this difference is 'vital to ensure access to surgery and maintain public confidence in the cataract surgery system.' Expanding the role of private for-profit surgical centres is one way the Progressive Conservative government is addressing surgical backlogs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, 32,000 Ontarians got their publicly-funded cataract surgery at a private clinic. Ontario's May budget earmarked $280 million over two years to further increase care paid by OHIP but provided at private clinics, including diagnostic imaging, endoscopy procedures and orthopedic surgeries. 'The business models of such centres in Canada have traditionally involved billing public insurance programs for the surgeon fee and also charging patients for extra services that are priced to offset overhead costs for operating rooms and generate profit,' the study stated about cataract surgeries. 'Consequently, moving surgical cases out of public hospitals and into private for-profit centres could have a negative effect on access to surgery for patients who are unable to pay.' An investigation by the Toronto Star published on June 7 found patients going for cataract surgery at private clinics felt they had to pay between a couple of hundred and thousands of dollars out of pocket to bypass reportedly long wait times or receive better treatment such as upgraded lenses. The story raised questions about whether there are sufficient guardrails in place to make sure patients don't feel pressured to pay out of pocket for upgrades they may not need. The ICES study also spoke about the need for increased 'safeguards' to ensure patients don't miss out on the chance to get timely care in a private facility because they can't afford to pay for extras and upgrades. 'Surgeons and private for-profit centres also have financial incentives to prioritize patients paying for extra services,' stated the study. 'Finally, surgeons working in private for-profit centres may have practices that focus on referrals for patients with a greater ability to pay for extra uninsured services.' Ontario has provisions through legislation that prohibit a patient from being charged for an OHIP-covered service. In addition, Bill 60 passed in 2023 with the aim of increasing transparency and ensuring there are no extra charges for OHIP-funded procedures. 'People are accessing the care they need with their OHIP card, never their credit card,' Ema Popovic, spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones, said in a statement. 'If someone has been charged for an OHIP-covered service, they can contact the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act program to open a review. Those who have been charged for an insured service will be reimbursed in full.' But many people have been 'manipulated' into paying for extras at private clinics, said OCHU, which is part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). 'I strongly suspect that a big part of the factor of why there has been such inequality in access at the for-profit clinics is that there are these various charges that come along and that just naturally weeds out people,' said Doug Allan, a researcher with CUPE. The union commissioned Nanos Research to do an online survey of 1,017 Ontario adults between May 27 and June 1 that found two-thirds of respondents from the Golden Horseshoe West, which included Hamilton, agreed that expanded for-profit cataract surgeries will have a negative impact on access to care for the poorest people. The survey is accurate within 3.1 percentage points, plus or minus, 19 times out of 20. 'In Ontario public hospitals, it didn't matter what your income was in terms of treatment,' Hurley said. 'The whole point is supposed to be that irrespective of income, we're making decisions based upon medical need.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. 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National Post
10-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
Nearly Three in Four Ontarians Want Provincial Government to Prioritize Spending on Public Hospitals Instead of Private Clinics: New Poll
Article content OTTAWA, Ontario — Seventy-three per cent of Ontarians believe the government should prioritize spending on public hospitals rather than private clinics, in a poll conducted following the recent budget announcement of $280 million being shunted to private, for-profit clinics. Eighty-four per cent also said they believe public hospitals are understaffed. Article content The Nanos Poll was conducted between May 27 and June 1, surveying 1,017 Ontarians over the age of 18. The poll was commissioned by CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE), which released a supplementary report on the ongoing privatization of hospital services. 'This poll shows there is overwhelming opposition to this government's plans to privatize hospital surgeries,' said Michael Hurley, president of OCHU-CUPE, which represents 50,000 hospital and long-term care staff. 'The public understands that spending on private, for-profit clinics and agencies is much more expensive, comes with poorer outcomes and duplicates infrastructure and administration. The vast majority wants our resources allocated to public health care.' Article content While the government expands funding to for-profit clinics, over four in five Ontarians (84%) believe there is not enough staff in public hospitals – including 82 per cent of Ontario PC supporters. Article content In the recent budget health care funding increased two per cent, well below the annual health care inflation of 5.2 per cent, noted the union. Article content After significant privatization of cataract surgeries, the government plans to expand private, for-profit delivery of other procedures including knee and hip replacements as well as diagnostics. In 2023, Premier Doug Ford suggested that up to 50 per cent of surgeries could be performed outside of hospitals. Article content 'This is startling given that for-profit surgeries in Ontario are twice as expensive as those performed in public hospitals,' said Hurley. Article content The OCHU-CUPE report highlights the findings of a 2024 Canadian Medical Association Journal study showing that privatization of cataract operations resulted in surgical rates increasing by 22 per cent for the wealthiest Ontarians while declining for everyone else. Access to surgeries for the poorest people in Ontario declined nine per cent. The study noted that hospitals provided equal access to care. Article content At the media conference, the union showed a visual representation of this inequality through a map of Ottawa's neighbourhoods, colour-coded by socioeconomic status. Article content 'People can't afford to pay thousands of dollars for health care,' Hurley said. 'The great majority of Ontarians reject this expensive privatization that bakes in inequalities and greatly reduces access.' Article content The Ontario Health Coalition has documented hundreds of cases of private, for-profit clinics billing patients for medically necessary services – which is illegal – and add-on services that patients felt compelled to purchase. Article content Sixty-seven per cent of respondents to the Nanos poll said it was unacceptable for private clinics to charge people for medically necessary services. Article content The union expressed concerns about the acceleration of privatization, citing the CMAJ study's findings showing that since expansion of public funding for cataract surgeries in Ontario, 22.5 per cent of these procedures were performed in private clinics. Article content Summary of survey results: Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information please contact: Article content Article content Article content Article content
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Nearly Three in Four Ontarians Want Provincial Government to Prioritize Spending on Public Hospitals Instead of Private Clinics: New Poll
OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seventy-three per cent of Ontarians believe the government should prioritize spending on public hospitals rather than private clinics, in a poll conducted following the recent budget announcement of $280 million being shunted to private, for-profit clinics. Eighty-four per cent also said they believe public hospitals are understaffed. The Nanos Poll was conducted between May 27 and June 1, surveying 1,017 Ontarians over the age of 18. The poll was commissioned by CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE), which released a supplementary report on the ongoing privatization of hospital services. 'This poll shows there is overwhelming opposition to this government's plans to privatize hospital surgeries,' said Michael Hurley, president of OCHU-CUPE, which represents 50,000 hospital and long-term care staff. 'The public understands that spending on private, for-profit clinics and agencies is much more expensive, comes with poorer outcomes and duplicates infrastructure and administration. The vast majority wants our resources allocated to public health care.' While the government expands funding to for-profit clinics, over four in five Ontarians (84%) believe there is not enough staff in public hospitals – including 82 per cent of Ontario PC supporters. In the recent budget health care funding increased two per cent, well below the annual health care inflation of 5.2 per cent, noted the union. After significant privatization of cataract surgeries, the government plans to expand private, for-profit delivery of other procedures including knee and hip replacements as well as diagnostics. In 2023, Premier Doug Ford suggested that up to 50 per cent of surgeries could be performed outside of hospitals. 'This is startling given that for-profit surgeries in Ontario are twice as expensive as those performed in public hospitals,' said Hurley. The OCHU-CUPE report highlights the findings of a 2024 Canadian Medical Association Journal study showing that privatization of cataract operations resulted in surgical rates increasing by 22 per cent for the wealthiest Ontarians while declining for everyone else. Access to surgeries for the poorest people in Ontario declined nine per cent. The study noted that hospitals provided equal access to care. At the media conference, the union showed a visual representation of this inequality through a map of Ottawa's neighbourhoods, colour-coded by socioeconomic status. 'People can't afford to pay thousands of dollars for health care,' Hurley said. 'The great majority of Ontarians reject this expensive privatization that bakes in inequalities and greatly reduces access.' The Ontario Health Coalition has documented hundreds of cases of private, for-profit clinics billing patients for medically necessary services – which is illegal – and add-on services that patients felt compelled to purchase. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents to the Nanos poll said it was unacceptable for private clinics to charge people for medically necessary services. The union expressed concerns about the acceleration of privatization, citing the CMAJ study's findings showing that since expansion of public funding for cataract surgeries in Ontario, 22.5 per cent of these procedures were performed in private clinics. Summary of survey results: 72% agree with the CMAJ study results that privatization will negatively impact access to care for the poorest people 67% say it's unacceptable for private clinics to charge patients for medically necessary services 73% say government must prioritize spending on public health care, not private clinics 84% say there's not enough staff in public hospitals :gv/cope491
National Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
Ontarians Want Provincial Government to Prioritize Spending on Public Hospitals Not Private Clinics: New Poll
Article content TORONTO — Nearly three in four Ontarians believe the government should prioritize spending on public hospitals rather than private clinics, in a poll conducted following the recent budget announcement of $280 million being shunted to private, for-profit clinics. Eighty-four per cent of Ontarians also said they believe public hospitals are understaffed. Article content Article content The Nanos poll was conducted between May 27 and June 1, surveying 1,017 Ontarians over the age of 18. The poll was commissioned by CUPE's Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE), which released a supplementary report on the ongoing privatization of hospital services. Article content 'This poll shows there is overwhelming opposition to this government's plans to privatize hospital surgeries,' said Michael Hurley, president of OCHU-CUPE, which represents 50,000 hospital and long-term care staff. 'The public understands that spending on private, for-profit clinics and agencies is much more expensive, comes with poorer outcomes and duplicates infrastructure and administration. The vast majority wants our resources allocated to public health care.' Article content While the government expands funding to for-profit clinics, over four in five Ontarians (84%) believe there is not enough staff in public hospitals – including 82 per cent of Ontario PC supporters. Article content In the recent budget health care funding increased two per cent, well below the annual health care inflation of 5.2 per cent, noted the union. Article content After significant privatization of cataract surgeries, the government plans to expand private, for-profit delivery of other procedures including knee and hip replacements as well as diagnostics. In 2023, Premier Doug Ford suggested that up to 50 per cent of surgeries could be performed outside of hospitals. Article content 'This is startling given that for-profit surgeries in Ontario are twice as expensive as those performed in public hospitals,' said Hurley. Article content The OCHU-CUPE report highlights the findings of a 2024 Canadian Medical Association Journal study showing that privatization of cataract operations resulted in surgical rates increasing by 22 per cent for the wealthiest Ontarians while declining for everyone else. Access to surgeries for the poorest people in Ontario declined nine per cent. The study noted that hospitals provided equal access to care. Article content At the media conference, the union showed a visual representation of this inequality through a map of Ontario's neighbourhoods, colour-coded by socioeconomic status. The yellow areas representing the wealthiest neighbourhoods showed the most affluent Ontarians are clustered in enclaves that are barely visible amidst a sea of blue (representing the bottom 80 per cent of residents). Article content 'People can't afford to pay thousands of dollars for health care,' Hurley said. 'The great majority of Ontarians reject this expensive privatization that bakes in inequalities and greatly reduces access.' Article content The Ontario Health Coalition has documented hundreds of cases of private, for-profit clinics billing patients for medically necessary services – which is illegal – and add-on services that patients felt compelled to purchase. Article content Sixty-seven per cent of respondents to the Nanos poll said it was unacceptable for private clinics to charge people for medically necessary services. Article content The union expressed concerns about the acceleration of privatization, citing the CMAJ study's findings showing that since expansion of public funding for cataract surgeries in Ontario, 22.5 per cent of these procedures were performed in private clinics. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
