Ontario minister defends covering fewer eye exams for seniors – CBC

Health Minister Sylvia Jones says province ‘fine tuning’ coverage

Mar 27, 2023

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones is defending a move to reduce the frequency of eye exams for healthy seniors, saying Monday that changes to funding for optometry services involve “fine tuning” the coverage.

Jones announced Friday that the government had reached a funding agreement with optometrists that increases some payments to them — though she has not detailed those increases — but also cuts some coverage for patients.

As of Sept. 1, people aged 65 and older will be covered for one eye exam every 18 months, instead of one a year, unless they have a condition affecting their eyes such as macular degeneration, glaucoma or diabetes.

The Opposition NDP pressed Jones in question period Monday on the reasons for the move, and she said the deal also expands access to coverage for people with certain conditions.

“The new funding agreement will actually increase care for people with chronic diseases such as glaucoma and ocular complications due to diabetes,” Jones said.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ont-ohip-optometrists-1.6792994