Names of Ontario clinics found to have extra-billed patients being kept secret
CTV
The names of clinics and physicians found to have extra-billed patients for health services are being kept secret, with advocates arguing this lack of transparency could impact public trust in the health-care system.
The names of clinics and physicians found to have extra-billed patients for health services are being kept secret, 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 December 30, 2022.
Of those complaints, 49 were found to have contravened the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act (CFMA).
These contraventions included extra-billing for health services that should have been covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) to the tune of just over $68,000.
But the physicians or facilities that charged patients for these services are unknown. The government redacted the service providers’ names, as well as the facility name.
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.
CTV News Toronto is currently appealing to obtain the information in part.
