Ontario and OMA Reach Tentative Agreement “Report”

A new tentative deal between the provincial government and Ontario doctors has local physicians hoping for fewer restrictions going forward.

Queen’s Park has reached a tentative four-year deal with Ontario’s doctors, including annual increases to the physician services budget.

A statement announcing the deal with the Ontario Medical Association doesn’t include the amount of the increases.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins said in a statement the tentative deal will see “co-management” of the physician services budget, which would allow the government and doctors “to work together to jointly identify savings, update fee codes and account for technological change.”

The Liberal government has had a tense relationship with doctors since it unilaterally imposed some fee cuts last year and it has been 2 years since the province had an agreement with the OMA.

The deal also includes funding for hiring more doctors and improving access to primary care physicians.

The deal is set to be ratified in August and the details of the agreement will be made public after that.

Agencies/Canadajournal