gŏđŏ editionap.ca Physiotherapy changes stir up controversy
However, Crack and Ontario Health Minis- ter Deb Matthews have maintained that the move is a step in the right direction. Crack noted that a court has rejected a re- quest for an injunction from the Designated Physiotherapy Clinics Association, which has argued access will be restricted under the new program. The reforms have the support of the On- tario Physiotherapy Association, Matthews has pointed out. In April, the province announced that it would provide more than 200,000 people with improved access to physiotherapy, fall prevention classes and exercise. The gov- ernment said that the changes would raise the number of receiving the care to 500,000. Under the previous system, four com- panies provided two-thirds of the publicly funded physiotherapy. “This antiquated model resulted in less access and poor val- ue,”Matthews has maintained. Crack observed that the improvements will be better care for more Ontarians and better value for health care dollars. The minister has said that the wait list for in-home physiotherapy is too long. Under the new model, Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) will offer in-home physio- therapy for 60,000 more seniors and people with mobility issues to clear current wait- lists. “Four companies are currently responsi- ble for two-thirds of all physiotherapy OHIP billings, primarily for services offered in long-term care and retirement homes. This
is the fastest growing cost in health care. We have observed that one of the primary rea- sons for these rising costs is a rise in group exercise classes that are being billed to the government as physiotherapy, even though only a fraction of these services are provid- ed by physiotherapists. We can put an end to this skyrocketing spending and provide care for twice as many seniors in the com- munity by removing the exclusive ability for these companies to profit from nearly unlimited OHIP physiotherapy billings. The companies describe our changes as ‘cuts’, when in fact, the government is increasing the annual budget for these services.” October 5, Hawkesbury native Mélanie Clément will be among a team of 23 run- ners who will cover 100 kilometres to raise money for childhood cancer research. She is a member of the GoodGuysTri team, aiming to raise $60,000 in the Sears Great Canadian 100 km Run. The run will go from Ottawa to Monte- bello, crossing the Ottawa River at Lefaivre. “Our team has already raised over $53,000 for the cause and we hope to reach $60,000 by October 5,” relates Clément. Mike Herzog founded GoodGuysTri in 2011 to inspire people to“live life intention- ally.” The group is a collection of like-mind- ed people with the aim of simply trying to “do good” in the world, while leveraging their love of endurance sports. They hope to inspire others to also surpass themselves while making the world a better place. GoodGuysTri ambassador Steven Thomas ran the event last year, on his own, raising $13,000 in only five weeks. This year, other runners were invited to join in, and the re- sponse was overwhelming: in less than 48 hours, GoodGuysTri had over 20 runners ac- cept the 100-kilometre challenge. Clément started running in January, 2012, when colleagues encouraged her to join their team for the Spartan Sprint mud run in June. Running quickly became her new- found passion and she welcomed the op- portunity to run for a cause. “I love children; they have this unique ability to brighten your day in an instant! I joined GoodGuys- Tri’s team to return the favour and do some- TRIBUNE-EXPRESS NOUVELLES@EAP.ON.CA
Crack related that in some cases, exer- cise classes with up to 30 participants were billed as physiotherapy. In long-term care homes, all residents will continue to have access to exercise classes, and appropriate, individualized physio- therapy will be available for all residents who need it. Each long-term care home will receive funding for physiotherapy directly. All residents who need physiotherapy will be assessed by a registered physiothera- pist, who will determine a treatment plan that includes the frequency and duration of physiotherapy based on their individual needs as part of their plan of care.
RICHARD MAHONEY richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
Changes to physiotherapy funding in On- tario have stirred up a controversy. The new provincial funding model will make it more difficult for many seniors who live in retirement homes to have access to medically necessary physiotherapy, critics have said. But Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Liberal M.P.P. Grant Crack has countered the new system is a prescription for better, more ef- ficient use of tax dollars. The new funding method, which went into effect August 1, has been slammed by people such as Gail Hannah, who has cau- tioned the government is making a ”huge mistake by pulling funds” for physiotherapy treatments. For the past seven years, Hannah has been volunteering at a residence in Vankleek Hill where she has taught yoga “and other skills such as how to gracefully get out of a chair and stand up.” Physiotherapists visit the home three times a week. “Please note – we will all get old and need guidance with our fitness,” she wrote in a letter to Prescott-Russell mayors. “It is a small price to pay to keep older adults moving, instead of leaving them to shuffle to their deaths because their mus- cles (which hold their bones) have atro- phied due to inactivity.”
Running against cancer
thing for them.” Each year, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. About 90,000 of these children succumb to the disease. GoodGuysTri wants to raise even more money this year to help change these statistics. To support Clé- ment, visit www.runmelanierun.com. Clément says she is “passionate about making a difference in the world we live in.” She comments: “Losing a grandmother to cancer was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to go through in my life. And yet, it pales in comparison to what too many parents have to face when one of their children suffers from this disease. I love children; they have this unique ability to brighten your day in an instant! I joined GoodGuysTri’s team in the hopes of re- turning the favour and doing something for them. Together, I believe we can end kids cancer! I couldn’t be happier to be part of this great event - it’s just one more opportunity for me to do good.”
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