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Health Minister Putting Blame for Cancelled Eye Exams on Province's Optometrists

Cancellations follow break down in talks with province

Ontario’s Health Minister putting the blame for a breakdown in contract talks squarely on the shoulders of the association representing the provinces optometrists

Yesterday the Association of Optometrists advised its members to begin cancelling any OHIP funded eye exams, mainly for children, teens and seniors.

Christine Elliot says in a release, "we are extremely disappointed in the OAO’s decision to decline to resume mediation."

Elliot adding "I want to be clear that our government will continue to fund these optometry services through OHIP. Any decision to withdraw services is the decision of individual optometrists."

At issue is reimbursement from the government for eye exams covered by OHIP.

The head of the Association says optometrists need a 70 percent increase in order to cover costs but the province is offering just over 8 percent.

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