practice partner
office consult
The purpose of this column is to answer questions about issues that we either hear about frequently, or that
have a wide applicability across the profession. If you have any questions or topic suggestions for this column,
please email them to [email protected], or contact the Physician Advisory Service.
What you need to
know about block
fees, uninsured
services
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E
the recommended schedule of fees. Physivery year, the College’s Physician
cians must make a list of fees available to the
Advisory Service responds to hunpatient and as such, may wish to do so at the
dreds of inquiries from physicians
time of accepting patients into their practice,
as well members of the public reas this will reduce confusion from the outset.
garding block fees and uninsured services. An
Physicians who charge for ununinsured service is defined as
insured services must also be
a service provided to a patient
prepared to provide itemized
that is not paid for by OHIP.
Block fees must
receipts for all paid uninsured
This includes services provided
be optional, and
services.
to individuals who are not
Some physicians elect to
insured by OHIP. Examples
patients must
of uninsured services include
retain the option of offer a block fee to patients
defined as a flat fee charged
transfer of medical records,
paying for uninsured for a predetermined set of
missed appointments, sick
uninsured services, and may
notes, and prescription refills
services on an
be offered for periods of three
done over the phone.
individual basis
to 12 months. Block fees must
Some physicians elect to
be optional, and patients must
charge patients for uninsured
retain the option of paying for uninsured
services on a fee per service basis. Physicians
services on an individual basis. Patients who
should refer to the Ontario Medical Associaopt to pay the block fee must confirm their
tion’s document, “Physician’s Guide to Third
decision in writing which must then be added
Party and Other Uninsured Services” for
Issue 4, 2015 Dialogue
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2015-12-16 9:36 AM