Alberta wants 22% fee reduction on eye care for seniors, kids

By GILLIAN SLADE on February 15, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

The Alberta Association of Optometrists says Alberta Health is asking for a 22 per cent reduction in fees for eye care for seniors and children.

In late December, the AAO received this communication from the government, said president Dr. Troy Brady.

“We do feel that their proposals will result in poor eye health care for Albertans and greater overall cost to the system,” said Brady, noting that a lack of preventative eye care will mean more people seeking attention in emergency rooms or needing a referral to a specialist. This would result in higher overall health-care expenses.

Alberta Health would not provide an interview to the News but submitted an emailed statement in response to questions.

“Alberta has the highest per-capita spending in Canada, almost twice as high as Ontario, B.C. or Nova Scotia. This isn’t sustainable,” said Steve Buick, spokesperson for Alberta Health.

Brady says a comparison of fees with other provinces is not as simple as that.

“In comparing rates Alberta Health has used some of the oldest and lowest fees to inform their request,” said Brady. “They found rates from other provinces that have not been updated for 15 years.”

Brady says in some cases there are increases that are not reflected yet but will likely show up later in the year.

The AAO has had only two increases in fees in the past six years, and each of those was for one per cent, said Brady.

“It does not begin to cover cost-of-living increases or inflation.”

Alberta Health pays optometrists $56.32 for one complete eye exam every year for a child up to age 18. The fee for a senior, who also qualifies for one complete eye exam annually, is $80.70.

Alberta Health is suggesting the seniors’ exam should be reduced to $56.32, the same rate paid for a child.

The Alberta Association of Optometrists says there are complexities to an eye exam for a senior that do not exist with a child. Brady says seniors have more complicated eye conditions including other health conditions that can affect eye health.

“They take more time. It takes longer to explain what’s happening with their eyes and they often have multiple problems that we need to discuss,” said Brady.

Alberta Health requested a reduction in optometrist fees and services totalling about $22 million, which equates to a 22.8 per cent cut to the estimated $96.5 million budget.

Brady says the AAO has submitted a counter proposal to Alberta Health that it believes will fairly compensate optometrists plus continue to ensure high quality and timely eye health care.

Depending on the outcome, there is the potential for patients affected to have to pay an additional fee for services.

“They will then have to choose between paying this extra cost or asking to be referred to a specialist, a higher paid provider,” said Brady.

Other changes suggested by Alberta Health include reducing the fee for computer-assisted visual fields and to delist completely retinal photography and retinal imaging.

The AAO had counter-proposed a 3.2 per cent reduction to fees over two years, which would allow Alberta Health to save about $8 million over the next three years.

Buick points out that no final decisions have been made by the government yet.

The AAO says many common eye diseases have no early signs or symptoms, which is why regular eye exams are recommended. Three quarters of vision loss and blindness can be prevented with early intervention.

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