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Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Niagara Falls MPP backs cross-party push to extend OHIP for prostate cancer testing
Momentum continues to grow for Wayne Gates' push to extend OHIP coverage for prostate cancer screening. On Thursday, the New Democrat supported independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady's motion to extend Ontario Health Insurance Plan coverage for PSA testing — a cause Gates has championed at Queen's Park for the past six years. 'This isn't about politics — it's about saving lives,' said Gates. 'Every year, thousands of men are diagnosed too late because cost is a barrier to early testing. We can fix that. I'm proud to support MPP Brady's motion and I hope every member in the legislature does the same.' Brady, the province's lone independent MPP, representing nearby Haldimand-Norfolk, said she has previously stood and called on the government to support Gates' effort. 'Seeing no movement on this initiative and inspired by the longtime calls for this important change from my colleague Wayne Gates … I have renewed the call with the motion asking the Ford government to cover the cost of PSA tests through OHIP when referred by a health-care provider.' Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady. The call to action comes just ahead of Father's Day — a time Gates said is 'perfect' for raising awareness of men's health. He said prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men. PSA testing now is not covered by OHIP unless there are symptoms evident, often making it too late for early intervention, said Gates. The motion wants OHIP to cover the cost of tests for patients referred by a health-care provider, saving them the roughly $40 charged by private labs in Ontario. Although earlier readings of Gates' bill won all-party support, the government defeated the bill last year. Canadian Cancer Society's Dr. Stuart Edmonds. A cancer diagnosis costs Canadians an average of $33,000 in their lifetime — on top of that, there are other out-of-pocket expenses like PSA testing, said Dr. Stuart Edmonds, executive vice-president of mission research and advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society. He said prostate cancer strikes one in eight Canadian men. 'We believe that early detection of prostate cancer shouldn't come with a price tag. The question shouldn't be, 'Can you afford the test?' It should be, 'Do you need it?'' Gates said the latest motion will be debated at a later date, adding it's significant to have Brady — a woman — at the forefront of the effort. 'I think it's really important because it affects the entire family — it may be men that get prostate cancer, but it affects their spouses, the kids. It's good news for us as we try to put more pressure on the government to do this.' He said there's also growing support from firefighter groups across Ontario. 'Firefighters are more likely to get prostate cancer than the general public by 1.41 per cent, so this is now one that the provincial association and the local firefighters are now raising the awareness of trying to get it covered.' Gates said continued awareness is also important. 'Early detection is the key. We think it's a very important motion. I'm glad that it's supported by the Liberals. I'm glad that it's supported by the Greens. I'm glad it's supported by Bobbi Ann. Let's make this the year we get it done — together.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CBC
28-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
Doctor operating safer supply clinics billed OHIP $2.5M last year
A doctor running a network of addiction clinics across Ontario, including an Ottawa location that offers safer opioid supply, is billing public insurance about $2.5 million per year. Dr. Suman Koka is the sole officer and director of Northwood Recovery, which has locations in North York, Hamilton and Manitoulin Island. It operates under the name Recovery North in Sudbury, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie. Northwood Recovery opened its first Ottawa location in Hintonburg last year, but quietly moved it to Chinatown this March. Neighbours in both Hintonburg and Chinatown have criticized Koka for prescribing opioid medications to fentanyl users. They say his patients are trading the prescription drugs on the street to get harder substances, attracting dealers and crime to the area. City councillors representing both neighbourhoods have urged Northwood Recovery to change its operations or shut down. In an interview last month, Koka confirmed that the Ottawa clinic offers safer supply, a harm reduction approach intended to help users replace street drugs like fentanyl with safer prescription narcotics. Among other treatments, Koka prescribes hydromorphone, which is also known by the trade name Dilaudid. He confirmed that he primarily meets with patients at the Ottawa clinic remotely through telemedicine. CBC submitted a freedom of information request to the Ontario Ministry of Health seeking records of Koka's total billing to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). It reveals that he billed just over $2.3 million in 2023 and nearly $2.5 million in 2024. Those totals do not represent Koka's profit or take-home pay, since at least some of the money would be used to cover overhead costs at his clinics, which could include rent, supplies and administrative staff. But the totals are far in excess of typical billing. The average gross clinical payment for Ontario physicians was $388,557 in 2022-23, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Payments for the top quintile — the top 20 per cent of physicians by billing — were $568,432 on average. CBC also submitted a request for Koka's billing for telemedicine specifically. He billed $524,302 for virtual care services in 2024, including video and telephone consultations. The figures were current as of January 22 of this year. The documents include a note that physicians still have a three-month period to submit additional claims for processing. Koka had previously appeared on a Toronto Star database of highly paid doctors published in 2019. According to the Sudbury Star, which cited the Toronto Star's reporting, Koka billed $1.5 million in 2018-19, putting him in the top one per cent of doctors ranked by OHIP billing. Koka did not respond to a request this week with detailed questions about his 2023 and 2024 billing. He did not explain how he is able to personally see enough patients to bill millions of dollars per year, or whether he is delegating some of the care. But in a March interview, CBC asked him whether he was still one of Ontario's highest paid doctors. "I'm not sure about that, but I'll tell you I'm probably one of the hardest working doctors in Ontario," he said at the time. Previously cautioned for telemedicine practices Doug Angus, a professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa's Telford School of Management, said Koka would have to see a very high volume of patients to generate that kind of money. Angus, who specializes in health economics, said Koka's reliance on virtual care could allow him to cycle through patients quickly. "That's changed the game completely," he said. "There's a lot of general practitioners who would love to have that kind of situation, but there's no way they can generate that kind of gross income with face-to-face visits." He said that the ministry has tried to rein in high billers, but it's difficult to monitor. He said they haven't yet addressed the question of how many patients a doctor can effectively see. Koka's membership page on the College of Physicians and Surgeons website shows he has 15 practice locations, as well as hospital privileges at the Health Sciences North regional hospital in Sudbury. His medical professional corporation has 13 different addresses. The college cautioned him in 2019, after a patient complained that Koka didn't meet with him at all. Instead, a physician assistant at his office prescribed methadone after a virtual appointment. The college found no sign that the physician assistant had proper training — and noted that delegating care is only appropriate in the context of an existing doctor-patient relationship, which did not exist in that case. Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster met with Koka last month, along with area MPP Catherine McKenney. In a post to her website, Troster said she insisted on wraparound supports for patients and better security protocols during the meeting. She said the clinic has hired a security guard and a nurse and committed to removing people from the program if they divert their medications. In his March interview with CBC, Koka said Northwood Recovery takes drug diversion very seriously. He said patients found to be trading or selling their medications are discharged from the program. According to Koka, even suspicion can lead the clinic to put patients under a stricter regime where they must take doses on site. He said telemedicine has increased the number of people he is able to see, allowing more people to access addiction treatment. "Whether it's through video conference or whether through in person, the interaction is the same," he said.
Vancouver Sun
24-04-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Ontario loses battle to refuse to pay for penis-sparing vaginoplasty for non-binary resident
Ontario's top court has ruled the province must cover the cost of an out-of-country, penis-sparing vaginoplasty for a 'transgender and non-binary resident' who wishes to have both female and male genitalia. Article content Article content In a unanimous decision released this week, a three-judge panel of the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed a lower court's ruling ordering the Ontario Health Insurance Plan to pay for the patient, identified as K.S. in court records, to undergo the novel phallus-sparing surgery at a Texas clinic. Article content Article content Article content 'K.S. is pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision, which is now the third unanimous ruling confirming that her gender affirming surgery is covered under Ontario's Health Insurance Act and its regulation,' K.S.'s lawyer, John McIntyre, said in an email to National Post. Article content The legal battle between K.S., whose sex at birth was male, dates to 2022, when the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) refused a funding request for surgery to construct a vagina while sparing the penis, a procedure this is not available in Ontario, or anywhere else in Canada. Article content OHIP argued that, because the vaginoplasty would not be accompanied by a penectomy, the procedure isn't one specifically listed in OHIP's Schedule of Benefits and therefore shouldn't be publicly funded. OHIP also argued that the requested surgery is considered experimental in Ontario and, thus, also ineligible for coverage. Article content K.S. appealed to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, which overturned OHIP's refusal, arguing that 'vaginoplasty' should be covered, whether a penectomy, a separate procedure included on the list of publicly funded sex-reassignment surgeries, is performed or not. Article content Article content OHIP appealed that decision to the Divisional Court but lost again after the panel dismissed the province's appeal and declared the surgery, which leaves intact a functioning penis, an insured service. Article content Article content The province's latest appeal was heard on Nov. 26. The three-judge appeal court panel rejected OHIP's arguments that the proposed surgery isn't an insured service because it won't be accompanied by removal of the penis — a penectomy 'neither recommended by K.S.'s health professionals nor desired by K.S.,' according to the court's written decision. Article content K.S., who is in her early 30s, 'has experienced significant gender dysphoria since her teenage years, as well as physical, mental and economic hardships to transition her gender expression to align with her gender identity,' the court said.
National Post
24-04-2025
- Health
- National Post
Ontario loses battle to refuse to pay for penis-sparing vaginoplasty for non-binary resident
Ontario's top court has ruled the province must cover the cost of an out-of-country, penis-sparing vaginoplasty for a 'transgender and non-binary resident' who wishes to have both female and male genitalia. Article content In a unanimous decision released this week, a three-judge panel of the Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed a lower court's ruling ordering the Ontario Health Insurance Plan to pay for the patient, identified as K.S. in court records, to undergo the novel phallus-sparing surgery at a Texas clinic. Article content Article content 'K.S. is pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision, which is now the third unanimous ruling confirming that her gender affirming surgery is covered under Ontario's Health Insurance Act and its regulation,' K.S.'s lawyer, John McIntyre, said in an email to National Post. Article content The legal battle between K.S., whose sex at birth was male, dates to 2022, when the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) refused a funding request for surgery to construct a vagina while sparing the penis, a procedure this is not available in Ontario, or anywhere else in Canada. Article content OHIP argued that, because the vaginoplasty would not be accompanied by a penectomy, the procedure isn't one specifically listed in OHIP's Schedule of Benefits and therefore shouldn't be publicly funded. OHIP also argued that the requested surgery is considered experimental in Ontario and, thus, also ineligible for coverage. Article content K.S. appealed to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board, which overturned OHIP's refusal, arguing that 'vaginoplasty' should be covered, whether a penectomy, a separate procedure included on the list of publicly funded sex-reassignment surgeries, is performed or not. Article content OHIP appealed that decision to the Divisional Court but lost again after the panel dismissed the province's appeal and declared the surgery, which leaves intact a functioning penis, an insured service. Article content Article content The province's latest appeal was heard on Nov. 26. The three-judge appeal court panel rejected OHIP's arguments that the proposed surgery isn't an insured service because it won't be accompanied by removal of the penis — a penectomy 'neither recommended by K.S.'s health professionals nor desired by K.S.,' according to the court's written decision. Article content K.S., who is in her early 30s, 'has experienced significant gender dysphoria since her teenage years, as well as physical, mental and economic hardships to transition her gender expression to align with her gender identity,' the court said. Article content K.S.'s doctor submitted a request to OHIP for prior funding approval for the surgical creation of a vaginal cavity and external vulva. The request made it clear that K.S. wasn't seeking a penectomy. Article content In a letter accompanying the request, her doctor said that because K.S. is 'not completely on the 'feminine' end of the spectrum' it was important for her to have a vagina while maintaining her penis, adding that the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in Austin, Tx.,'has an excellent reputation' for gender-affirming surgery, 'and especially with these more complicated procedures.'
CBC
20-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario Votes 2025: Hamilton Centre
Social Sharing Hamilton Centre has voted for the Ontario NDP in every election since the riding was created in 2005. This election will test how orange the lower city riding really is. Incumbent candidate Sarah Jama, a disability and anti-racism advocate, won a byelection in 2023 for the NDP, but was expelled from the party months later. She's running again — this time as an Independent. The NDP has put forward a first-time candidate, Robin Lennox, a family doctor who works with patients using substances. Members of Hamilton Centre's NDP riding association did not support her nomination and are supporting Jama. At a candidates debate on Feb. 18, Jama said she's hearing from voters that they're "really excited about moving forward with a new form of politics" that isn't about party messaging or the party leader. Lennox said she's not concerned about vote splitting between Jama and herself, as a lot of voters she's met say they'll continue to vote for the NDP. "I still see a vibrant NDP community, which is very heartening," Lennox said. The riding encompasses some of Hamilton's downtown core and runs from Hamilton Harbour to the Niagara Escarpment and between Kenilworth Avenue S. to the east and Highway 403 to the west. Over 126,000 people live in Hamilton Centre and more than half are renters, according to the 2021 census. The average individual income in the riding is about $44,600 — lower than that the provincial average of $56,300. Liberal candidate Eileen Walker and Green candidate Lucia Iannantuono also participated in the debate, which aired on Cable 14. The four candidates focused on how they'd address homelessness and high rents, and all voiced their support for doubling Ontario Disability Support Program payments. PC candidate Sarah Bokhari did not attend the debate. CBC Hamilton sent a survey to major party candidates, or their party representatives. Their responses, edited for length and clarity, are reflected below. In addition, several of the Hamilton Centre candidates participated in interviews with CBC Hamilton, to be released in coming days. Also running for MPP in this riding is Mitch Novosad with the New Blue Party and Nathalie Xian Yi Yan as an Independent. Sarah Bokhari, PC Bokhari did not fill out CBC Hamilton's survey. Her LinkedIn profile says she's an executive assistant to the parliamentary assistant. Lucia Iannantuono, Green Iannantuono, 28, studied electrical engineer and works in electronics and hardware design. She said the Green Party is the "ideas engine" of the opposition parties. "We know how to make a big impact with each MPP at Queen's Park," she said. If elected, she will push the Green Party's plan for building "missing middle housing," investing in transit and expanding Ontario Health Insurance Plan to cover mental health care and addictions treatment, among other initiatives. Sarah Jama, Independent Jama, 30, was elected MPP in 2023. Before that she was executive director of the Disability Justice Network of Ontario, taught at McMaster University and created a curriculum for disability-related history. "Party politics has left us behind," Jama said. "I have the freedom to represent the riding without being dragged into party-based arguments that often centre on Toronto." She said if re-elected, she plans to address issues related to cost of living, the environment and health care, which are "deeply interconnected." Robin Lennox, NDP Lennox, a family doctor, did not fill out CBC Hamilton's survey as of Feb. 20. Her campaign website says she launched an in-patient substance use service at two hospitals and a peer support program. She was also part of the team that opened Hamilton's first and only supervised consumption site, which the Progressive Conservative government plans to close in March. "My patients have taught me the true meaning of resilience, and they also know what it is we need to do to eliminate homelessness: low-barrier affordable and supportive housing and income assistance that moves beyond legislated poverty," Lennox said. Eileen Walker, Liberal Walker, 60, is a retired Justice of the Peace, who also worked as a social worker for 21 years. "I am concerned about our local economy, and keeping jobs in our community," she said. "I see real opportunity to improve the lives of families in Hamilton Centre."
