News and announcements

Simplify OHIP billing with our collection of billing guides

We’re committed to providing the knowledge and tools to help you quickly and accurately bill OHIP and get compensated for your work.

A new guide on addiction medicine services fee codes was published last week, adding to our collection of 18 billing guides covering a range of topics from after-hours premiums to palliative care.

Have suggestions for new guides or feedback on the ones we’ve published? We’d love to hear from you!

Your OPIP Statement of Annual Premium is now available 

Your OMA Priority Insurance Program Statement of Annual Premium is now available on Manulife SecureServe. If you need assistance or have questions, contact Manulife’s dedicated line for OMA members at 1-888-596-8881 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EST Monday to Friday). Please have your OMA number on hand.

Supporting Indigenous physicians 

The Physician Health Program has partnered with the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada to create a collaborative video highlighting their shared commitment to supporting Indigenous physicians, medical students and residents. The PHP is dedicated to making its services more culturally safe and accessible for Indigenous physicians. We encourage you to explore the Canadian Medical Association’s Indigenous wellness and healing resources. 

Updated fee code master now available 

The Ministry of Health has posted a new fee code master that continues to reflect an across the board increase of just over 13 per cent from Year 1 of the 2024-28 PSA and Year 3 of the 2021-24 PSA. This temporary increase applies to services provided between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2025. 

The only changes in this updated version are two new laboratory medicine services tracking codes: L699 and L734. 

You can download the new master now to use with your billing software. If your vendor hasn’t updated your software or you have technical questions about your billing package, please contact your vendor.  

New guide for addiction medicine billing codes

We have posted a new guide to fee codes for addiction medicine services, including guidance on submitting OHIP claims for insured services. We developed the brief in collaboration with the Section on Addiction Medicine. If you have any feedback, please share your thoughts. 

Get involved: Spring 2025 committee recruitment now open 

Join us in making a meaningful impact in your area of expertise by becoming a member of one of our committees. We are currently seeking dedicated individuals for the following positions: 

• Relativity Advisory Committee (one position): Provide advice and input to the OMA Board and Negotiations Task Force in developing an evidence-based relativity methodology
• Nomination and Appointment Committee (one position): Shape election and recruitment policy, promote opportunities and support the recruitment, appointment, or election of candidates for key OMA positions
• Physician Health Program Advisory Panel (one position): Help support physicians at risk of or affected by substance-use or mental health disorders through prompt intervention, treatment connection, monitoring and advocacy
• OMF Board Director (one position): Join the Ontario Medical Foundation, the OMA’s charitable arm, which works to improve the lives of Ontarians through direct service, research and advocacy by engaging and mobilizing Ontario’s doctors

For more information and to apply, please visit our committees web page. The application deadline is April 9. 

New medical equipment contracts launching for home care

Ontario Health atHome will launch new contracts for medical equipment on March 18. You can find a related FAQ document on its website in English and French. OHatHome understands that patients may experience change from the new contracts and are working to support impacted patients.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to the patient’s OHatHome care co-ordinator. You can also email MESModernization@ontariohealthathome.ca for more information about medical equipment or other contract stream implementations. 

Measure and track your well-being 

The Physician Health Program invites you to access the Canadian Medical Protective Association’s new Physician Well-Being Index tool. Validated by the Mayo Clinic, this user-friendly tool is designed to help you measure your well-being, track it over time and gain access to wellness resources. 

Log on to the CMPA’s website to get started. The tool itself lives on a separate site to ensure your answers are anonymous.

Protect your practice from cyberthreats

Take OntarioMD’s accredited online privacy and security training and learn how to meet your compliance obligations and safeguard your patient data.

The comprehensive training helps you and your staff understand your obligations under the Personal Health Information Protection Act. It also outlines best practices to prevent privacy breaches from phishing emails and other cyberthreats.

It’s free to sign up and you can earn certificates and CME credits. More than 8,500 clinicians and their staff have completed the training, which has a 90 per cent satisfaction rating.

Upcoming changes to Ontario’s Cervical Screening Program

Starting March 3, the human papillomavirus test will replace cytology (Pap test) as the primary screening method for cervical cancer in Ontario. In addition, the HPV test will be used for followup testing in colposcopy within the Ontario Cervical Screening Program.

Ontario Health recently hosted provincial webinars about the changes to the OCSP and the implementation of HPV testing. If you’d like to watch the recordings, contact Ontario Health at 1-866-662-9233 or cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca. You can also access additional resources to learn more.

New template aims to standardize Medical Director agreements

We have developed a sample template agreement for the Medical Director role in long-term care homes. While we recognize that each agreement should be tailored to the unique circumstances of the Medical Director and their LTC home, many of you have requested greater consistency across the sector. This new template standardizes key elements such as roles, responsibilities and insurance requirements while also addressing disparities in compensation and on-site expectations.

To receive a copy of our new sample agreement template, please email legal.affairs@oma.org.

Allergy Section releases new penicillin allergy tool

The new pathways to appropriate penicillin allergy (de)labelling tool developed by the OMA Section on Allergy and Clinical Immunology will help primary care physicians to better understand penicillin allergies. This visual guide helps physicians understand which patients can be prescribed penicillin safely and when a referral to an allergist is needed. The tool answers common questions about penicillin allergies and provides direction on how to connect with an allergist. 

Enhance your leadership skills

Are you an aspiring or active physician leader eager to build on the fundamental skills that drive exceptional leadership? Have you ever wondered how the OMA operates, works with the government and engages its health system partners?

The Physician Leadership Learning Hub was developed in response to your requests for more support and knowledge-building opportunities for physician leaders. The hub, available to all members through OMA Learns, offers free, asynchronous courses that break down the complexities of the OMA and help you develop invaluable leadership skills. 

How AI can impact your work and build your confidence

The new AI Learning Centre from the Centre for Effective Practice offers health-care professionals like you practical, evidence-based guidance on how to assess the use of artificial intelligence ethically and effectively in clinical settings. Features include:

• A guide to AI tools in primary care
• A resource on AI fundamentals for practitioners
• Continuous monitoring of the ethical and regulatory landscape