In the Spring 2002 issue of Sharing (Volume 18, Number 1), EEG in Peril in Ontario — Neurologists Concerned about Future Availability of EEGs in Ontario, an article by Dr. Singh alerted us to the proposal of the provincial government's Resource Based Relative Value Schedule (RBRVS) Commission to reduce the professional fee to be paid to neurologists interpreting EEGs by 44.1%. The following letter reports on the outcome of the Commission's deliberation.
The final report of the RBRVS commission is now out and no change was made in the lowered fees for EEG, despite our letters of concern. A senior member of the Neurologists' Organization just wrote me to say that: "...If the RBRVS goes through, there will be no more private EEG facilities and the academic EEG labs will suffer. It will be impossible to access our patients for EEG services..." I agree with this.
I have no idea whether the RBRVS Commission's report can now be altered except possibly by political action from the public acting through the politicians. If it is not altered, I see hard times ahead for patients with epilepsy seeking timely EEG services. The neurologists and other groups are contemplating formal rejection of the report, but we wonder how much weight this would carry.
This, in my opinion, is a good issue and a good time for people with epilepsy and their supporters to consider direct lobbying of the Minister of Health.
The very long and detailed report can be seen at "http://www.rbrvs.on.ca/" [Adobe PDF format].
Dr. Singh, a specialist in neurology and electrodiagnostic medicine, and a Member of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom, a Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, and Vice-President of the Association of Ontario Neurologists, practises in Guelph.
Contacts
Contact information is available on the web sites of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care of the Government of Ontario and related sites.
