Optometrist in Medicine Hat says new fee structure will impact ‘vulnerable sector’

Dr. Kerrie Snider, optometrist at Clearview Eyecare in Medicine Hat, said this could mean a higher chance of patients not returning.

Kerrie Snider in disagreement with new eye exam fee structure. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

“It means I have to require the patient to come back for a second exam,” she said.

“That means there’s a higher chance of patients not returning, a good chance of disease progressing, causing vision loss,” she added.

“For children, kids’ eyes often change as they’re growing.”

She said it would cause reduction of good outcomes for patients having to rebook exams.

Snider said the second partial exam will be completely eliminated from what they’re able to bill.

She said that, ultimately, this will affect the “vulnerable sector” — particularly patients with glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes.

Optometrists do have a choice to charge the new fees, but Snider said this is not something that they would prefer to do.

They don’t consider what will be charged as extra treatment — but rather necessary, routine healthcare maintenance.

“Optometry has seen about a one per cent increase in our fee structure over the last 10 years from Alberta Healthcare,” she said.

“Just to put that in perspective, the inflation rate has been more than 20 per cent in that time,” she added.

“We’re continuing to operate small businesses as well in local areas, and it’s just really hard to stay in business.”

Snider said the province’s reasoning is to keep the fee structure for Alberta optometrists more in line with the rest of the fee structures across Canada.

“Our scope of practice in Alberta is also significantly higher than every other province,” she said.

“We’ve always been ahead of the curve in staying up to date on new technologies, current training, and this kind of thing,” she added.

“In Alberta, we’re very proud of the services that we can offer as optometrists to the patients in our province. And so that’s their reasoning, but it’s weak.”

Snider said that the new fee structure is set to be implemented on Feb. 1:

1. Partial vision examination for children and seniors will be delisted.

2. Fees for Computer Assisted Visual Fields (CAVF) technical and interpretation components will be reduced.

3. Fees for retinal imaging (technical and interpretation components) and retinal photography (technical and retinal interpretation components) will be reduced.

4. Retinal imaging and retinal photography (technical and interpretation) may be claimed up to twice per patient per benefit year regardless of the practitioner providing the service.

Only one interpretation is payable per technical service. May be claimed to a combined maximum of four services per benefit year.

5. Basic eye services will not be allowed to be billed on the same day as medically necessary eye care for the same patient by any provider in the children and seniors’ category.

Snider said that Alberta Healthcare has agreed to discuss the possibility of changes.

She said optometrists are preparing, however, to accept the changes as they are.

CHAT News has contacted the Alberta Association of Optometrists for comment.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Optometrist in Medicine Hat says new fee structure will impact ‘vulnerable sector’

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