Ontario is offering ‘cash advances’ to doctors to save clinics

The Ontario government is offering a "cash advance" to doctors worried about making rent on their clinics and paying staff as patient visits decline in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Star has learned.

While doctors were given new fee codes to bill the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for virtual and telephone consultations in the era of physical distancing, those payouts were not going to be made until June.

"We know there's a problem right now," Health Minister Christine Elliott said Friday, acknowledging the Ontario Medical Association had raised concerns some clinics would be forced out of business, leaving patients in the lurch.

Doctors will get monthly payments in May, June and July topping them up to 70 per cent of their average billings in the previous 12 months, a senior government source told the Star.

"In addition to our considerable efforts to provide doctors with increased flexibility and expanded opportunities to support patients"these advance payments to doctors, which will be reconciled against future earnings, will ensure stability of our physician services as we continue our battle against COVID-19," said Travis Kann, Elliott's director of communications.

Doctors will be asked to pay back the advances starting in November, with no interest charges, submitting five equal monthly payments by March 2021. If that is not done the money will be deducted from future billings.

An allergist and immunologist in Mississauga took to social media earlier this week to sound the alarm about her situation after opening a new clinic that is "at risk" after a considerable investment was made in the premises and equipment.

"Our number of patients started to drop significantly each day" after physical distancing and stay-at-home guidance was issued in mid-March, said Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman.

"Other clinics are in the same predicament and if a large number of clinics cannot remain open this will significantly impact patient care within and beyond our specialty," she added.

"Now, like many others we are scrambling, trying to find ways to be able to pay our rent."

Kann said there has been "significant uptake" on virtual and telephone visits and noted physicians left "underemployed" by the pandemic can sign up on a government portal to be matched with hospitals and other health-care employers looking to fill gaps in care.

Doctors can also apply in many cases for federal programs to supplement income.

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1