OMA MEMBERSHIP REJECTS PHYSICIAN SERVICES AGREEMENT. 55% VOTED IN PERSON & BY PROXY. 63.1 % VOTING MEMBERS REJECTED THE AGREEMENT

OMA GENERAL MEETING on PHYSICIAN SERVICES AGREEMENT Aug. 15 @ ALLSTREAM BUILDING in CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION GROUNDS.

Admin.problem: Grounds were closed to cars as preparation for Exhibition in progress. Approx 800 attended. 2000 expected. MEDIA INVITED.  At Council meetings MEDIA EXCLUDED. Globe & Mail,  National Post,, Tor Star reports good but missed the important point that OHIP pay GROSS not NET for fee-for-service. $600,000 needed to open an Ophthalmic office, Millions for Imaging.clinic. Usual 40% overhead for Toronto GP office (including rent). No difference of fee for Totonto or Northern Timmins office, Strong group from COALITION of ONTARIO DOCTORS for NO vote. Ciculated  ECONOMIC ANALYSIS by Emeritus U. Toronto Prof ECONOMICS J. L. CARR Summary: 1)VAGUENESS of the Phys. Service agreement. 2) IGNORING EFFECT of INFLATION. 2.5% increase yearly for 4y in `NOMINAL`DOLLARS.`does not in any way consider the effects of inflation`,3) DOCTORS ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCREASED USAGE IN THE SYSTEM. 4) DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR SYSTEM STABILITY Ìf utilization rates increases above 3.1 % there will be substantial and significant  payment reductions.`5) NEGATIVELY AFFECTS PATIENT ACCESSIBILITY if payments to doctors decrease.,

COMMENT: In 1974 motto of U,Tor School of Public Health was BREAK THE MEDICAL MODEL. Now Nurse Practiotioners, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, taking over most of the work of GPs. New PharmD degree at Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy will allow Pharsms to  diagnose, investigate & treat,