March 16, 2023
Amid a growing shortage of family doctors and increasing pressure on hospital systems, funding changes slashed access to virtual care in Ont., forcing some patients to choose between a potentially unnecessary ER visit and paying OOP for care that used to be free. Virtual care platform Rocket Doctor says cuts to funding had a dramatic impact on its ability to provide services to patients. The platform operates in B.C., Alta. and Ont. but it’s asked Ont. patients to pay OOP ever since the province stripped funding to physicians offering virtual care in Dec. Another virtual care platform, Kixcare, switched to a paid format in response to the funding change as well.
Full article link