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Hip Surgery - What To Consider

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Hip Replacement Surgery Covered by OHIP Reply to this Comment

PATHWAY Patient Advocates, an Ontario-based patient advocate service, is offering a solution for Canadian Snowbirds currently suffering on long waiting lists for hip replacement surgery in Ontario. PATHWAY Patient Advocates helps patients gain immediate access to hip replacement surgery in the U.S. instead of waiting as long as 2+ years for the procedure in Ontario. In addition PATHWAY helps patients acquire 100% pre-approved funding of their procedure through OHIP (Ontario’s provincial medicare plan). Patients forced to wait several months for hip replacement surgery often run the risk of permanent tissue damage and as a result may be eligible for full funding from OHIP for the procedure at a U.S. clinic. Over the past year the Ontario government has twice been ordered by a tribunal to reimburse Ontario patients for hip replacement surgery that was performed in the U.S. A precedent has been set that would allow more Ontario patients to travel to the U.S. for hip replacement surgery paid for by OHIP. The average amount that the Ontario government has paid for pre-approved hip and knee replacements is $31,000 according to a spokesperson from OHIP. In an effort to help Ontario patients avoid what experts are calling some of the longest medical waiting lists in the world, PATHWAY Patient Advocates assists patients and their doctors with the process of accessing hip replacement surgery at top private orthopaedic clinics in the U. S. Among other things, PATHWAY helps patients source a U.S. clinic, facilitate the OHIP out-of-country pre-approval application, and arrange travel and accommodations for the patient and family members when necessary. PATHWAY also represents patients in front of the Health Services Appeal and Review Board in cases where applications have been denied by OHIP. “In many cases, people waiting for hip replacement surgery suffer constant pain making it a challenge to stand, sit, walk or even sleep,“ says Peter Burton, president of PATHWAY Patient Advocates. “The sad part is that many of these patients are simply unaware that they have an option. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care doesn’t promote this very well so we’re trying to get the message out to as many patients as possible in an effort to help people who are suffering on a daily basis.” The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has recently launched a website displaying wait times for a variety of procedures including hip replacement surgery. “The problem with this information is that it only displays wait times for the top 90% of the waiting list,” says Burton “What it doesn’t show are the excessive wait times experienced by the remaining 10% of the wait list that patients often report are longer than 2 years. It also fails to measure the wait time for initial consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon. A Toronto based orthopaedic surgeon recently indicated that if he were to accept all referred patients, his wait list for surgery would be 3-4 years.“ “Our Wait List Bypass program is ideal for Canadian Snowbirds that winter in the southern U.S.“ says Burton, “These people are already in the U.S. for 6 months of the year so it makes sense for them to access treatment while they are already there.” PATHWAY Patient Advocates is asking all Ontario Snowbirds currently on long waiting lists for hip or knee replacement surgery to call (705) 730-7624 to find out if they are eligible to receive immediate treatment at a U.S. healthcare facility fully paid by OHIP. About PATHWAY Patient Advocates PATHWAY Patient Advocates is a patient advocate service offering assistance to Ontario patients who are unable to access timely and effective healthcare services in Ontario. PATHWAY is committed to partnering with Ontario patients and physicians for the purpose of affecting positive health outcomes. Our mission is to cut through bureaucracy and red tape to provide timely access to effective healthcare services in both Canada and the United States. For additional information contact: Peter Burton President PATHWAY Patient Advocates Phone: (705) 730-7624 pburton@patientAdvocate.ca www.patientAdvocate.ca