Medical Services Payment Committee Action Lacks Consultation and Authority
Several specialist sections, mainly OSA members, recently received a last-minute OMA email communication (Oct 24) from Dr. Laurie Colman in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Medical Services Payment Committee (MSPC). OSA specialists were to be available the same evening. No agenda or indicated purpose of the meeting was provided until requested by some specialists.
During the teleconference Dr. Colman rapidly presented 6 options considered by the MSPC. Some options would have had no financial impact on OSA specialists. The selected option is the one with the greatest impact on OSA colleagues. The proposal allows those sections that received funding from the arbitration process to increase their fees. It also allowed those ‘funded’sections to increase fees also used by OSA specialists. The impact is that those OSA specialists would have to reduce other fees within their Section at a comparable amount. The impact on OSA specialties is inordinate and creates an internal fee reduction. Requests to the OMA to obtain a copy of the options have been ignored. No explanation has been given why OSA specialties were predominantly impacted when that was not necessary.
Contravenes Kaplan Arbitration Decision
This creates unwanted and disruptive fee changes within OSA sections and some others. Creating a reduction in this manner is contrary to the Kaplan arbitration decision.
OMA Tries to Railroad Affected Specialists
Without much time to respond, the OMA distributed an Excel sheet showing the impact on sections. Among the significant impacts are Cardiology at $6.1M, Gastroenterology at $3.7M, Nephrology ~$2.5M, etc. The imposed MSPC deadline to volunteer specialty cuts is tomorrow, (Nov 12).
OSA Actions to Protect Specialists
Last Thursday night and on the weekend the OSA Board met and unanimously agreed that a legal letter must be sent to the OMA President and OMA Board Chair for the purpose of halting this MSPC process. This unprecedented MSPC manoeuvre contradicts the OMA Board’s solemn promise to turn a new leaf, create trust and ensure equitability among doctors and accountability towards its members. It is difficult to see how the OMA leadership feels this meets that standard.
A copy of the OSA’s legal letter sent to the OMA leadership today. A copy is attached.
OSA Call to Action
We would strongly recommend that you email the OMA President and Chair objecting to this proposed action. Their email addresses are below.
Dr. Sohail Gandhi sohail.gandhi@oma.org
Dr. Tim Nicholas tim.nicholas@oma.org
Sincerely,
OSA Board of Directors