The Brussels Post, 1968-07-04, Page 7nttussEii,s PosT, net oNTARto 11.MIV4DAY, 10, 190
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• UfOctlye.July 1, 1968.
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In keeping with its practice through the years of increasing benefits wherever possible; the Ontario Hospital Services
Commission announces new benefits for hospital out-patient services and ea iential ambulance services effective on July 1,
1968: These benefits are now available to all residents covered by Ontario Hospital Insurance for whom such out-patient
or ambulance services are medically necessary,
New Out-Patient Benefits
In addition to out-patient hospital services already covered (emergency care; follow-up treatment of fractures; radio-
therapy; physiotherapy; occupational therapy and speech therapy) the plan now provideS further benefits for the use of
hdspital facilities in out-patient treatment prescribed by a physician. This means that many hospital visits not previously
insured, such as use of operating room for minor sir gic:Ai procedures and the use of hospital facilities in the treatment of
medical conditions, will now be covered by Ontario Hospital insurance.
X-ray examinations and laboratory tests listed as benefits under the Ontario Medical Services insurance Plan
(OMSIP) will not be included in the new hopital insurance benefits. However, these diagnostic services will continue
to be covered in connection with emergency out-patient services within twenty-four horns of an accident or when part of
hospital out-patient service to complete treatment of a fracture.
The new benefits will NOT cover any charge's made by doctors or dentists for professional services rendered at the
hospital; the use of hospital facilities for regular injections of drugs, or dental care normally provided in a dentist's office.
Essential Ambulance Service
Ontario Hospital Insurance will now cover, also, the major part of ambulance charges when an ambulance is necessary
to take a patient to or from a hospital. The use of an ambulance 5niist be considered necessary by a licensed medical doctor,
a central ambulance dispatching service, a designated hospital official or another person authorized by the Commission:
In the case of a road accident, a police officer may authorize the use of an ambulance. The ambulance must be supplied
by a recognized ambulance service operator (municipal, hospital, and approved private and voltinteer ambulance
services).
Cost to Insured Resident, The amount payable by the patient for an authorized <trnbulance trip of 25 miles or less will be
limited to $5.00. For longer trips on land there will he an additional charge of 15 cents for each mile over 25 miles, but
no more than $25.00 will be payable by the patient for any land trip. Where use of an air ambulance is specially authorized
by the Director of Emergency Health Service of the Ontario Hospital Services Commission or a person designated by
him, the patient will not have to pay more than $100.00, including the cost of any connecting land ambulance service,
Patient Pays Hospital, The patient will pay his share of the ambulance cost to the hospital which receives him or transfers
him to a place of residence—not to the ambulance operator.
(An uninsured pet'son will be liable lvr the lull ambulance charges of $25 ,00 tor
a land trip o/ 25 miles Or less, plus 60 cents tor ea 'r additional mile, ,Air
ambulance will be charged at the usual full rates fin this type 61,
The Ontario Hospital Services Commission Will NOT be responsible for oeerating or dispawhiEw, ambulanees. This will
continue to be the responsibility of the ambulance operators which, in sonic cases, will b2 public hospitak.
The new outpatient benefits are designed to close the gap in protection between insur.!il hospital services and those
services which are benefits of OMSIP and other comprehensive iv edical
The ambulance benefit will not only ease the Financial problem for the patient but wilt assist in the development of
a well-organized ambulance service throughout the province
ntario Hospital Service commission
' . Toronto 7, Ontario' • •