{"id":3004,"date":"2019-10-29T13:34:55","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T17:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rpigroup.ca\/blog\/?p=3004"},"modified":"2019-11-19T10:26:28","modified_gmt":"2019-11-19T15:26:28","slug":"as-of-january-1st-2020-pharmacists-working-in-long-term-care-facilities-in-ontario-will-be-paid-according-to-a-flat-fee-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rpigroup.ca\/blog\/blog\/as-of-january-1st-2020-pharmacists-working-in-long-term-care-facilities-in-ontario-will-be-paid-according-to-a-flat-fee-model\/","title":{"rendered":"Pending Legislation: As of January 1st, 2020, Pharmacies Serving Long-Term Care Facilities in Ontario May Be Paid According to a Flat Fee Model"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, October 26th, it was announced by the Ministry of Health that the province would save $436 million through a flat fee model, in addition to reimbursements to the provincial government from pharmacists’ dispensing fees and a portion of drug claims.<\/span><\/h3>\n

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We always keep our fingers on the pulse of what’s happening in the pharmacy industry across Canada, so we wanted to let all of our pharmacists know about this latest development. If you are working as a pharmacist in a long-term care facility’s pharmacy, your compensation may be affected by the latest proposal to change Ontario’s legislation, which still needs to be passed by the province’s legislative body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ontario’s Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, explained that the changes were made in order to improve the cost-effectiveness of the Ontario Drug Benefit Program.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Does This Change Entail?<\/span><\/h4>\n

In essence, pharmacies that serve long-term care facilities would no longer be able to charge per prescription that is issued to patients. Instead, a flat rate would be paid to the pharmacy for each patient served. For 2019 to 2020, the yearly rate would be $1,500 per patient. From 2023 to 2034, this yearly rate would be reduced to $1,200.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to CBC, up to 4 percent would be deducted by the Ontario government for drugs that cost less than $1,000. Up to 16 percent from dispensing fees would be deducted for drugs that are $1,000 or more.<\/span><\/p>\n

A further two dollars that each patient pays for every prescription would also be eliminated. The hope is that the new legislation will reduce instances of over-prescribing to long-term care patients, reduce costs for these patients, and regain money that has been spent on funding long-term care facility pharmacies.<\/span><\/p>\n

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We’ve Been in Business Since 2002 Because Our Pharmacists and Pharmacies Trust Us<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n