The Auditor General of Ontario reviewed the billings of some physicians that seems to be exorbitant and out of the norm. I am not getting into a defense of these physicians as there is insufficient information available to delve into the details available to us. If there is wrongdoing and breach of trust then appropriate measure , reclamations and punishments for these actions should follow.

That being said, the Ontario Health Insurance Billing Codes are decades out of date as they assume the same time needed to assess or treat patients despite the technological advances that have dramatically reduced the time required to provide certain surgical and radiological services among others. As such, using old definitions in these code can mean 5that a physician or surgeon has work more than 24 hours per day. These codes need to be updated to modern times.

Here are some examples:

• Cataract surgery: 30–45 min → 10–15 min
• LASIK: 30 min/eye → <10 min/eye
• Endovascular aneurysm repair: hours → <1 hour
• Robotic prostatectomy: 4+ hours → 1.5–2 hours
• Colonoscopy: 45–60 min → 15–30 min routine
• Knee/hip arthroscopy: 2+ hours → <1 hour
• Cardiac ablation: 4–6 hours → 1–2 hours
• Mohs skin cancer surgery: full day → 1–2 hours
• Breast biopsy (vacuum-assisted): 60+ min → 15–20 min Thyroid FNA: office procedure now ultrasound-guided in minutes vs prior OR
  CT coronary angiogram: 30–60 min → 5–10 min (faster scanners)
• MRI brain: 45–60 min → 10–15 min (multi-band, AI accel)
• MRI prostate: 60+ min → 20–30 min (biparametric)
• Ultrasound breast biopsy: 45 min → 10–15 min (better probes)
• Mammography tomosynthesis: 20 min → <5 min per view
• PET/CT whole body: 45–60 min → 10–15 min (digital detectors)
• Interventional procedures (e.g., TIPS, uterine fibroid embolization): 3–4 hr → 45–90 min (better imaging/roadmaps)

Also reviewed Best Before and Expiry date notifications on foods and some of the confusion around the definitions that lead to wasted food and money for families.

Health Canada issues recall of defective Freestyle Libre 3 Plus sensors

Your Calls and Comments:

• Severe nut allergy may be due to cross reactivity – Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome
  A woman who had knee replacement surgery eight months ago cannot flex her knee past 90 degrees and remains in pain. She wants to know what she should do. Physio has not been helpful.
  Possible psoriatic arthritis with skin changes on the feet
• Best Before and Expiry dates. Why are the latter so difficult to find in grocery stores?

Playlist

1st segment

Intro:  Every Breath You Take – The Police

Outro: Fixing a Hole – The Beatles

2nd segment

Intro: No Good – Kaleo

Outro: Baby Blue – Badfinger

3rd segment

Intro: Takin’ Care of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Outro:  God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Johnny Cash

4th segment

Intro:  Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer

Outro: Burning Bridges – Mike Curb Congregation