Supporting new measures, CLHIA advocates for reduced administrative tasks, allowing doctors more patient-focused time
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has endorsed recent measures introduced by the Ontario government to enable family doctors and other primary care providers to dedicate more time to their patients and less to administrative tasks.
Stephen Frank, president, and CEO of the CLHIA, emphasized the alignment of the association's members with the Government of Ontario's position. “Our members agree with the Government of Ontario: doctors should be focused on patients not filling out forms,” he stated.
Frank highlighted that insurers are actively participating in efforts to lighten the administrative load that doctors contend with.
The CLHIA has collaborated with the Ontario Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, and other organizations to utilize technology for reducing the volume of insurance-related forms doctors are required to complete.
The CLHIA has launched two major initiatives to aid in this reduction:
Firstly, the association has introduced a standardized template form for both short-term and long-term disability insurance claims.
This form, already integrated into Nova Scotia's physician Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), is encouraged for adoption by other provinces and is accessible to all plan members and their physicians via the CLHIA website.
Secondly, the traditional requirement for a physician’s referral to support claims for many paramedical services under group benefits plans is being phased out.
Advancements in technology and changes in plan design have enabled this shift, with insurers working alongside employers to minimize and eventually eliminate the need for such referrals for services including physiotherapy and orthotics.
The CLHIA's initiatives are part of a broader collaborative effort with provincial and territorial governments and medical associations to significantly reduce the administrative burdens faced by physicians across Canada.
These efforts demonstrate a unified approach to enhancing healthcare efficiency and focusing care more directly on patient needs.
