[CO-CURE] NOTICE,MED: Ontario New OHIP Code for FM/CFS

[Guest guest]

I realize that not very many of you live in Ontario; but maybe the

organizations in the other provinces of Canada will follow suit as the way

has now really been 'paved' for them. Suggest it to them.

blessings

Shan

     GREAT NEWS!

NEW K037 OHIP BILLING CODE FOR   '  FIBROMYALGIA / CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

CARE '  IN ONTARIO

THE MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO is pleased to inform you

that 'Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome care' has now the OHIP time-based

billing Code number K037.

In the past, many physicians have refused to accept M.E./CFS/FM patients 

because " they took too long " . However, with this new code, physicians will be

paid for the time they spend with patients who have these complex illnesses.

OHIP has notified all of Ontario's Physicians of this new Code.

In addition, the new Diagnostic Code for CFS, number 795, picked up the newly

diagnosed patient, but with the new K037 Code, patients who were previously

diagnosed will be able to be recorded by OHIP thus allowing future statistics

to be collected on these illnesses in the Province of Ontario.

(We do recognize that there are areas in Ontario where there is such a severe

shortage of physicians that M.E./CFS and FM patients still may not be able to

have all the time they need in one visit.)

Many thanks to all who have helped this come about:

Dr. Alison Bested for her excellent presentation to the Ontario Medical

Association;

the National ME/FM Action Network for initiating the

Canadian M.E./CFS and Fibromyalgia Definition, Diagnostic and Treatment

Protocols;

the Board of Directors of The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of

Ontario for their meetings and advocacy with the Ontario Ministry of

Health and

our Members who have written, called their MPPs and written

to the Ministry of Health;

the Ontario Support Group Leaders and their Members and individuals

throughout the province who have advocated on behalf of CFS

If I may borrow a phrase " it takes a village "

Thanks everyone for all your hard work and efforts in having CFS and FM

accepted and recognized for the complex illnesses that they are by the

Ontario Medical Association!!

Audrey MacKenzie, RN

The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario