Massage Therapy coverage?

[nouseforaname]

I have fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain and have been told
regular massage helps the condition a lot. Does anyone know if ODSP
covers any of this?

[abrowne]

I can say it doesn't cover the cost,

unless you live in a region where the

discretionary benefits offered by

Ontario Works are more generous than most.

Angela

---

From: nouseforaname <houlem...@yahoo.ca>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Tue, April 5, 2011 2:00:10 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 36190 ] Massage Therapy coverage?

[jbkeh]

About the only way I can see is if you can get it prescribed as
physiotherapy AND you are local to one of the few "authorized"
physiotherapy providers. (Even then, there is a limit to the number of
annual sessions.)

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/pdf/physiotherapy_clinics.pdf

[wheelchairdemon]

Thank you for this link to Physiotherapists. It now explains why I can't
get physiotherapy and rehab. ODSP won't pay for the treatment and I
can't afford the required $85 for the initial visit and $55 for the
following visits.

I think this violates the Canada Health Act. I'll have to look into it.

Louise

On 06/04/2011 8:53 AM, jbkeh wrote:
> http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/pdf/physiotherapy_clinics.pdf
>

[StarTears]

Thank you for this link to Physiotherapists. It now explains why I can't get physiotherapy and rehab.  ODSP won't pay for the treatment and I can't afford the required $85 for the initial visit and $55 for the following visits.

louise 

the way around how to get physio covered by OHIP is that you need a clinic or hospital that accepts patients that pay via OHIP lastly, secondly a doctor referral to a orthopedic surgeon that will verify that you NEED physio [you are in the right place for that, hotel dieu has the guy that is doing those] and then you are set to get physio covered.

its just the jump through hoops game now because it was limited through OHIP and taken from ODSP coverage a while ago.  i am not sure if kingston has a physio clinic that accepts patients on these terms but belleville general does....which you could get a 2x a week ambulatory ride covered for the appointment if thats what the schedule turns out to be.

star 

[jbkeh]

ODSP actually pays very little in the medical area. What it does is
GIVE ACCESS to several programs that are otherwise limited to children
and seniors. Drugs are the most well-known, but physiotherapy is
another (if you can get to a "designated" provider).

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/physiotherapy.html

[Lorene]

I took a look at the link and noted there is nothing there for London.

Lorene

On Apr 6, 8:53 am, jbkeh <j...@teksavvy.com> wrote:
> About the only way I can see is if you can get it prescribed as
> physiotherapy AND you are local to one of the few "authorized"
> physiotherapy providers. (Even then, there is a limit to the number of
> annual sessions.)
>

> http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/pdf/physiotherapy...
>

[jbkeh]

Take another look at entry 32.

Now try to find one for Mississauga. (Fortunately, there is bus
service to either Etobicoke or Brampton.)

[katkit]

Seniors 65 and over
Aged 19 and under
Residents of long-term care homes at any age
Needing physiotherapy services in their home or after being
hospitalized at any age
Ontario Disability Support Program, Family Benefits and Ontario
Works recipients of any age

Interesting that last bit, but when you ask them, they say no, thats
not true. One ministry does not know what the other one is doing

[katkit]

Ontarians aged 20 to 64 will continue to have access to coverage if
they require physiotherapy after overnight hospitalization, if they
require services in their home or if they reside in a long-term care
home. All Ontario Disability Support Program, Family Benefits and
Ontario Works recipients will be covered regardless of age.


That also, lots of evidence that ODSP is lying to us

[Darlene]

ODSP clients can get physiotherapy under OHIP. Your doctor can give
you a referral. The physiotherapy clinic may have massage treatments
available.

Ironic that we actually get OHIP coverage for a few things, like eye
exams every 2 years, that the general public doesn't have!

On Apr 5, 2:00 pm, nouseforaname <houlemary...@yahoo.ca> wrote:

[abrowne]

The list provided by the link is out of date;

the nearest to me is Hamilton, and that is

difficult to get to if you don't drive.

Angela

---

From: jbkeh <j...@teksavvy.com>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, April 6, 2011 4:20:15 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 36214 ] Re: Massage Therapy coverage?

[abrowne]

Darlene,

News flash!  I got hit by a bike, rear ended as a

pedestrian on the sidewalk just a couple years ago,

don't remember which, but I had to pay for physio,

as I was told the nearest OHIP approved clinic was

Hamilton, which I can't get to, I don't drive.

Fortunately the people I did physio with charged

me the uninsured rate, but that was still a bite.

I was also told I could get it in town, if I stayed

over at the hospital, but I didn't need to.

 

Our health care system is getting to be more and

more eroded.  Thanks to the Harper and McGuinty gang.

Angela

---

From: Darlene <darlene...@gmail.com>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, April 6, 2011 8:28:00 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 36222 ] Re: Massage Therapy coverage?

[wheelchairdemon]

If ODSP lying or is the long term care health people lying?

Whatever the case, be sure to count surgery in there as well. If you
have a disability, need physio therapy, but haven't had surgery or the
other things named, you get nothing; no rehab, no physio, no replacement
wheelchair, no nothing.

It is very frustrating to try to educate the MPP's about how many
oversights have taken place between the various programs. I'm still
working on it. I'm also looking at getting a case started at the Federal
level. When you're going it alone without the benefit of a lawyer, you
have a lot of studying to do and I'm still doing it. I'm not about to
blow a case on this one.

Louise

[wheelchairdemon]

Darlene, Do you know what directive covers this? If so, please share.

I want to print it and take it to the local ODSP office.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Louise

[jbkeh]

If the list (as of Jan 25,2011) is out of date, would it not be
helpful to provide a link to the correct one?

[jbkeh]

Let's try this once more:

ODSP DOES NOT PAY FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY ANY MORE THAN IT PAYS FOR DRUGS!!!

Thus, there is NO ODSP DIRECTIVE.

These are paid by OHIP to those "outside" of being "working adults".
Those on ODSP are "outside" of being "working adults", as are both
children and seniors. In the case of physiotherapy, only certain
"designated" practitioners are allowed to provide this service and
directly bill OHIP at the rates set by OHIP and you must have a
physician's referral (and show them your drug card).

You will be required to pay the initial "assessment fee", but you can
try to reclaim that from ODSP (lotsa luck).

[abrowne]

Yes, that's what I said, but our nearest

designated is in Hamilton, I was told that

when I was in emergency after I got hit by

the bike, and even if you got approved, the

wait list for OHIP work is very long, even

where it is available.

 

I just went to a private clinic and paid the

"uninsured" rate, which was still a bite,

esp given I wasn't able to work for awhile.

Angela

 

---

From: jbkeh <j...@teksavvy.com>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, April 7, 2011 3:20:14 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 36253 ] Re: Massage Therapy coverage?

[StarTears]

ODSP DOES NOT PAY FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY ANY MORE THAN IT PAYS FOR DRUGS!!!

Thus, there is NO ODSP DIRECTIVE.

These are paid by OHIP to those "outside" of being "working adults".
Those on ODSP are "outside" of being "working adults", as are both
children and seniors. In the case of physiotherapy, only certain
"designated" practitioners are allowed to provide this service and
directly bill OHIP at the rates set by OHIP and you must have a
physician's referral (and show them your drug card).

You will be required to pay the initial "assessment fee", but you can
try to reclaim that from ODSP (lotsa luck).

the way around paying anything is to go to your GP and ask to be referred to an orthopedic surgeon to be assessed.  [no fee with valid health card]  if that surgeon says you need physio and writes you a prescription for it you need to find a clinic in your area that provides it under OHIP.  they are few and far between these days, but do exist.  ODSP -will- pay for travel to these appointments.

its the jumping through hoops for non-bandaid fixes to serious problems.

star 

[jbkeh]

Certainly NOT my experience.

Walked into the clinic with my physician's referral and drug card, got
appointment for the "assessment" two days later, started treatment the
following day.

(Thorold or possibly Welland not closer than Hamilton? Of course,
anything outside of transit without a car is "too far"...)

On Apr 7, 3:28 pm, abrowne <browne200...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ..our nearest
> designated is in Hamilton...even if you got approved, the

[abrowne]

Welland is a $70 taxi ride.

Thorold clinic does not do non-seniors.

At least when I got injured.  But I

was told the closest one is Hamilton

by the doctors and nurses.  Niagara's

hospitals and health care have

restructured big time over the last

few years, so a lot of services that we

used to have are no longer there.

Angela

---

From: jbkeh <j...@teksavvy.com>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Fri, April 8, 2011 5:30:33 AM
Subject: [odspfireside: 36270 ] Re: Massage Therapy coverage?

[Darlene]

It's not an ODSP directive, it's OHIP policy. My GP wrote out a form
for me to take to the local physio clinic.

Unfortunately, as Angela pointed out, not ALL physiotherapy clinics
will bill OHIP, they only want patients they can charge big bucks.

You don't need a referral from a surgeon, just from a GP. It can take
MONTHS to get in to see a specialist!

Good luck!

On Apr 6, 11:22 pm, wheelchairdemon <wheelchairde...@gmail.com> wrote:

> > available.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[StarTears]

It's not an ODSP directive, it's OHIP policy. My GP wrote out a form
for me to take to the local physio clinic.

Unfortunately, as Angela pointed out, not ALL physiotherapy clinics
will bill OHIP, they only want patients they can charge big bucks.

You don't need a referral from a surgeon, just from a GP. It can take
MONTHS to get in to see a specialist!

darlene,

the OHIP rules have changed.  they demand that an orthopedic surgeon gives the prescription for physio now, not your GP.  your GP can give you a referral to any clinic they want, but OHIP will not pay for treatment unless its prescribed by the orthopedic specialist AND the clinic is willing to accept this as well.

thank mcguinty government for these changes.

star

[bastetschylde]

I know someone with the exact same conditions. She has said that if
she could have regular massage, she would be better able to work
either part- or full-time, and I think she has backing from her GP on
it, but ODSP refuses to pay for her massage therapy sessions.

On Apr 5, 2:00 pm, nouseforaname <houlemary...@yahoo.ca> wrote:

[wheelchairdemon]

I just got denied rehab again. The clinic in Toronto says they don't treat long-standing issues. They only treat the acute ones.

My doctor is now looking at referring me to a neurological rehab hospital in Montreal and a physiotherapy clinic in Ottawa.

I then went into my MPP's office, showed the office worker the referral letter to my doctor, told her about the rejection, and she said there is nothing we can do about it; that the medical professionals have a right to pick their patients because they are working in for-profit corporations.

I have proof of this from something I found on e-laws when I ran into this once before, but her attitude has got to go. If I hadn't seen the MPP directly last week and got such a good response from him, I would consider the discrimination to be worse than it really is.

If I get accepted in Montreal for rehab and Ottawa for physio, ODSP will have quite a bill to pay for the medical transportation to get there.

So much for being cost efficient.

Louise