Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Champlain LHIN Invests in Psychiatric Services for Clients Across the Region
September 15, 2010 - Clients with mental health conditions and addictions now have improved access to physician expertise thanks to increased funding from the Champlain LHIN.
The program pays for non-OHIP services called ‘sessional fees’ for psychiatrists and specialized family physicians to provide support for this client population and improve quality of care.
Sessional fees cover services that are more ‘indirect’ than those insured by OHIP. For example, a hospital psychiatrist may take part in a meeting with other health professionals at a community-based centre as an additional resource to discuss goals and options for a specific client. Or a family physician could provide advice to volunteers in a peer-support program. One of the aims is to ensure psychiatric support is maximized to benefit more people.
The Champlain LHIN expanded the psychiatric sessional fee program in April, 2010, adding $396,000 per year to the annual regional budget of $1,544,000 - an increase of roughly 25 per cent. The fees were agreed to by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Medical Association.
Funds for the fees are distributed to twelve Champlain health providers, including adult and youth addictions and mental health agencies (Anglophone and Francophone), an Aboriginal health provider, community health centres, and hospitals.
“Mental health and addiction services are an essential and crucial part of health services,” says MPP Madeleine Meilleur (Ottawa-Vanier). “Improving access to psychiatric expertise is an excellent step toward creating a better health system and I want to thank the Champlain LHIN for doing its part in our region.”
Source: Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Email: champlain@lhins.on.ca
Website: www.champlainlhin.on.ca
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