2024 Budget: Recommendations for Enhancing Cardiac Patient Care in Ontario

Following the January 25, 2024 pre-budget consultations presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, the Ontario Association of Cardiologists welcomed the opportunity to provide the Ontario government with fiscal recommendations for enhancing cardiac patient care in the 2024 Ontario Budget through our written submission to the committee.

Our recommendations include:

1. Increase support for Ontario’s infrastructure for outpatient cardiac care in general and, in particular, improved support for independent outpatient facilities that provide consultations and follow up care for cardiac patients and for which there is no other external support to maintain the infrastructure (rent, capital expenses and staffing) to support these patient visits.

2. Provide permanent funding for Natriuretic Peptide testing in community laboratories for patients with suspected or established congestive heart failure.

3. Remove restrictions on telephone-based care that negatively impact seniors, patients with limited economic resources, and those who live in rural and remote parts of the province without access to video conferencing facilities.

We look forward to working with the provincial government to implement these recommendations in 2024.

Click here to read the OAC’s 2024 Ontario Budget submission.

For more information, contact:

Tim Holman, Executive Director
Ontario Association of Cardiologists
410 – 250A Eglinton Ave. East
Toronto, Ontario M4P 1K2
Tel: 416-487-0054
Toll-Free: 1-877-504-1239
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.ontarioheartdoctors.ca