OAC Member Benefit: Lower Costs Through Preferred Pricing Agreements

Over the past 25 years, the vast majority of ambulatory cardiac care has been transferred from hospital-based ambulatory care to outpatient clinics in the community.  These clinics are independently run by cardiologists and, unlike hospitals, receive no infrastructure funding from the Ministry of Health to cover overhead costs.

Community-based outpatient clinics provide prompt access and excellent care, but they have become increasingly difficult to maintain because technical and professional fees in the OHIP Schedule of Benefits have not kept pace with program costs.

The OAC recognizes the financial challenges its members face in this environment and is responding to help them address the rising costs associated with their clinical practice.

An example of this is the preferred pricing agreement with Lantheus Medical Imaging, announced in June 2021, enabling OAC members to purchase the contrast echocardiography agent Definity® at guaranteed discounted prices for the next three years.  This will deliver important savings to OAC members who operate a community-based, outpatient clinic providing these echocardiography services.

The OAC plans to expand this group purchasing program for its members in 2021-22 to include other clinical supplies used regularly in community-based outpatient clinics.

We look forward to sharing more about this opportunity and its benefits for OAC members.

For more information, contact:

Ontario Association of Cardiologists
34 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 410
Toronto, Ontario
M4R 2H6
Tel: 416-487-0054
E-mail: [email protected]