Surgical Centres

August 15, 2025

Surgical Centres 

As previously announced, the Government of Ontario is moving forward with a plan to provide insured orthopaedic services, specifically hip and knee joint replacements, in community-based settings. 

 The Call for Applications to propose an Integrated Community Health Service Centre (ICHSC) that includes orthopaedic services has opened, with applications due August 27, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST. 

OPA continues to advocate for increased clarity and transparency on the requirements and the bundled facility fee that funds rehab care for patients  related to their surgery.  A major concern is that these bundled fees are lower than the current fees for hospital-based surgeries, and it is not clear how this change will impact the financial sustainability of essential rehab services. ICHSC applicants need to understand the value of physiotherapy care that is included in the bundled fee.  Physiotherapy clinics cannot afford to provide services to patients below market rates.  Ensuring that physiotherapy remains appropriately integrated and publicly-funded as a core component of care in these centres is vital for maintaining health system quality and equity across Ontario. 

As part of the application process, prospective licensees are required to demonstrate partnerships with rehabilitation providers, which may include physiotherapists.  

For more information on the Call for Applications, please visit the Government of Ontario’s website. 

How You Can Support OPA’s Advocacy 

Your input will help OPA continue to advocate effectively for the integration and appropriate compensation of physiotherapy services in this evolving healthcare landscape and ensure that patients receive comprehensive care throughout their orthopaedic surgical journey. 

OPA would like to hear from you about your participation in the application process.  We will inform our advocacy by understanding how physiotherapy services are represented in the applications, which may include details about reimbursement rates or how an episode of care is defined.   Please share your feedback below.

OPA will continue to monitor developments and provide updates to members as this initiative progresses.