Advocacy Update Archives - Ontario Physiotherapy Association

It can’t wait: Funding physiotherapy would take real pressure off Ontario’s ERs

Every day in Ontario, people end up in the ER for conditions that a physiotherapist could have treated months earlier.

“Patients are coming to the emergency department every day with pain that should have been managed weeks earlier by a physiotherapist in the community setting,” said Makaila Koshurba, a physiotherapist working in a Toronto-area emergency department.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information’s latest report confirms what Koshurba is describing. Emergency room visits across Canada have climbed to 16.1 million annually, and Ontario is no exception to that trend. CIHI is explicit: the factors driving longer wait times originate outside emergency departments, including a lack of access to primary care and community-based programs.

For the one in three people living in Ontario without private insurance, or for those who cannot afford to pay out of pocket, the public system is the only option.

“Every time I come to ask for treatment on aging issues, I am told that the waiting period is about four to six months,” wrote Joe, one of nearly 2,000 people living in Ontario who have signed our petition. “Treatment is needed right away. Otherwise, the issue becomes more severe,” he added.

Without that access, seniors whose mobility is declining end up in emergency departments rather than community clinics – often for falls and joint pain that community physiotherapy is specifically designed to prevent.

CPCs Prevent an Estimated 70,000 ER Visits

Ontario has the infrastructure to address this. The Community Physiotherapy Clinic Program operates through over 200 clinics across the province, preventing an estimated 70,000 emergency department visits in Ontario annually. Each dollar invested saves four dollars in downstream health care costs, reducing falls, surgeries, specialist consultations and visits to primary care.

The program hasn’t kept pace. According to OPA’s analysis of Ministry of Health data, since 2013 Ontario’s senior population has grown by 45 per cent, the cost of living has risen by more than 40 per cent, yet referral capacity has grown by just 14 per cent. Clinics that are paid a fixed lump sum regardless of how many sessions they provide are capping services and shifting toward private clients. In some communities, when a clinic exhausts its funded referrals, the nearest alternative is hours away.

Expand Access to Community Physiotherapy

One solution to the pressure on Ontario’s ERs already aligns with commitments this government has made: no hallway medicine, aging at home, and connected care for all. Expanding access to community physiotherapy is not a new direction. It is the most direct path to delivering on the ones already announced. Ontario’s primary care strategy is also expanding team-based care, but physiotherapists are rarely part of those teams – a gap that compounds the pressure on emergency departments every day.

The evidence is clear, the infrastructure exists, and the return on investment is proven. Physiotherapists across Ontario are ready to keep people out of emergency departments. What’s needed is specific: fund the 195,000 referrals people living in Ontario require, not the 140,000 the current model covers. The program that prevents 70,000 ER visits a year cannot be allowed to collapse for want of investment. Patients like Joe cannot wait months for conditions that will only get worse. Neither can the hospitals treating them.

Sarah Hutchison, OPA's Chief Executive Officer

Sarah Hutchison, MHSc., LL.M, ICD.D

Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Physiotherapy Association

Sign OPA’s Petition

Ontario Doctor Sounds the Alarm: Cutting Publicly Funded Physiotherapy Will Cost Us Far More

A Toronto family physician is calling out the Ford government’s decision to freeze publicly funded physiotherapy. The numbers behind her argument are hard to ignore.

Dr. Iris Garfinkel Toronto doctor warns of physiotherapy cuts

Dr. Iris Gorfinkel

Dr. Iris Gorfinkel, a family physician and clinical researcher, recently published an op-ed in the Toronto Star describing the real-world consequences she sees daily in her practice. “I typically see three patients a day who require rehab,” she writes. “Most don’t want medications. They want to get better.” What they need, she explains, is supervised exercise, but what she can prescribe, without limit, is drugs.

Read Toronto Star op-ed (open to Toronto Star subscribers only)

A System Built on Underfunding

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) has long raised concerns about chronic underfunding of the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program; a program that provides publicly funded physiotherapy to primarily seniors and youth. The gap between need and funding has been growing for decades, and it’s getting worse. Since 2013, Ontario’s senior population has grown by 940,000. In that same period, available CPC referrals grew by only 17,000. Operating costs for program delivery have risen 40%, while program funding has increased by a mere $20 in 13 years. While clinics deliver on average 6.2 visits per patient referred, the funding of $334 only covers about 3 of those visits, forcing them to operate at a loss.

The Ford government’s latest move freezes clinic funding at zero growth for the next two years. Ontario needs funding to serve 195,000 referrals annually to this program to align with the growing senior population. Current funding will cover only 140,000.

The Math Is Clear

What makes this freeze especially difficult to justify is the return on investment. Every $1 invested in the CPC Program saves the government $4 in other healthcare costs. The program prevents an estimated 70,000 emergency department visits every year, while also reducing hospital admissions, diagnostic imaging, surgeries, and specialist consultations.

Defunding physiotherapy doesn’t eliminate the need for care. It shifts the cost to much more costly care – emergency rooms, operating rooms, and long-term care – and access to physiotherapy is still needed.

Real Patients, Real Consequences

Dr. Gorfinkel describes one of her patients: a 72-year-old grandmother in tears, her knee failing her, who had already waited six weeks on a physiotherapy waitlist. “She could have fractured her hip,” Gorfinkel writes. Falls and fractures are among the most costly and preventable outcomes in senior care, and timely physiotherapy is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent them.

Research backs this up. A landmark Sunnybrook study following nearly 900 colon cancer patients found that those in a supervised exercise program were more likely to remain disease-free eight years later and cost $1,600 less per patient than those who received educational materials alone. Exercise and rehabilitation aren’t optional. They are evidence-based medicines.

The Downstream Risk

OPA has also flagged that underfunding the CPC Program impacts other publicly funded programs, including the Bundled Care Program for hip and knee replacements. When the government underinvests in rehabilitation, it signals that access to physiotherapy is optional, while simultaneously pushing greater demand onto already-strained parts of the healthcare system.

Several physiotherapy clinics across Ontario have decided that they can no longer afford to deliver care through this program. And many more have signaled their planned departure from the program, if the funding does not increase to meet their operational costs. Each departure from the program means one fewer physiotherapist available to people in Ontario who rely on publicly funded services; leaving many with no access.

What Needs to Change

The fix is evident:

1. Eliminate the cap of 142,000 patient referrals and fund the access that people in Ontario actually need.

2. Raise the per-patient rate to account for increasing operating costs, and ensure people in Ontario continue to have access to essential physiotherapy services.

As Dr. Gorfinkel states: “When my patient is left to cry because she can’t get rehab without her credit card, the real sickness isn’t arthritis; it’s political neglect.”

The evidence hasn’t changed. The question is whether Ontario’s government is willing to act on it.

Ontario’s Primary Care Expansion Opens New Doors for Physiotherapists

Ontario announced an investment of more than $250 million to support 124 successful proposals for new and expanded primary care teams across the province. This is part of the government’s second round of Primary Care Action Plan funding from March.

Advocating for More Physiotherapists in Primary Care

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association has been consistently advocating that with an increase in primary care funding, physiotherapists must be included as core members of interdisciplinary primary care teams.

There are currently over 80 physiotherapists working with primary care teams across the province, including Family Health Teams, Community Health Centres, Aboriginal Health Access Centres and Nurse Practitioner Led Clinics.

We are thrilled to see more organizations recognizing the value physiotherapists bring to improving access, outcomes, and quality of care in communities across Ontario.

Organizations Ready to Hire. Apply Today!

OPA would like to highlight several organizations that are actively recruiting physiotherapists to expand their primary care teams:

Georgian Bay Family Health Team

5 full-time physiotherapists in Collingwood and Wasaga Beach

Learn more

South East Grey Community Health Centre

1 full-time physiotherapist in Markdale

Learn more

Northumberland Family Health Team

1 full-time physiotherapist between Oshawa and Kingston

Learn more

Working in Primary Care Has Advantages

If you’re considering a career transition to primary care, and want to understand what these roles entail, OPA is here to support you. There are many professional opportunities with working in primary care, including:

Being part of a comprehensive care team, including family physicians, nurse practitioner, dietitians, social workers, and more

Delivering group programs to support chronic disease management

Delivering care across the lifespan

Additionally, some of the employment benefits include:

Salaried position

Pension such as HOOPP

Extended health benefits

Paid vacation and personal days

Professional development days and budget

More Resources

For more information, explore OPA’s comprehensive resource on Physiotherapists in Primary Care Teams: Optimizing Attachment, Access & Outcomes.

If you have specific questions, contact Emily Stevenson, Director of Practice and Policy, at estevenson@opa.on.ca.

What’s Next

This funding represents a crucial step toward building stronger, more comprehensive primary care teams and expanding access to physiotherapy across Ontario. OPA remains committed to working with organizations province-wide to support the integration of physiotherapists into primary care, and we expect more exciting announcements to come.

Scope of Practice Announcement from Government of Ontario

On May 11, 2026, the Ontario Ministry of Health announced future scope of practice expansions for several regulated health professionals, including physiotherapists. The Ministry has directed the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario to begin developing the regulatory framework to support qualified physiotherapists in ordering certain X-rays and diagnostic ultrasound.

As indicated in the Government of Ontario news release “… the government has now officially directed Ontario’s regulatory colleges for optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, dental hygienists, denturists, and audiologists and speech-language pathologists to begin developing the regulatory framework that would further expand scopes of practice in their fields.”

Read News Release

What This Means Right Now

It’s important to note that no changes to physiotherapists’ scope of practice have been implemented yet regarding x-rays and diagnostic imaging. The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is beginning the work to develop the regulatory framework. OPA will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and the College as the process moves forward.

Progress

We are hopeful, however, that this announcement demonstrates that the Ministry of Health is moving in the right direction to implement the remaining scope of practice changes for physiotherapists.

Background

OPA has tirelessly advocated for nearly two decades to advance scope of practice changes that enable physiotherapists to deliver more comprehensive care.

In 2008, the Ontario Physiotherapy Association and the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario collaborated on a joint submission requested by the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) to review the scope of practice of physiotherapists.

Successes to Date

This joint submission proposed scope of practice amendments, which were all accepted and recommended for implementation by HPRAC, except for one – the authority to refer to specialists.

In 2012, physiotherapist’s scope expanded to include:

Communicating a diagnosis (controlled activity that is within scope at the entry to practice level)

Treating a wound below the dermis

Internal pelvic exams (including putting an instrument, hand or finger beyond the labia majora or beyond the anal verge)

Administering a substance by inhalation (when the substance has been ordered by an authorized person)

Why We Continue to Advocate

Awaiting implementation and not able to put into practice:

Ordering a prescribed form of energy (e.g., diagnostic ultrasound or MRI)

Ordering diagnostics (e.g., X-rays or CT scans)

Ordering laboratory tests

OPA’s Continued Advocacy

Current advocacy on PT scope of practice focuses on implementing outstanding changes for activities that still need regulation changes, including ordering diagnostic imaging. Implementation will positively affect access to care, improve health system efficiency, and reduce workloads for all providers. It will lead to people in Ontario getting the right care at the right time, and better sustainability in career paths for physiotherapists.

Scope of Practice Advocacy

Stay Up-to-Date

We encourage you to watch for further updates from both OPA and the College. Be sure to check OPA’s news where you can filter to access all scope of practice updates. Check out our dedicated Scope of Practice page for the latest information as this process unfolds.

OPA News

The Case for Publicly Funded Physiotherapists: From Emergency Departments to Community Physiotherapy Clinics

Makaila Koshurba, Physiotherapist with Riley Pedulla, Physiotherapist, work in Ontario Emergency Departments

Makaila Koshurba and Riley Pedulla are dedicated physiotherapists working in emergency departments (EDs) in Ontario. Their work is critical to reducing the burden on physicians in the Emergency Department, and their work also benefits patients who need physiotherapy.

Once assessed and treated, Makaila and Riley often refer patients to publicly funded physiotherapy clinics in the community, called Community Physiotherapy Clinics (CPCs), for follow-up care. Makaila and Riley see every day how critical it is to have publicly funded physiotherapists both in the ED and in the community.

“As physiotherapists (PTs) in the ED, we know from firsthand experience the benefits of Community Physiotherapy Clinics. Daily, we assess and treat patients who benefit significantly from physiotherapy follow-up in the community. These patients often cannot afford private physiotherapy services and are referred to a CPC when eligible. Funding stagnation of the CPC program puts a large population at risk of losing access to essential care.

CPCs prevent 70,000 ED visits annually and lack of support for the program risks increasing the burden on EDs as these patients return seeking answers to questions about their diagnosis, rehabilitation, and return to function.”

Despite a proven track record that Community Physiotherapy Clinics reduce strain on the healthcare system, the Ontario government recently notified CPCs that there will be no change to patient funding or program capacity over the next two years. CPCs are already underfunded and at capacity: this lack of investment is increasingly compromising access to care for those patients who need it the most.

CPCs reduce visits to primary care, emergency departments (EDs), specialists, and prevent acute care admissions. This dearth of funding puts our patients and clinics at risk as service provision cannot keep up with patient needs. The CPC funding issue creates a large gap in the continuum of physiotherapy services from acute care to community-based care.

Physiotherapists are Also Needed in Every Emergency Department

There is a significant opportunity to ensure PTs are placed in all EDs across the province as well, and to utilize the PT scope of practice to the fullest extent. For many patients, especially those without private health insurance or access to publicly funded services, ED-based physiotherapy may be their only timely, affordable option for physiotherapy care.

“In our experience, both patients and physicians have called the patient-centred, compassionate, and comprehensive approach that physiotherapists provide an essential part of healthy recovery.”

Physiotherapists help patients feel more confident at discharge and help physicians by tackling cases that require more support than can usually be provided in busy EDs. Patients who see ED physiotherapists receive non-pharmacological pain management strategies, clarity about their prognosis and diagnosis, and activity modifications to help them return to the community.

Increasingly, Ontario EDs have physiotherapists who assess and manage care for patients presenting with cardiorespiratory, neurological, and/or musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints. ED PTs see a variety of patients ranging from elderly people with hip fractures to young athletes worried about a concussion, and everything in between.

Growing evidence supports the integration of physiotherapy in EDs highlighting significant benefits such as reduced wait times, improved patient satisfaction, and potential cost savings (Ocampo-Chan & Levy, 2025). However, not all Ontario EDs have physiotherapists, and not all physiotherapy care models in EDs are the same.

CPCs Essential for Preventing Emergency Visits and Future Injuries

A key part of the physiotherapist’s ED role is also to direct patients to the appropriate follow up care. However, without a reliable follow-up point of care like the CPCs, Makaila and Riley anticipate a higher rate of return to emergency departments for this patient population. The importance of CPC programming cannot be understated. Patients seen in the ED benefit from access to CPCs to continue their care, fully rehabilitate, and prevent future injuries. The budget silence on CPC is not just a physiotherapy issue; it negatively impacts the residents of Ontario, their local EDs, and ultimately burdens an already strained system.

CPCs have been a staple in community care and continue to provide people in Ontario with essential services. Program funding should reflect the indispensable nature of the services provided. Furthermore, dedicated physiotherapists should also be available in every Ontario ED.

Take Action Now

We ask that our physiotherapy colleagues support OPA’s advocacy by signing the petition in response to the CPC funding crisis.

We also ask that those working in an acute care setting consider whether their ED has dedicated physiotherapy coverage, and if not, to consider advocating for it. It is time that our staffing models, funding structures, and our government catch up to what the evidence and our patients have been telling us for years.

Sign OPA’s Petition

OPA continues to advocate for the Government of Ontario to reconsider their decision to provide no increases to funding or capacity in the CPC program. Join our advocacy by signing our petition, write your local MPP or sign your name to our letter to Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones. Contact OPA with any questions.

Sign OPA’s Petition

More about Community Physiotherapy Clinics

About Makaila and Riley

Makaila Koshurba and Riley Pedulla are Registered Physiotherapists working in urban EDs. They are passionate about healthcare quality, health equity, and health system transformation. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors alone and do not represent the positions of their employers or affiliated institutions.

Background on Discussion with Makaila and Riley

Courtney Bean, OPA President, Charlotte Anderson, OPA President Elect, Sarah Hutchison, OPA CEO and Emily Stevenson, Director of Practice and Policy met with Makaila and Riley on their expanding role in emergency department triage and their need to ensure that there are community resources to re-direct eligible patients to for care. The discussion informed OPA’s interest in publishing this article.

References

1. Tepper, J., et al. (2016). (rep.). Under Pressure: Emergency Department Performance in Ontario. Retrieved April 22, 2026, from https://www.hqontario.ca/Portals/0/documents/system-performance/under-pressure-report-en.pdf.

2. Ocampo-Chan, S. A., & Levy, C. (2025). Rehabilitation in emergency departments: A regional scan and future opportunities. Healthcare management forum, 38(3), 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1177/08404704241292240

NDP Calls Out Government of Ontario for Shortchanging Physiotherapy

NDP Shadow Minister of Health MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) released the following statement in response to the Minister of Health’s near frozen budget for the last 13 years, for community physiotherapy services.

“Access to Physiotherapy is an important part of staying healthy after an injury or surgery. Patients get back to work sooner and rely less on pain killers during recovery. I agree with the Ontario Physiotherapy Association that the Ford government and Health Minister Sylvia Jones are not recognizing the value that physiotherapists add to our health care system.”

Read NDP News Release

Recent Announcement

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association sounded the alarm on April 15, 2026, regarding the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program lack of funding. The Government of Ontario recently notified CPC clinics that there is no increase in patient funding or program capacity for the next two years. Despite a proven track record of saving healthcare dollars, the program has been pushed to a breaking point due to chronic underfunding over the last 13 years.

About the CPC Program

The CPC Program is a vital health service for patients who qualify, mostly seniors, and those who do not have private insurance.

Investing in this program is one of the most cost-effective ways to support the provincial healthcare budget. The CPC Program currently delivers extraordinary value:

System Savings: Every $1 invested in the CPC Program saves the government $4 in other healthcare costs.

Emergency Prevention: The program prevents 70,000 emergency department visits annually.

Reduced Strain: It reduces hospital admissions, diagnostic imaging costs, surgeries, and specialist consultations.

A single emergency department visit costs $275. The CPC Program’s value is clear, but the government isn’t investing to match it.

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association calls on the Ford government to think again and provide immediate, sustainable funding to ensure that seniors and vulnerable populations living in Ontario are not left behind.

Find out more

Ford Government Pushes Community Physiotherapy Clinic Program Into Funding Crisis

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) is sounding the alarm as the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program faces a critical funding crisis that will hurt communities across Ontario.

Despite a proven track record of saving healthcare dollars, the program has been pushed to a breaking point due to chronic underfunding over the last 13 years. Current Government funding is currently less than clinics’ costs of delivering the service. Regardless, the government recently notified clinics that there is no increase in patient funding or program capacity for the next two years.

Many CPC clinics are small businesses that cannot sustain such continuing losses and will have to exit the Program. That will leave many communities without access to publicly-funded physiotherapy, after surgery, or injury.

The CPC Program is a vital health service for patients who qualify, mostly seniors, and those who do not have private insurance. With seniors making up over 80% of the program’s patients, the lack of adequate funding puts thousands at risk.

Sarah Hutchison, CEO of the Ontario Physiotherapy Association, stated:

“Despite a commitment to end hallway medicine and increase investments in primary care and home care, it appears that this government undervalues the Community Physiotherapy Program’s role in achieving both objectives. There is no increase in funding for physiotherapy clinics who deliver care and no response to the growth of wait lists and wait times for services. A mere $20 increase in funding over 13 years speaks for itself.”

Reflecting on the government’s position, OPA President Courtney Bean stated:

“The news regarding the government’s lack of support for Community Physiotherapy Clinics (CPCs) is deeply troubling and inconsistent with what Ontario seniors and our health-system partners need in 2026. As our acute care system is under increasing strain, our health system needs better access to rehabilitation and the ability for people to stay independent in their homes and communities. Despite this, access to valuable care by physiotherapists through CPCs is being challenged. This lack of funding will erode access to already strained services for many seniors living in this province.”

Background

An Undeniable Return on Investment

Investing in this program is one of the most cost-effective ways to support the provincial healthcare budget. The CPC Program currently delivers extraordinary value:

System Savings: Every $1 invested in the CPC Program saves the government $4 in other healthcare costs.

Emergency Prevention: The program prevents 70,000 emergency department visits annually.

Reduced Strain: It reduces hospital admissions, diagnostic imaging costs, surgeries, and specialist consultations.

A single emergency department visit costs $275. The CPC Program’s value is clear, but the government isn’t investing to match it.

The Widening Gap in Care

The disparity between Ontario’s growing population and needed health care funding is stark:

Population Growth: Ontario’s senior population has grown by 940,000 since 2013.

Stagnant Access: In that same period, available CPC referrals have grown by only 17,000.

Underfunding: While operating costs have increased 40%, referral funding has increased only 6%.

On a Dangerous Path

OPA notes that the funding for the CPC Program directly impacts funding for other programs, including the Bundled Care program for hip and knee replacements. If the government underinvests today, it sends a message devaluing access to needed physiotherapy services that support a return to function, and shifts the burden of care to other parts of our health care system.

Find out more

Update on CPC TPA

OPA Meeting with Ministry of Health

OPA met with the Ministry of Health (MoH)on Friday, March 27, 2026.

At this time, OPA has been advised that the TPA for the CPC Program is not ready for distribution. We appreciate that this uncertainty and delay will be frustrating for you recognizing that as we approach April 1, we are not able to share any information about changes in either EOC compensation or volume. 

As you will be aware from our prior communications with you, we have strongly advocated for meaningful increases in both compensation for EOCs and the volume of EOCs that are allocated to the program given the demand for services in the community. 

In discussion with the Ministry they have confirmed the following:

The exact date for the distribution of the next TPA cannot be confirmed and may not occur before April 1.

If you continue to provide services AFTER April 1 and BEFORE you are able to sign a new TPA you will be paid for those services IF YOU SIGN and return the new TPA once it is available. Funds cannot be flowed to you before the TPA is fully executed.

Once you receive the TPA the expectation of return is approximately two weeks. You will have to sign and return the TPA in order to be paid for any services that you provide after April 1, 2026 . The services after April 1, 2026, will be paid at the rate in the new TPA Agreement.

If you sign and return the TPA and later find the terms unacceptable, you can withdraw from the CPC Program. You will then be paid for any services delivered from April 1 until your withdrawal.

We will continue to meet with the CPC Program Team at the Ministry of Health and provide you with any updates as they are available.

OPA Meets with Ministry of Health about CPC Program

OPA Continues to Advocate for CPC Program Participants & Patients

Sarah Hutchison, OPA CEO, and Emily Stevenson, Director of Practice and Policy, met with MoH CPC Program Leadership on Friday, February 27 on the status of the April 1, 2026 TPA.

The Ministry relayed three key updates at this meeting:

The next TPA will continue as a 2-year agreement – effective April 1, 2026. There are no changes to the text of the TPA as it relates to the terms and conditions of the program delivery other than #2 and #3 below.

The Ministry is exploring a rate increase per EOC; the amount has not been disclosed.

The Ministry is exploring a net increase in the total volume of EOCs allocated to OH regions with higher utilization rates and population growth. The increase in the number of EOCs being explored has not been disclosed.

Only 4 Weeks Away

There was acknowledgement that we are approximately 4 weeks away from the next agreement and it will be important to have a communication plan in place in the unlikely event that the TPA has not been provided to CPC participants before the 3rd week in March. In discussion with the Ministry CPC Program, OPA identified that some service providers may withdraw from the Program should the rate increase not be sufficient to address service sustainability and, given the timing of the contract and the need for service and care continuity for patients, a transition plan may be required.

OPA has scheduled meetings with the Ministry of Health (MoH) on March 20 and March 27 if needed.

OPA will apprise CPC Program participants of updates and the development of a contingency plan if needed.

Separately, the MoH CPC Program is developing a Program dashboard to increase visibility for Program outcomes and Program transparency.

About the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program

The CPC Program provides access to vital physiotherapy services throughout Ontario.

Launched in 2013, the CPC Program has provided almost 10 million treatments. It successfully complements diverse primary care, home care, integration, and care-continuity, all of which are government priorities.

Certain criteria apply for those who can seek treatment at a CPC. This includes seniors (65 and over), youth (under 19), people who have had an overnight hospital stay, or an outpatient/day surgery procedure and recipients of ODSP.

The CPC Program runs out of both hospital and community clinics across Ontario. Providers hold a Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Program providers are allocated a certain number of Episodes of Care (EOCs) each year. The current EOC payment amount is $334.38.

Advocating for Greater Sustainability in the CPC Program

About the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program

The CPC Program provides access to vital physiotherapy services throughout Ontario. Launched in 2013, the CPC Program has provided almost 10 million treatments. It successfully complements diverse primary care, home care, integration, and care-continuity government priorities.

The CPC Program runs out of both hospital and community clinics across Ontario. Providers hold a Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with the Ministry of Health (MoH). The TPA is expected to be renewed in April 2026.

Program providers are allocated a certain number of Episodes of Care (EOCs) each year. The current EOC payment amount is $334.38

CPC Working Group Launched

OPA struck a CPC Working Group in 2025 to help prepare for the forthcoming Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) renewal in April 2026. The TPA is a binding contract between the Ministry of Health and an external recipient such as a license holder of a Community Physiotherapy Clinic to fund public services. The TPA determines the conditions under which providers are compensated by the Government of Ontario.

What Are the Issues

Over successive consultations, OPA members have raised concerns about the CPC Program and its sustainability. Program participants, especially those based in the community, speak to growing challenges in the Program’s delivery and broader misunderstandings among system stakeholders.

Challenges include low compensation, too few EOCs to meet population needs, lack of transparency about the program’s allocation of EOCs and misunderstanding of the program’s goals among stakeholders.

CPC Program Users and EOCs

Seniors are the most frequent users of the Community Physiotherapy Clinic program. More than 80% of EOCs are utilized by individuals 65 and older.

Investments in EOCs, which promote early upstream access to care in the community, mean a decreased need for much more expensive institutional care. OPA is advocating for an increase in the number of EOCs to effectively address the growing health needs of seniors in Ontario. See the chart below.

year	senior population	eoc volume
2013	~ 2,000,000	125,000
2025	~ 2,940,000 + 940,000 (+ 47 %)	142,000 + *17,000 (~ +14%)*
2028	~ 3,600,000 + 1,600,000 (+80%) (2013) + 660,000 (+23%) (2025)	Proposed: 195,000 70,000 (+56% – 2013) 53,000 (+37% – 2025)

CPC Survey Results

OPA launched a survey in November 2025 directed to CPC Program TPA holders. The survey highlights four themes that emerged from the respondents:

EOC Compensation

EOC Volume

CPC Program allocation and service transparency

CPC Program awareness among system stakeholders

Recommendations to the Ministry of Health (MoH)

OPA completed additional research which supported survey respondents’ concerns and interests. Survey results were discussed with the MoH in December 2025. In January 2026, a meeting summary was sent to the MoH with the following recommendations: 

EOC Payment: Increasing the rate from $334.38 to a range between $487.50 to $617.50 based on an average of 6.5 treatment sessions per EOC.

EOC Volume: Increasing the total volume of EOCs to 195,000 per year from 142,000 per year.

Improving CPC Program Activity Communication: Developing a report on EOC allocation and utilization, diagnostic codes, and Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) data.

Improving CPC Program Awareness among Stakeholders: Co-developing a visual aide for system stakeholders to clarify the CPC Program’s purpose, use, and criteria.

Among these four recommendations, EOC payment increases are the most critical part of the TPA. Increasing EOC volume alone requires clinics to provide more units of care that must be subsidized by other programs, such as WSIB or private insurance.

Recent Meeting with the MoH

OPA met with the MoH and CPC survey respondents on February 11, 2026, to share survey results and explore concerns raised by CPC providers. The MoH appreciated the program feedback and survey results and has committed to providing bi-weekly feedback with the proposals OPA made.

What’s Next

OPA will continue to communicate with CPC Program providers and advocate with the Ministry of Health prior to the TPA renewal in April 2026.