Community Physiotherapy Clinics Archives - Page 2 of 2

CPC Program Update

Here’s the Issue

Clinics participating in the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program through a Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with the Ministry of Health (MoH) continue to face issues although improvements were made in 2024. As a new TPA is expected in April 2026, OPA continues to advocate with the Ministry about the issues that physiotherapists encounter with the program. Consulting with OPA’s CPC working group prior to meeting with the Ministry, the current concerns include:

High threshold for the # of visits in an episode of care

Wait lists for clinics not able to provide service because they have met their EOC allocation

Inadequate compensation for an episode of care

Lack of timely data sharing

How We Are Advocating

On September 10, 2025, Sarah Hutchison, OPA CEO, and Don Gracey, Government Relations for OPA, met with the CPC Program staff in Kingston to address some of these issues.

In the summary data for fiscal year 2024-25, the average number of treatments per EOC was 5, and the overall utilization of program EOCs was 93.7%. Members of the working group noted that the demand for the CPC program has continued to increase as have waitlists for many providers. The Ministry does not currently track waitlists raising the question of whether there is a need to track unmet demand along with its potential impact on patient care and practices.

Commitment to Increase Data Sharing

One of the concerns identified by the working group has been timely data sharing. This is an ongoing challenge given the retrospective nature of the program and the timing for billing/submissions/reconciliation. The Ministry has committed to providing quarterly data at the end of the following quarter.

What We Are Working Towards

OPA is holding its next meeting with the CPC working group on October 9 to discuss issues and priorities for the 2026 Transfer Payment Agreement.

Critical for Physiotherapist Profession

The Community Physiotherapy Clinic Program provides publicly funded physiotherapy to residents of Ontario that may not have access otherwise. OPA was pleased to see changes made to the previous TPA in March of 2024 that included:

An increase in fees: 3% in the first year of the TPA, and 2% in the second year

One diagnosis for one Episode of Care (EOC) rather than the previous ‘whole body’ multiple diagnoses approach

Replacement of the annual Review Engagement Financial Statement with an annual attestation

Support access to virtual care as per College of Physiotherapists of Ontario guidelines

Enabling of reallocation of available EOCs when a clinic closes or identifies they are unable to fulfill all EOCs assigned, or when the Ministry chooses to allocate unused EOCs

Remove the requirement for referral from physicians or nurse practitioners

Current Challenges

With feedback from the CPC working group and members who deliver care in the CPC program, OPA will continue to advocate for needed improvements to the CPC Program, including inadequate compensation for an episode of care, high wait lists and high thresholds within an episode of care. The Ministry has previously included OPA’s feedback into changes to the TPA and we are hopeful about conversations moving forward.

OPA Calls for Improvements in Integrating Physiotherapy into ICHSCs

OPA recently sent a letter to the Ministry of Health with important feedback about the integration of physiotherapy in the Call for Applications for Integrated Community Health Services Centres (ICHSCs). We thank members who provided feedback which helped inform our letter.

The Impact

We recognize the impact that ICHSCs will have in all sectors where physiotherapists work, and in particular, the direct impact that will be imposed upon physiotherapists working in the private sector and those who currently operate within the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) Program.

Several significant points we made include:

Insufficient Compensation

Compensation for physiotherapists serving patients within the ICHSC model remains unclear. We are very concerned that insufficient funding that is not based on current market rates for physiotherapists will not result in a sustainable program.

OPA has previously expressed concerns with the existing Bundled Care program and the distribution of funds within the bundle that has resulted in underpayment of physiotherapy services. Given the Ministry’s goal of improving access to community-based surgery for hip and knee replacements, our concerns have escalated about the ability of the public to access rehabilitation before and after surgery if there are not appropriate resources and funding available for community physiotherapy partners.

Complexity of Patients

It is essential that funding for physiotherapy services reflects the rehabilitation complexity of the patient regardless of where they have surgery. Physiotherapy should NOT be discounted in the community because they are considered low risk from just a surgical perspective.

Navigation

As noted in OPA’s ongoing communications with the Bundled Care team at the Ministry of Health, there have been increasing challenges in system navigation of services for patients as the hospital role in navigation has eroded over time. OPA maintains the position that patient choice continues to be a priority. Currently, patients who undergo surgery at a hospital can choose where they access post-operative physiotherapy services, and the hospital bundle-holder is responsible for reimbursing the clinic of choice. This model has not been presented as a feature of the ICHSC program and has the potential to adversely impact accessibility and care outcomes.

Communication

OPA asks that the current communication issues be addressed that exist in the Bundled Care program prior to ICHSCs opening. Communication to and from bundled care holders to the patient and to physiotherapists are all needing to be addressed.

Why this is Critical for our Profession

Insufficient Compensation Impacts all Physiotherapists

A compensation model that is both underfunded and shifts the risk to physiotherapists for rehabilitation outcomes not only impacts physiotherapy clinics providing care for ICHSC patients but erodes the value and compensation of physiotherapists in all sectors.

Current Status

This is an important issue for the profession and we commit to communicating any response we receive from the Ministry that responds to the concerns we have identified.

Advocacy is Continuous

Advocating with the Ministry and government will be ongoing until we believe that needed program changes are in place and are communicated to the profession. We know that rehabilitation for patients is critical to support good surgical outcomes. The service model needs to be built on a fair and transparent framework so that our members can participate knowing that they will be equitably treated at fair market rates. Read more news related to ICHSCs linked below.

We encourage all members of the physiotherapy community to email the Ministry of Health and share your concerns. Use content from our letter and contact us for any additional resources at physiomail@opa.on.ca.

Read our letter

2025 Provincial Election – OPA’s Key Priorities

January 30, 2025

With the call for a provincial election and a date set for February 27, 2025, OPA recognizes the importance of the next four weeks in engaging candidates and prospective MPPs on the issues that matter. Watch Courtney Bean, OPA President, speak about the upcoming provincial election.

Polling data reinforces that health care and the state of our health system remains a priority for Ontarians. We know that this is a critical time to communicate the priorities of the physiotherapy profession with candidates so that we can continue to make progress and positive change. Ontarians face extraordinary barriers to needed care. This election we believe important issues must be tackled and responded to so that Ontarians have equitable, timely access to the essential services provided by physiotherapists, physiotherapy residents, and physiotherapist assistants.

Here are our four priorities that will contribute to building an effective Health Care system in Ontario:

1. INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN ONTARIO

Growing the number of physiotherapists in Ontario is critical to meet the increasing demands on our system for rehabilitation care in private practice, primary care, hospital care, long-term care and home and community care

2. ADD PHYSIOTHERAPISTS TO MORE INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE TEAMS

Expanding the investment in primary health care organizations by adding physiotherapists is necessary to ensure that all Ontarians have access to primary health care with integrated physiotherapy services. All Ontarians should have the essential healthcare they need, including care by physiotherapists to promote well-being and injury prevention, recover from surgery or injury, and live optimally with chronic conditions in their homes and communities

3. FINALIZE IMPLEMENTATION OF SCOPE OF PRACTICE

It has taken too long! We call on candidates to increase health system capacity and efficiency by finalizing the regulations needed for physiotherapists to practise to their full competencies, including ordering diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests. These include changes that were enabled by the Ontario Legislature in 2009 but have not been implemented by the Ministry of Health. Get it done.

4. RESOLVE PROGRAM AND COMPENSATION RELATED CHALLENGES

There is a need to implement policies and funding increases that support fair, equitable compensation and are comparable to increases in other disciplines of the healthcare workforce (e.g., nurses, mid-wives, physicians). Underfunding physiotherapy leads to service scarcity, long wait times, and poorer health outcomes for Ontarians in publicly funded and insurance-based programs. The inconsistent funding of physiotherapy services severely impacts recruitment and retention with many physiotherapists withdrawing services because of the lack financial viability to deliver.

It is essential that physiotherapists are accessible to Ontarians of all ages and abilities. To support the wellbeing and prosperity of the province, the sustainability of the physiotherapy profession is critical, and to reduce professional attrition, it is imperative that underfunded physiotherapy programs are improved administratively and fiscally, including (1) Community Physiotherapy Program (CPC) (2) Auto Insurance Programs including the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG) and Professional Services Guideline (PSG) and (3) Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) Programs of Care.

Join us in any way you can!

At OPA, we will continue to advocate for the priorities of our members and profession overall and have prepared a candidate brief that we hope will be of value in your discussions.

Download Candidate Brief

OPA Response to CPC Program Announcement

March 28, 2024

OPA has been keeping members updated on our work over the last two years to resolve issues facing clinics participating, through a Transfer Payment Agreement (TPA) with the Ministry of Health (MoH), in the Community Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC) program.

On March 26, 2024, TPA holders received an update from the Ministry of Health on the changes being made to the Community Physiotherapy Clinic Program and OPA is pleased to see many of the recommendations we made have been accepted.

In particular the following changes positively impact clinics’ costs and provide some flexibility to respond to changes in EOC allocations between contract periods:

An increase in fees: 3% in the first year of the TPA, and 2% in the second year

One diagnosis for one Episode of Care (EOC) rather than the current ‘whole body’ multiple diagnoses approach

Replacement of the annual Review Engagement Financial Statement with an annual attestation

Support access to virtual care as per College of Physiotherapists of Ontario guidelines

Enable reallocation of available EOCs when a clinic closes or identifies they are unable to fulfill all EOCs assigned, or when the Ministry chooses to allocate unused EOCs

Remove the requirement for referral from physicians or nurse practitioners

We are pleased to see an increase in the EOC fee, although it does fall significantly short of matching the inflationary costs affecting the program since its inception in 2013. The changes above will have a positive impact of reducing some of the costs, however, and should be factored in by TPA holders making decisions going forward.

It should be noted that an additional change will impact the eligibility requirements for the program through the removal of the need for an overnight stay at the hospital for those who need physiotherapy after a procedure/surgery.

OPA engaged very intensively and continuously with the Ministry to make the case for these needed changes. We will continue to be fully engaged in revising the Program’s Policies and Procedures, based on these changes. We will also push to initiate a more comprehensive and thorough review of the CPC program, including fees, so that it can be completed well in advance of the expiration of the next TPAs on March 31, 2026. With changes in eligibility criteria, a review is essential to evaluate the demand on the program and other impacts to resources.

Thank you to the members of the CPC working group whose insights, experience and dedication grounded this advocacy work and enabled the Ministry to hear directly from physiotherapists.

If you have additional questions, please contact Amy Hondronicols.

Pre-Budget Submission 2024

January 30, 2024

OPA recently filed our recommendations to Ontario’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Pre-budget submissions are an opportunity to inform the Government of Ontario’s priorities, as addressed in the budget. Our submission focuses OPA’s continued advocacy on three main objectives, to:

Fully implement the legislated scope of practice for the physiotherapy profession;

Ensure a viable and sustainable publicly-funded community physiotherapy clinic program for vulnerable Ontarians, including seniors; and,

Reduce red tape in the automobile insurance sector that creates barriers to timely access to care for Ontarians and imposes costly and undue burden on health care businesses and address stagnant caps and fees.

OPA continues to advocate on each of these issues through 2024.

Read OPA’s Full Submission

Submission to Standing Committee for Finance and Economic Affairs Pre-Budget Consultations

February 14, 2023

The OPA pre-Budget submission highlighted four areas that would bring substantial returns through increasing capacity in Ontario’s health care system and achieving the government’s objectives.

Remove the barriers to physiotherapists working up to full scope;

Facilitate successful entry to independent practice for internationally educated PTs by reinstating funding for the Ontario Internationally Educated Physical Therapy Bridging Program;

Address program issues for community rehabilitation, including Community Physiotherapy Clinics and bundled care programs and resource appropriately to meet rehabilitation needs and help address surgical backlogs; and,

Reduce red tape that is a barrier to care and imposes undue burden on health care businesses by removing requirement to exhaust extended health care benefits before accessing auto insurance benefits.

Read our Submission