Injured insureds in Ontario worse off after auto insurance reforms, alliance of health care providers say

Insureds injured in motor vehicle accidents are now worse off as a result of Ontario’s auto insurance reforms, according The Alliance of Community Medical and Rehabilitation Providers.

The Alliance has 80 member companies and represents 3,500 health care providers, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, chiropractors, psychologists, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, personal support workers and case managers.

The Alliance conducted an informal survey of 45 rehab practices across the province. The results, it says, uncovered a number of troubling developments in the way accident victims are now being handled.

For example, the survey found a significant increase in the number of accident victims who are running out of benefits before they are fully recovered. “A majority of providers say at least half of their clients will now run out of benefits (vs. 10 per cent or fewer of their clients a year ago),” the Alliance said in a press release.

Also, the survey found:

• More than two-thirds of providers say insurers are now denying 30 per cent or more of assessment and treatment plan requests, versus a denial rate of 10 per cent or less a year ago.
• About two-thirds of providers surveyed said between 10 per cent and 50 per cent of claimants are now not being assessed because of a cap on assessment fees, which includes travel expenses to assess certain claimants, particularly in rural areas.
• A “vast majority” of providers reported their clients are now waiting two months or more to receive treatment and services, versus a wait of a month or less a year ago.

“We were shocked by how quickly these negative trends have worked through the system and the degree to which services and benefits have eroded,” said Alliance president Nick Gurevich. “The survey of 45 rehab practices across the province is not scientific, but it does uncover some disturbing evidence that points to a breakdown in consumer protection.”

The Alliance’s recommendations would effectively roll back most of the auto insurance reforms introduced by the Ontario government in September 2010.