Making OHIP billings public would give the province a leg up during contract negotiations with doctors, says the former president of the Ontario Hospital Association.

The government always has one hand tied behind its back in those negotiations because the medical association advertises on behalf of doctors, suggesting they should be compensated well because they are performing an important task, Tom Closson said.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA), which bargains on behalf of the provinces 28,600 physicians, has launched expensive advertising campaigns during past negotiations in an attempt to build public support.

If the public had more information on the way doctors are compensated, they might have a more balanced perspective in terms of giving their views to the government during negotiations, said Closson, who also previously served as president of the University Health Network and, prior to that, president of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

The province is currently in contract negotiations with the OMA, and according to multiple sources the talks are limping along.

A conciliator was recently brought in after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on their own or with a facilitators help.

What I can say is that we are pleased to have the Hon. Warren K. Winkler, former Chief Justice of Ontario, to serve as the conciliator, OMA president Dr. Ved Tandan said in an emailed statement. Justice Winkler is internationally recognized for his experience in mediation and dispute resolution, and we look forward to working with him during this phase.

Negotiations for a new Physician Services Agreement centre on establishing how much doctors should get paid for each consultation or procedure performed, a payment model known as fee-for-service.

Talks started early this year, prior to the March 31 expiration of the last agreement.

There is a media blackout on the negotiations, but sources say Dr. David Naylor, past president of the University of Toronto, was brought in as a facilitator last August. He issued confidential recommendations to each side, but was unable to bring the parties to an agreement, and they continue to dig in their heels.

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Making OHIP billings public could alter Ontarios health-care landscape