Important Notice to Ketamine Infusion Patients
Allevio cannot submit claims to OHIP for ketamine infusions.
We are very sorry to say that as of 8 p.m. EST on Friday, April 9, 2021, Allevio is no longer submitting claims to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for our ketamine infusions. We are going to continue offering the infusions, but they will be paid privately through either insurance or by our patients directly.
Why we are discontinuing ketamine infusions covered by OHIP
We have been offering infusion services at Allevio since the very beginning, however, we have recently become aware that OHIP may not agree with the way we have interpreted the rules for how and what we can claim for some specific services. Therefore, our claims for those services will not be paid.
When we started down this road, we checked with our lawyers to see if what we were planning was correct by letter and in spirit of the law. We called OHIP’s claims information line to ask them about our specific codes for claims. Our senior team also spent a lot of time internally discussing if and how we can offer the service through OHIP.
OHIP’s duty to protect patients and taxpayers equals their responsibility to ensure we all have access to the care we need. We know this means patients who have relied on this care and can’t afford it may unfortunately return to other ways of pain management. We completely respect OHIP’s decision on ketamine infusions. We started Allevio to help ensure our team has a safe place to help our patients. We also want to improve the way the world manages pain by bringing accountable and ethical care within reach. OHIP’s position is walking an important line, and we will respect their perspective and position.
Where to go from here
For our patients who have had this care, please speak with your doctor about other options available at Allevio.
If you wish to take this matter up with OHIP, then that is your decision. OHIP has seen how ketamine infusions can help. OHIP has seen research that says ketamine infusions aren’t effective. Our results may be unique, but they are exceptional when compared with other studies on the practice. A key part of our future will be around bringing our approach and treatment to the world so we can share our treatments and help millions. Today, we will respect the wishes of those in place to protect the greater population from a potential issue with a medication that is believed to be not as effective as we have found it to be in our research.
The whitepaper I have written and submitted to our government is about responsible medicine and outcomes, holding us to the standards and patient experience we have offered to date. The one thing we can all agree on is that the right care at the right time can save lives, support our healthcare providers, and create billions of dollars for our government and the businesses that take care of employee benefits. It’s not about a specific medication, it’s about everyone getting what they pay for. View the whitepaper here: https://bit.ly/3b2THqK
Please be kind to the messengers
Remember that every single member of the Allevio team—from your Patient Access app team members to our care providers and administrators—has done everything they can to keep this practice going with OHIP coverage. This decision is out of all of our hands. Any anger or frustration you feel should not be directed at those who are dedicated to patient care. Finding meaningful solutions to pain is why we started Allevio, and we will keep doing that, but to a huge extent, it means that we must face the future together.
If you would like to connect with us about this matter or ask any questions, then both Karen Bennett, our director of clinical operations and I, Ross Hendin, are here to listen to you. You can email either of us at info@allevioclinic.com or request a call.
One team, One dream.
Ross Hendin | Co-Founder & CEO
Allevio Pain Management