{"id":28919,"date":"2023-08-10T13:35:04","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T17:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?p=28919"},"modified":"2023-09-21T15:35:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T19:35:47","slug":"critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#8217;s U.S. appendix surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>(August 8, 2023)<\/p>\n<p>By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg\" alt=\"France Gelinas\" width=\"324\" height=\"243\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury Star<\/em><\/p>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">A Southwestern Ontario woman who pursued appendix surgery in the U.S. after being unable to access timely medical care in the province has lost her bid to make Ontario\u2019s health insurance program cover the cost.The unidentified woman, referred to as KW in the board\u2019s decision, and her mother lost their appeal of an OHIP decision that denied her reimbursement for medical costs connected to an April 2021 appendix removal surgery she sought in New Jersey after months of failed attempts to seek a diagnosis and treatment here.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_2\">\n<section class=\"ad\" aria-describedby=\"advertisment2693380347673995688818579750256640\">\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div id=\"ad__inner-2\" class=\"ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"ad-2\" class=\"ad__inner__container ad-refresh\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">That desperate patients are scrambling to find medical care and sometimes opting to pay out-of-pocket in another country for it is an indictment of government handling of the health care file, advocates say.\u201cThis is hideous. The first job of a public health care system is to plan for and provide the care that the population needs,\u201d said Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, a grassroots public health care advocacy group.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt sounds in this case like she was failed by the system. . . . Things are much worse than they ever have been. The system is starved of staff and the resources they need, in terms of primary care and hospital care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The decision upholding OHIP\u2019s denial of coverage by Ontario\u2019s Health Services Appeal and Review Board \u2013 the provincial panel that reviews and adjudicates challenges of health system decisions, including OHIP eligibility and public health orders \u2013 was released July 27.<\/p>\n<p>The New Jersey surgery was the culmination of months of attempts to seek care in Ontario\u2019s health care system, the board\u2019s decision said.<\/p>\n<p>The woman developed abdominal pain in late October 2020 and underwent more than 20 virtual and in-person consultations with various emergency departments, her family doctor and specialists until April 25, 2021, the decision said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_3\">\n<section class=\"ad\" aria-describedby=\"advertisment2923922614470558569384492838944768\">\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div id=\"ad__inner-3\" class=\"ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"ad-3\" class=\"ad__inner__container ad-refresh\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<p>At least three surgeons in Ontario were unable to accurately pinpoint the issue and never performed a diagnostic surgery or MRI, she alleges in her appeal to the board.<\/p>\n<p>The attempts to seek treatment included visits to the Strathroy General Hospital emergency department and London Health Sciences Centre emergency room on April 24 and April 25 respectively.<\/p>\n<p>Days later, the woman had her appendix removed at a hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey, a 30-minute drive northeast of Newark. Her diagnosis was chronic appendicitis and an umbilical hernia, a weakness or tear in muscle or connective tissue near the belly button that allows intestinal tissue to bulge out.<\/p>\n<p>The mother and daughter submitted an out-of-country claim for reimbursement to OHIP for medical and other expenses \u2013 including travel, car rental and medication \u2013 connected to the New Jersey surgery.<\/p>\n<p>At a minimum, they were seeking reimbursement for the surgical consult, hospital bill, surgical fee and anesthetic fee totaling nearly $9,800 CAD.<\/p>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">The claim was denied by OHIP in April 2022 because it did not fit the criteria for an emergency, defined as an acute and unexpected illness that arose outside of Canada and required immediate care.<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_4\">\n<section class=\"ad\" aria-describedby=\"advertisment8278365117159994749840988194209792\">\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div id=\"ad__inner-4\" class=\"ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"ad-4\" class=\"ad__inner__container ad-refresh\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">In the appeal, KW\u2019s mother alleged she saw her daughter \u201ccontinuing to fade\u201d with pain, weight loss and hair loss and \u201cbelieved she had to act to ensure the survival\u201d of her daughter. She arranged for the surgery in New Jersey, alleging that further delays in her daughter\u2019s diagnosis and treatment would have \u201clife altering or loss of life consequences.\u201dThe appeal decision, made by three members of the review board, said the surgery cost was not eligible for reimbursement because it was not an acute, unexpected condition that arose outside of Canada.<\/p>\n<p>In its decision, the board said the woman had not proven the surgery was insured under the out-of-country regulation and had no ability to compel OHIP to cover the procedure for \u201ccompassionate reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe appeal board recognizes the very difficult circumstances facing the appellant and her mother,\u201d the decision said. \u201cThe appeal board further acknowledges the pain and discomfort experienced by the appellant as well as the frustration of not being able to obtain a definitive diagnosis and treatment within Ontario.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border article-content__ad-group ad_counter_5\">\n<section class=\"ad\" aria-describedby=\"advertisment7603096615085806276348969901621248\">\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div id=\"ad__inner-5\" class=\"ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"ad-5\" class=\"ad__inner__container ad-refresh\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\">\n<div class=\"ad__placeholder\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">Ontario\u2019s health insurance program provides limited coverage for emergency medical treatment costs incurred outside of Canada, provided the situation meets specific criteria. The out-of-country coverage \u2013 scrapped by Doug Ford\u2019s Progressive Conservative government then later reinstated \u2013 is not a substitute for private travel insurance or coverage included in workplace benefits programs.The family could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n<p>With Ontario\u2019s health care budget topping $70-billion a year, and the ranks of talented and dedicated health care workers in the system, no family should find themselves in the situation of this mom and daughter, Ontario NDP health critic France Gelinas said Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is terrible. I feel like our health care system has failed them, but really it\u2019s our provincial government that has failed them and others,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Lack of access to timely medical care has broader consequences, she said. When patients are dissatisfied with the care they receive it shakes public confidence in medicare itself, Gelinas said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what segment of the health care system I speak to, everyone is worried that the love Canadians have for medicare is being put to the test,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPatients are looking for solutions of their own. If they\u2019re close enough to the border, a solution is to go across the border and pay. If you are rich, a solution is to find a private clinic and pay. . . . But for the great majority of people, they depend on a program that defines us as Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\"><a href=\"mailto:jbieman@postmedia.com\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{&quot;control_fields&quot;: {&quot;mparticle&quot;: {&quot;keys&quot;: {&quot;click_source_type&quot;: &quot;click_source_type&quot;, &quot;anchor_text&quot;: &quot;anchor_text&quot;, &quot;layout_section&quot;: &quot;layout_section&quot;}, &quot;mp_event_type&quot;: &quot;Navigation&quot;, &quot;extra_keys&quot;: [&quot;click_vertical_position_percentage&quot;, &quot;click_vertical_position_pixels&quot;]}}, &quot;click_source_type&quot;: &quot;in-page link&quot;, &quot;anchor_text&quot;: &quot;jbieman@postmedia.com&quot;, &quot;layout_section&quot;: &quot;in-page-link&quot;}\">jbieman@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JenatLFPress\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" data-evt-val=\"{&quot;control_fields&quot;: {&quot;mparticle&quot;: {&quot;keys&quot;: {&quot;click_source_type&quot;: &quot;click_source_type&quot;, &quot;anchor_text&quot;: &quot;anchor_text&quot;, &quot;target_url&quot;: &quot;target_url&quot;, &quot;layout_section&quot;: &quot;layout_section&quot;}, &quot;mp_event_type&quot;: &quot;Navigation&quot;, &quot;extra_keys&quot;: [&quot;click_vertical_position_percentage&quot;, &quot;click_vertical_position_pixels&quot;]}}, &quot;click_source_type&quot;: &quot;in-page link&quot;, &quot;anchor_text&quot;: &quot;twitter.com\/JenatLFPress&quot;, &quot;target_url&quot;: &quot;https:\/\/twitter.com\/JenatLFPress&quot;, &quot;layout_section&quot;: &quot;in-page-link&quot;}\">twitter.com\/JenatLFPress<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-async=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lfpress.com\/news\/local-news\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\">Click here for original article<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt=\"beforeunload\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\" data-evt-val=\"{&quot;control_fields&quot;: {&quot;mparticle&quot;: {&quot;mp_custom_flags&quot;: [&quot;Google.NonInteraction&quot;, &quot;Google.Page&quot;], &quot;extra_keys&quot;: [&quot;percentage_of_page_viewed&quot;, &quot;percentage_of_story_viewed&quot;]}}}\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury Star A Southwestern Ontario woman who pursued appendix surgery in the U.S. after being unable to access timely medical care in the province has lost her bid to make Ontario\u2019s health [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ohc-in-the-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#039;s U.S. appendix surgery - Ontario Health Coalition<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#039;s U.S. appendix surgery - Ontario Health Coalition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ontario Health Coalition\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ontariohealth?fref=ts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-10T17:35:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-09-21T19:35:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3bee6583f445dde27b35a7bba61b06b4\"},\"headline\":\"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#8217;s U.S. appendix surgery\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-10T17:35:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-21T19:35:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":961,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\\\/lfpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg\",\"articleSection\":[\"OHC in the News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/\",\"name\":\"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman's U.S. appendix surgery - Ontario Health Coalition\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\\\/lfpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-10T17:35:04+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-09-21T19:35:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\\\/Sudbury\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\\\/lfpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\\\/lfpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/index.php\\\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#8217;s U.S. appendix surgery\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/\",\"name\":\"Ontario Health Coalition\",\"description\":\"Our primary goal is to protect and improve our public health care system\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Ontario Health Coalition\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/logo_ohc_new-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/logo_ohc_new-1.png\",\"width\":478,\"height\":240,\"caption\":\"Ontario Health Coalition\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/ontariohealth?fref=ts\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/OntarioHealthC\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/ontariohealthcoalition\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.tiktok.com\\\/@ontariohealthc\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCPy4Erf4xGLZV6CY23xdokw\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3bee6583f445dde27b35a7bba61b06b4\",\"name\":\"admin\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman's U.S. appendix surgery - Ontario Health Coalition","description":"(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman's U.S. appendix surgery - Ontario Health Coalition","og_description":"(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/","og_site_name":"Ontario Health Coalition","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ontariohealth?fref=ts","article_published_time":"2023-08-10T17:35:04+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-09-21T19:35:47+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"admin","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#\/schema\/person\/3bee6583f445dde27b35a7bba61b06b4"},"headline":"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#8217;s U.S. appendix surgery","datePublished":"2023-08-10T17:35:04+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-21T19:35:47+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/"},"wordCount":961,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg","articleSection":["OHC in the News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/","name":"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman's U.S. appendix surgery - Ontario Health Coalition","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg","datePublished":"2023-08-10T17:35:04+00:00","dateModified":"2023-09-21T19:35:47+00:00","description":"(August 8, 2023) By: Jennifer Bieman, The London Free Press New Democrat MPP France Gelinas is photographed on Monday August 15, 2022. John Lappa\/Sudbury","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/lfpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/20220815JL22905.SU_-scaled.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;sig=wb1Q4YN8FhFFGvyRyJ6Edg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/critics-fume-as-ohip-denies-coverage-of-local-womans-u-s-appendix-surgery\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Critics fume as OHIP denies coverage of local woman&#8217;s U.S. appendix surgery"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/","name":"Ontario Health Coalition","description":"Our primary goal is to protect and improve our public health care system","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#organization","name":"Ontario Health Coalition","url":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo_ohc_new-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/logo_ohc_new-1.png","width":478,"height":240,"caption":"Ontario Health Coalition"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ontariohealth?fref=ts","https:\/\/x.com\/OntarioHealthC","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ontariohealthcoalition","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ontariohealthc","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCPy4Erf4xGLZV6CY23xdokw"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/#\/schema\/person\/3bee6583f445dde27b35a7bba61b06b4","name":"admin"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28919"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28955,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28919\/revisions\/28955"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}