2026 Billing Education Series + Dr. Ma Court Case Appeal Update
Dear SGFP Members,
I hope this message finds you well as we begin a new year together. For our first update of 2026, I want to highlight two items: a reminder about our upcoming billing education series and an update on the court case involving Dr. Elaine Ma.
First, a reminder about our 2026 billing webinars.
As announced in December, we have nine billing sessions planned this year in collaboration with the OMA. Each webinar will begin with a focused theme or practice area, followed by open time for any billing questions you may have and relevant to all members. These sessions are designed to give you real-time answers, practical tips, and expert guidance to support accurate and efficient billing in your day-to-day practice. More details and registration links can be found on the SGFP website.
Register for the first session coming up on Wednesday, January 21.
Update on the court case involving Dr. Elaine Ma: OHIP Appealed the Ruling
SGFP continues to closely follow this matter. Last week, the OMA provided members with an overview of the current status. In short, the Divisional Court issued a significant ruling clarifying how OHIP’s billing rules and statutory discretion apply in extraordinary circumstances. While the Court acknowledged that Dr. Ma did not meet OHIP’s billing requirements, it underscored that the Health Insurance Act provides room for discretion in exceptional circumstances, discretion that OHIP chose not to exercise during the pandemic. The Court directed that the matter be returned to HSARB to reconsider the repayment amount, rather than assuming a full clawback is automatically required.
Despite this clear direction, OHIP has chosen to appeal the ruling. Instead of reconsidering the repayment amount, they have opted to invest additional resources into continuing this dispute, resources likely to exceed the amount at issue. As a family physician, I find this deeply troubling. We routinely see months-long delays when OHIP is correcting its own billing errors affecting thousands of physicians, yet an appeal in this case was launched within hours.
Thank you for everything you do. I am grateful for your continued commitment to your patients and to our profession.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Dave Barber
Chair, SGFP
Other Resources
Register for Sport Med 2026 in Toronto
Sport Med 2026 will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Pan Pacific Hotel Toronto. New for 2026, this high-impact, one-day conference offers focused learning on emerging trends in sport and exercise medicine. The program features expert-led plenary sessions and practical hands-on workshops. Topics include osteoarthritis phenotypes, artificial intelligence in sport medicine, regenerative medicine, sport for public health and human rights, ultrasound-guided techniques, peripheral neuropathies and more. The event is open to physicians, residents, medical students, and allied health professionals.
Register now
Email for registration and inquiries: events@oma.org
OntarioMD needs your input! What would bring you to our Digital Health Conference?
OntarioMD’s Digital Health Conference provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn how to save time and reduce your administrative burden through technology. We’d love your input to help us plan future conferences that bring meaningful value to your practice. Please complete the short survey (3 min.) to send us your feedback. In appreciation of your time, OntarioMD is offering a $20 gift card to the first 200 physicians to complete the survey. You will also be entered into a draw to win a complimentary pass to next year’s conference on October 1 and 2 in Toronto.
Link to survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DHC_InsightsSurvey
Help Shape Erectile Dysfunction Care in Ontario Primary Care Practice
Your voice matters. Family physicians are invited to take part in a provincial, short and anonymous survey study exploring current practice patterns and barriers in diagnosing and managing erectile dysfunction (ED).
ED is common, high-impact, and too often under-addressed. Limited time, scarce resources, and patient reluctance all contribute to missed opportunities for care. Your experience can change that.
Why Participate?
- Anonymous and Short Survey
- Shapes practical, family physician-informed solutions and pathways
Link to Survey: https://nosm.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cAQ4Gv2Ahfv0CrA
Resource Sharing: If you have information about a news item, policy, survey or event you wish to share with SGFP members, please review the criteria and provide the following required information for us to include in this section of the newsletter. Please send this submission to: ChairLetterSGFP@outlook.com