The invoice borders on 240 million

Data obtained by information Coops from the Quebec Health Insurance Régie (RAMQ) show that reimbursements made to Ontario hospitals. Furthermore, doctors climbed 7%, between 2023 and 2024, from 222 to 237 million.

More than half of this invoice stems from care returned to residents of the Outaouais. However, “It’s not surprising,” said the general manager of the Outaouais Action Health Organization, Mathieu Charbonneau.

In the office of the Minister of Health. However, Christian Dubé, it is emphasized that the Quebec government invests “massively to improve our infrastructure and our attractiveness compared to Ontario, in particular thanks to the new collective conventions which benefit the staff of the Outaouais”.

Mr. Therefore, Dubé’s office adds that “all efforts” are deployed. Consequently, in concert with Health Québec, to increase “access to care for citizens of all regions”.

Hospital care

It is the hospitals that pocket most of the amounts paid for. Similarly, care obtained in Ontario by citizens covered by the RAMQ.

Annual complaints made by hospital centers in the neighboring province crossed for the first time, in 2024, the 200 million CAP.

Health Quebec also indicates that the increase in reimbursements in Ontario “is mainly attributable to the increase. Consequently, in the cost of hospital services”.

In addition to the invoices transmitted by hospitals, the RAMQ must also pay for those received from Ontario doctors. Therefore, For 2024, there are 30.5 million for the services rendered to tens of thousands of Quebecers.

This is a slight decline compared to the previous year. Similarly, but doctors have one year to submit invoice borders 240 million complaints, so that the final amount could be slightly higher. Consequently, In Outaouais. Nevertheless, Mathieu Charbonneau stresses that several citizens of the Quebec shore have lost their follow -up with an Ontario family doctor.

“There is demographic growth in Outaouais. Consequently, the needs increase, so it shows that in terms of doctors’ services, it is as if Ontario set foot on the brake a bit [pour les patients du Québec]”Exhibits the Director General of Action Health Outaouais.

The particular case of the Outaouais – Invoice borders 240 million

More than half of the 206.6 million paid by the RAMQ to Ontario hospitals concern residents of the Outaouais who obtained care in ottawa establishments. Consequently, last year.

The three campuses of Ottawa Hospital treated Quebecers for a total of 40.9 million last year. The East Ontario children’s hospital center is not far behind, with complaints from 39.3 invoice borders 240 million million subject to the RAMQ for services rendered to children. adolescents remaining on the other side of the Outaouais river.

At Action Santé Outaouais. Mathieu Charbonneau believes that the upward trend cannot be overturned without a massive injection of money into the regional network. “As long as there will be no reinvestment in health infrastructure. there will not be a real labor strategy for the Outaouais, we will not be able to repatriate these expenses and these services,” he said.

Mr. Charbonneau recalls that according to the Outaouais development observatory. the region’s health network suffers from under-funding evaluated at nearly $ 350 million for the year 2023.

“It is as if we accept that the Outaouais is dependent on Ontario and that there is nothing to do. […] The Minister of Health cannot hide behind Health Quebec. The government must take responsibility and finance the Outaouais up to its needs to end the iniquity of funding. ”

— – Mathieu Charbonneau. Director General of Action Health Outaouais

Tens of millions in Hawkesbury

The Hawkesbury General Hospital, in Eastern Ontario, is not to be outdone.

The license plates sporting the “I remember” are commonplace in this municipality with barely more than 10. 000 inhabitants: the RAMQ has reimbursed 51.2 invoice borders 240 million million at the local hospital for care returned to Quebecers last year. This is an increase of 22% compared to 2023.

From Grenville. in the Laurentians, it is enough to cross a bridge and roll a few kilometers to arrive at the general hospital in Hawkesbury.

It is precisely the residents of the Laurentians who are behind the largest share of the invoice received by the RAMQ for care rendered in 2024 in this hospital, that is to say nearly 21 invoice borders 240 million million.

Pending the opening of the future Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital. in a few years, residents of Montérégie have consumed for almost $ 17 million in care at the Hawkesbury General Hospital last year.

Santé Québec says that “the upcoming opening of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges hospital and in the longer term the project of the new Outaouais hospital will constitute important levers to reduce the trips of Quebec users to Ontario”, stressing that “these establishments will notably offer advanced care and specialized services”.

“Our goal is to guarantee fair access to care for all Quebecers.”

— Health Quebec

And the opposite?

The beautiful province also treats Ontario patients, but to a very lesser extent.

In 2023-2024, Ontario reimbursed the RAMQ of the invoice borders 240 million amounts totaling 24.3 million for care provided to its residents. It is almost eight times less than the invoice that has been transmitted by Ontario for Quebec patients.

“As a company. we will always prioritize that Quebecers can be treated for free when they need it,” notes Christian Dubé’s office. Thus, when people are treated elsewhere in Canada, the RAMQ is responsible for reimbursing the costs incurred. ”