Alberta Health Care Cuts to Eye Care Funding – Important Update
We are reaching out to share an important update on recent changes to Alberta Health Care (AHC) funding of eye care services, and how this will affect you.
As you may have heard, AHC suddenly announced reductions in reimbursement rates for essential eye care services earlier this month. These cuts come after nearly a decade without any inflationary adjustments to reimbursement rates, leaving them far below the actual cost of providing care. They further reduce the sustainability of providing you and your family with the care you deserve.
Our Commitment to You
As you know, at MVO we are committed to delivering exceptional eye care using the latest technology. To continue to provide you with these services, and considering the recent cuts to government eye care funding, we will be introducing the following fees effective February 1, 2025:
- Partial, Medical or Follow-up Exam: $35
- Follow-up exam with diagnostic imaging: $65
We understand that this change may be unexpected, and we apologize for any inconvenience it may cause. We have made every effort to keep these fees as minimal as possible, but at a level that allows us to continue to provide the elevated standard of care you expect at MVO.
Comprehensive annual eye exams for children and seniors continue to be partially subsidized under AHC – for these services, our fees remain at $35 for children’s exams and $85 for senior’s exams.
Your Voice Matters
If you are concerned about these changes, we encourage you to contact your local Legislative Assembly (MLA) member to express your views. Your feedback highlights the impact of healthcare funding decisions on patient care.
Find Your MLA:
You can find your MLA's contact information by visiting the Legislative Assembly of Alberta's website:
Contact Us
If you have any questions or require further information about the new fee structure, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Written by Dr. Tom Wilk
About the Author:
Dr. Tom Wilk sees patients at his Cochrane location primarily. He developed the “Patient First” approach now adopted by all Doctors and staff at Mountain View Optometry. He obtained his Doctor of Optometry (OD) from the Michigan College of Optometry in 1994, and his B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo. A native of Toronto, Ontario, he came to Alberta in 1998, attracted by the opportunity to start an optometry practice in the only province that allowed ODs to practice within the full scope of their training.
