Chatham ophthalmologist, Dr. Christopher Anjema, faces allegations of misconduct for billing the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) $4.1 million in the 2017-2018 fiscal year and $31.4 million since 2011.
He has been sent a notice to appear before the disciplinary tribunal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Dr. Anjema is also under certain practice restrictions while the college investigates his “standard of practice.”
According to the college, Dr. Anjema allegedly made inappropriate submissions of claims to OHIP and inappropriate orders for tests and investigations. The college says this behavior is disgraceful, dishonorable or unprofessional.
Dr. Anjema stated in an email that the OHIP billings do not reflect his income. The email said these billings are used to pay for overhead costs, which include staff salaries (24 in total), rental fees for his two offices in Chatham and Sarnia, and cutting-edge technical equipment that requires regular upgrades and replacement.
He recently wrote a Facebook post saying the questions from the college will be answered properly in the hearing process.
A recent report from The Toronto Star publicized the names of the highest-billing physicians in the region, including Dr. Anjema. A total of 19 doctors from Windsor and Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton counties made the list of Top 100 billers.
The paper’s investigation began after a Freedom of Information request five years ago for Ministry of Health data. The request was fought by the Ontario Medical Association all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in the paper’s favor.
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