Ontario Clinics Wake Up Call: The Impact Of The US Tariffs on Canadian Healthcare And How We Use It To Our Advantage
The United States President has decided that there will now be tariffs on Canadian goods going to the US. The tariffs are an extreme and concerning political move that are aimed at the very fabric of Canadian sovereignty. As physicians and practice owners, this presents several real threats to our (now) old way of doing business and some amazing opportunities for us to come together and elevate our businesses - and the way healthcare is managed in Canada - into one of our most important examples of Canadian resilience. If Canada isn’t careful and decisive, we may lose our sovereignty… and one of the first things to go will be our healthcare system. Every clinic owner and doctor MUST have their eyes open and adapt quickly, as for the first time in over 100 years, the future of our system remains uncertain.
With economic pressures mounting—tariffs, inflation, and government constraints—it’s clear: running a practice "as usual" is no longer an option.
The good news? There’s a proven way forward: Run your practice like a business!
The Future of Healthcare is Business-Driven
For too long, clinics have operated reactively, hoping OHIP, the OMA and insurers would provide stability. That’s over. To thrive in today’s reality, clinics must take a page out of our American friends books, and start to act like businesses:
Optimize Revenue – Maximize OHIP and all insured billing, capture every dollar you’re owed, and leverage alternative income streams.
Reduce Waste & Costs – Cut inefficiencies and cost centers, streamline operations, and stop losing money on outdated processes.
Diversify Income – Add private-pay services, strategic partnerships, and new revenue models that secure financial freedom.
Clinics That Make This Shift Will Win
The clinics that embrace this strategy will thrive. Those that don’t may struggle until bought by those who choose to run better. But we will see a wave of clinics struggle in the next year either way… so many of them are still recovering from COVID and just don’t have the profit margins or balance sheets to deal with rising supply and input costs.
What we are telling clients, and what we are doing for clients
The economic landscape is shifting, and the old way of running a clinic won’t cut it anymore.
Streamline Operations And Costs
Stop leaving OHIP money on the table! Billing agents and our Claims Concierge may have sounded expensive before, but relative to the value of your time and the value of maximum revenue coming in, it’s time to revisit who bills and how you bill.
Structure your lists and bookings properly! Think through your structure and set up your EMR schedule templates to optimize your flow and your premium values. If your admin team won’t book patients where the practice needs them to be, let us know. We have a system that can help.
Cut inefficiencies – Every dollar wasted is a dollar lost. From administrators that aren’t reliable and don’t put the practice first, to finance people who aren’t running proper procurement of your supplies, AI and other technology make a lot of the administration you’ve been struggling with so much easier. If you’re not sure where to start with this, us know. We have a system that can help.
Diversify income – Private pay & partnerships are the future in Canadian healthcare. We don’t want to admit it and we’re all fighting hard for our system, but our system costs a ton and is still leaving doctors and patients coming up short. It’s time to find more work and opportunities at OMA rates. If you’re not sure where to start, let us know.
Clinics that treat themselves like businesses will survive.
Clinic Survival Q&A: How Ontario Clinics Can Stay Profitable
Q: How can Ontario medical clinics survive economic changes?
A: Ontario clinics must shift from passive management to business-driven strategies. This means maximizing OHIP billing, optimizing appointments and clinical lists, cutting inefficiencies, and adding private-pay services to offset rising costs and ensure profitability.
Q: How can doctors increase their clinic revenue in Ontario?
A: Revenue growth starts with optimizing OHIP billing, leveraging new fee codes, reducing claim denials, and diversifying income streams like private consultations and specialized services.
Q: How do I run my medical practice like a business?
A: Treating your clinic like a business means tracking key metrics (profitability, patient volume, overhead), reducing admin waste, and investing in tools and services that increase revenue and efficiency.
Q: What are the best ways to optimize OHIP billing?
A: Clinics lose thousands every year due to incorrect OHIP billing. Working with an expert consultant like Physicians First ensures every claim is coded correctly, resubmissions are handled, and revenue is maximized.
Q: How can Ontario doctors make more money?
A: Beyond OHIP, doctors can offer private services, expand partnerships, reduce operational costs, and use data-driven decisions to improve efficiency.
