Trends in payments among male and female ophthalmologists in Ontario from 1992 to 2018.

OBJECTIVE To examine sex differences in Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) payments from 1992 to 2018. DESIGN Population-based observational study. PARTICIPANTS Ophthalmologists submitting claims to OHIP from 1992 to 2018. METHODS Physician billing data over 27 years (1992-2018) were analyzed for yearly number of ophthalmologists, OHIP payments, distinct patients, and patient visits. RESULTS Yearly median OHIP payments to female ophthalmologists were less than to male ophthalmologists with a gap ratio of 0.55 in 1992 to 0.73 in 2018. Stratifying by full-time equivalent (FTE), there was little difference in median payments between males and females for 1 FTE. Median female-to-male payments ratio varied from 0.80 to 1.16 for 1 FTE from 1992 to 2018. Among female ophthalmologists, 72.7% and 52.9% were 1 FTE in 1992 and 2018, respectively. In comparison, for male ophthalmologists, 35.7% and 45.6% were 1 FTE in 1992 and 2018, respectively. Overall, male ophthalmologists had more patients and patient visits than female ophthalmologists, but there was little difference between male and female ophthalmologists for 1 and >1 FTE. The results for 1 FTE females, and higher payments for >1 FTE males.