OATA TOWN HALL QUESTIONS

TRANSPARENCY MEANS ASK US YOUR QUESTIONS

Post Town Hall Q&As

During and after the OATA Town Hall on June 1, 2017, the following questions were asked by members. The OATA took the time to compile a list of questions that members had and answer them thoroughly below.

1. Is the OATA involved in revenue-splitting on the e-learning concussion module?

No, the OATA is not involved in a revenue split on the mdBriefCase e-learning module program. We did secure a discount for OATA members as a result of the Association partnering on content. We also secured a discount that ATs can extend to referral sources such as doctors who, as a result of taking the e-course, might better appreciate why referring a concussion patient to the local AT is sound practice. The e-learning module is being marketed by mdBriefCase primarily to family physicians.

If the Association had several hundred ATs and their referrals register and take the program there could be a financial credit to the Association, but the likelihood of that is remote and not a factor in the partnership. mdBriefCase could have created this e-learning module with chiropractors or physiotherapists or even sports medicine doctors.

The fact the OATA secured the opportunity to showcase the AT expert approach to concussion management should be acknowledged as a positive. This is a clear display of the OATA meeting its mandate to promote the profession and to advance real opportunities that benefit members.

2. Is it legal for a not-for-profit organization such as the OATA to enter into a venture with a for-profit organization?

Yes, it is legal for not-for-profit organizations to enter into partnerships and programs with for- profit organizations. In fact, most Associations actively seek out non-member fee revenue sources to cover costs and provide member benefits and services. This is true for the CATA and the OATA. The OATA has other partnerships that result in discounted or free offerings for members through GoodLife Fitness, FH Match, HEXFIT, Practice Perfect, Hilton Hotels and others under negotiation.

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We offered, but there was no member uptake, discounts from partnerships with discount car rentals and a limited uptake for home & car insurance with fabulous discounts. We keep trying!

3. What would happen if 50 ATs now registered with the CKO (R.Kin. ATs) did not renew their registration? Impact on OATA?

Why would 50 ATs who sought and successfully secured registration with the CKO abandon this professional certification? Currently, there are 350 ATs registered with the CKO and another 110 ATs registered with other RHPA Colleges (RMT, Chiro, PT, etc.). If the AT registrant numbers were to decline significantly with the CKO there would be less likelihood the CKO would consider the Specialty application, etc. Why would the early champions of RHPA regulation abandon this important pursuit at this critical time?

4. Why does the OATA promote the “benefits” of regulation or CKO registration and not the negatives?

What would be the negatives of being registered with an RHPA College? Sorry to answer a question with a question, but professionally this makes little sense. Every one of our rehab competitors is regulated – physio, chiros, PTs, OTs, RMTs, Kins. Each has figured out how to advance their practices by engaging in government-funded programs and work with EHB covered clients. Each has learned to annually write-off fees (income tax) associated with membership in the regulatory Colleges as well as their national and provincial professional associations.

At the Town Hall, there was a question of whether or not Kins are “tax-exempt”. As mentioned there at repeated now, no they are not currently HST exempt. The rule is if a health care profession is regulated in three provinces it can be HST exempt. It is our understanding that in addition to Ontario where Kins have achieved regulation, they are seeking regulation in British Columbia and Manitoba. From an Athletic Therapy perspective, the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba are leading a similar challenge to HST and PriceWaterhouseCoopers has been retained by the CATA to bring the HST matter forward to the Ministry of Finance.

5. How can ATs who are CKO registered benefit financially?

There are many financial benefits to being registered with an RHPA College. Third Party Insurance coverage requires the health professional to be registered with an RHPA college. Government-funded programs valued in the millions of dollars are only accessible to registered health care practitioners and these additional billing options represent significant financial benefits at an AT practice.

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Thanks to being regulated, Athletic Therapists are now covered under the Elementary Teachers’ EHB, something this Association achieved for its members. There 80,000+ Ontario elementary teachers that have the potential to use AT services now.

6. Why does the OATA get pushing ATs to be involved in data collection through Programs of Care when most ATs do not treat WSIB clients and do not want to?

Ontario functions within an evidence-based practice construct. Yes, the Association has bene promoting engagement in programs of care data collection for 5 years or more. The models were developed by the WSIB, but are a standard benchmark now for third party insurers and others working to measure efficacy and outcomes of health care practitioners. Not being part of this data collection inhibits that ability to promote the profession, have ATs measure up against other rehab professionals and handicap the Association’s ability to secure new billing opportunities for ATs. The issue of data collection and programs of care is far greater than whether or not an AT wants to treat WSIB patients. By the way, physiotherapists alone billed more than $26 million under the WSIB programs last year. It is not an under-funded program.

7. How do Millennial ATs wanting leadership roles in the OATA get involved in the Association?

Over half the current OATA Board of Directors are millennials and we are thrilled to see this leadership emerge in the Association at the Board and at the District leadership levels. The Association does have a leadership development plan and one of the best ways to advance a young leader is through Board Committee work and/or activities and engagement at the District level. There are lots of opportunities.

8. Does the OATA have a succession plan?

Yes, the OATA does have a succession plan. The engagement of next generation (Millennials) leaders is part of that plan and appears to be taking hold. Anyone interested in having a leadership role in the OATA is encouraged, welcomed and will be mentored.

9. When will the Districts start engaging members more through communication, events, and activities?

The Districts were established last summer. We see development of the Districts as a three-year process which is an organizational norm. District Co-Leaders are briefed within days of every Board meeting, are coming to Toronto to participate in the annual Board retreat and this year –

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year 2 – are being provided training and a range of tools to help start mobilizing the Districts with events, meetings and more communication including District Facebook pages, etc. Stay tuned and don’t be passive. Anyone wanting to help grow their District activities contact your Leader or District Liaison, Clare Richard. There is more on the Districts in the summer issue of the e-publication REACH.

10. Does the OATA recruit ATs for the CKO Council and how do ATs on Council advance the profession?

The CKO functions in the public interest. Any professional Council members – Kins or ATs – do not sit on the CKO Council representing their Associations. We are pleased a number of our R.Kin. ATs have stepped up for the previous and now for the upcoming CKO elections. We have no OATA recruitment process. We do not direct CKO Council members who are ATs. There are three professional associations engaged in CKO matters and the OATA is pleased to attend a regular meeting with them and the CKO Registrar. The result of these interactions is very good professional exchanges without risk of conflict of interest or inappropriate influence.

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Town Hall Q&As

At the OATA Town Hall on June 1, 2017, the following questions and answers were presented to the membership. The questions were also posted on the AGM 2017 section of the OATA webpage for members to access.

11. How can I make more money as an Athletic Therapist?

One of the reasons the OATA pursued regulation on behalf of the AT profession was to increase the revenue-making potential for members and ensure potential scope expansion for the profession. Research has established beyond a doubt that the income of regulated professionals is substantially higher than that of unregulated professionals. Being a member of a College under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA) instantly opens new revenue streams, such as WSIB worker claimants, and makes it easier to convince EHB insurers, employers and unions to extend coverage to Athletic Therapy.

To help introduce OATA members who are CKO registrants to the many funded programs now accessible to them as RHPA registrants, the OATA Board has organized a number of sessions with experts in specific fields and program areas. These workshops were designed to share specifics on revenue-generating practice opportunities for Athletic Therapists. Interest and participation in these sessions by members has been disappointing and all workshops to date had to be cancelled.

12. Why do Athletic Therapists not have coverage under more 3rd part insurance providers?

Please see response to Question #11.

13. What is the OATA doing to find more 3rd party insurance coverage for Athletic Therapists?

Achieving the opportunity for the registration of ATs within the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario and encouraging as many ATs to register as possible were motivated, in part, to facilitate more EHB insurers covering Athletic Therapists. Experience is clear that insurance companies feel more comfortable covering regulated professionals.

Nearly all insurance companies are national, or at least provide coverage in more than one province and territory. Accordingly, insurance companies (usually through the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association) deal with national healthcare associations on matters of coverage and billing issues. CLHIA has regular contact with the Health Action Lobby (HEAL) which is a

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national advocacy group for healthcare associations, based in Ottawa. The OATA has encouraged CATA to join HEAL.

The OATA does work with EHB insurers to acquaint them with the benefits of Athletic Therapy and to encourage them to provide coverage, either specifically or as part of their paramedic or allied health care coverage---and we have achieved some successes. To be more successful, however, we need data from the profession to demonstrate that the treatments provided by Athletic Therapists are at least as cost-effective as those provided by other professions. The OATA Board has expended considerable resources in creating programs that would generate the comparative data required. The Board has been disappointed and frustrated, however, at the lack of support and participation from the membership.

14. Can Athletic Therapists do acupuncture?

After being exempted from the controlled act provisions of the Regulated Health Professions Act for many years, acupuncture is now part of the controlled act of "performing procedures below the dermis". Lawful performance of the controlled act is reserved for a number of professions including medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, chiropractic, dentistry, dental hygiene, massage therapy, chiropody, podiatry and, of course, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Athletic Therapists who are members of any of those Colleges and who fulfill the College requirements may lawfully perform acupuncture. Acupuncture is not authorized for members of the College of Kinesiologists. Athletic Therapists, who are competent to do so but are not members of any of the Colleges for whom acupuncture is authorized, may lawfully perform acupuncture under delegation from a practitioner authorized to perform acupuncture if that practitioner's College authorizes delegation.

15. Are Athletic Therapists regulated in Ontario?

It's complicated, because the Regulated Health Professions Act regulates practitioners, not professions. For example, one can practise "physiotherapy" without being registered with the College of Physiotherapists. Registration with a College is required if one wishes to use the protected titles reserved for that profession and/or perform the controlled acts authorized for that profession.

"Athletic Therapy" is not regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act. Individual Athletic Therapists who fulfill the eligibility requirements can be and are regulated as members of other Colleges (e.g. Chiropractic, Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy). The College of Kinesiologists has authorized ATs who register with that College to identify themselves "Athletic

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Therapists" and to use their CAT (C) certifications and designations, along with the "RKin" designation.

If the OATA is successful in having the CKO establish a specialty or a class of members within the CKO for Athletic Therapists (i.e. practitioners certified by CATA), Athletic Therapists will then the regulated.

Bear in mind, however, that many ATs (for valid and legitimate reasons) do not wish to be regulated. Accordingly, we have to be careful about maintaining voluntary registration.

16. Why regulation? What are the benefits of regulation?

Some years ago, the OATA Board made the strategic decision that without regulation the Athletic Therapy profession would wither away and die in Ontario. The CATA Board came to the same strategic decision. Regulation makes it easier to obtain third party insurance coverage. It makes it easier (and usually cheaper) to acquire malpractice insurance. It facilitates referrals, delegations and assignments for treatment from members of other professions. It helps ATs to integrate with interprofessional healthcare teams, which are the way of the future. It contributes to the professionalism of members and to maintaining and enhancing standards of care. It allows the profession to be engaged in discussions with governments and other professions where decisions about healthcare delivery, healthcare policy and healthcare funding are made. In some circumstances, regulation supports title protection.

17. What about title protection?

Limited title protection has been provided already within the College of Kinesiologists in that only those members of the CKO who are Athletic Therapists may call themselves Athletic Therapists. Once a specialty for Athletic Therapists is established within the CKO, title protection can be achieved by any one of three mechanisms. Which mechanism is selected will depend on the outcome of negotiations among the CKO, CATA and the OATA.

Once a class of members is created for Athletic Therapists, the title will be statutorily protected and only members of that class of members will be able to use the title.

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18. Once Athletic Therapy is a specialty under the CKO, will I need to be registered with the College of Kinesiologists to practise Athletic Therapy?

Please see the response to #17 above. Depending upon which mechanism is agreed to among the CKO, CATA and the OATA, use of the title may or may not be exclusive to members of the specialty.

19. What are the future plans for regulation under the CKO for Athletic Therapists? Timelines?

Registration with the CKO started with grandparenting. That window to registration closed on April 1, 2016. ATs can now join the CKO by application that includes sitting the entrance exam. The focus for the AT profession now is to have its application for an AT Specialty under the CKO considered. That process is underway now.

20. Why do I need to do peer and practice assessments under the CKO?

It's all part of being a regulated professional. For all 26 professions regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, the Act requires peer and practice assessments of randomly selected members by the College.

21. Why does the OATA not offer maternity/paternity leave?

It does. Maternity and paternity leave, plus other valid reasons for taking a leave of absence, are covered under the Inactive Category of membership. One must petition the Board of Directors specifying their reason for being granted inactive membership.

22. Is it a good idea to switch to ‘Inactive Membership’ status when I am taking time off for various reasons?

It really depends on your own personal situation and your reasons for requesting Inactive membership status. Bear in mind that while being an Inactive Member, one cannot use the title "Athletic Therapist" or one's CATA Certifications, or hold oneself out as providing " Athletic Therapy" while providing or offering to provide healthcare in Ontario.

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