Competency Equivalency Exam Applicant Handbook Updated
Practial Examination Information Now Included

The details of the Competency Equivalency Exam (CEE) practical component have been finalized and the CEE Applicant Handbook has been updated with this information.

The updates let candidates know what to expect during the CEE practical and include important information on examination protocols and processes. CEE candidates should review these carefully, as they can affect their ability to complete the examination.

When the practical component locations and dates are confirmed, candidates who have completed the written component will receive an email inviting them to reserve a seat through their Test Run Online (TRO) account.

Candidates will need to bring another person with them to the CEE Practical to act as their Standardized Client for demonstration of different techniques and assessments during the exam.

The CEE FAQ has answers to many CEE questions. Additional questions can be directed to Scott Habkirk, CEE Coordinator, at shabkirk@nhpcanada.org or 1-888-711-7701 ext. 236.

Volunteers Needed to Act as Standardized Clients for the CEE Practical Exam

We're looking for members to volunteer as Standardized Clients for the Competency Equivalency Exam (CEE) Practical component.  Volunteers must be either:

• non-massage therapists, or
• massage therapists with at least 2,200 hours of initial education.

We need volunteers for both Edmonton and Calgary where the testing facilities are located.

Volunteer Standardized Clients must:

• be 18 or over;
• be of able body and able mind;
• not have chronic conditions/diseases that may impair your ability to assess;
• not be eligible or planning to take the CEE themselves.

Standardized Clients will be given instructions at the test centres before the CEE Practical and cannot communicate with candidates at all during the exam. Any attempt to communicate will be deemed cheating and the candidate will be disqualified from the exam.

Volunteers will be responsible for their own transportation to the exam venues and will be notified of being needed 24 hours before the exam takes place.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact CEE Coordinator, Scott Habkirk, at shabkirk@nhpcanada.org  or 1-888-711-7701 ext. 236.

Insurance Industry Update
Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross CEE Exemption Processes

Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross have now completed developing their respective processes for exempting NHPCA massage therapists from having to challenge the Competency Equivalency Examination (CEE) in order to demonstrate substantial equivalence to the 2,200-hour training standard.

Please note that both insurers have extended their May 1, 2013, implementation deadlines, allowing NHPCA practitioners time to complete both exemption application processes. The Alberta Blue Cross deadline will now be August 1, 2013; Sun Life’s will be September 1, 2013.

Alberta Blue Cross has also reduced their acceptance criteria from that which was previously communicated.  Please see the below sections for how this impacts you:

What does this mean for me and my exemption options?
What is the process for applying for exemptions?
How do these announcements impact claims that are currently in progress?
If I have not yet challenged the CEE, but am interested in doing so, how do these changes impact me?
How does this relate to the Temporary Acceptance notification NHPCA sent out on April 3, 2013?

What does this mean for me and my exemption options?

Sun Life

If Manulife exempted you from challenging the CEE, you should consider applying to Sun Life, as both insurers have adopted the same exemption criteria. If you were declined by Manulife, you may still apply to Sun Life for an exemption; however your application is not likely to be approved.

Alberta Blue Cross

Alberta Blue Cross has now communicated to the NHPCA that its standards will be more restrictive than those required by Manulife and Sun Life. Previously, the Alberta-based health-benefits provider had agreed to accept a listing that included everyone exempted by Manulife; now, because they must administer their own exemption process rather than rely on an existing listing, they have reduced their criteria to three broad categories. They describe their categories as follows.

Exemption criteria: If you do not qualify for the Alberta Blue Cross massage therapy eligibility requirements by August 1, 2013, you may be considered, if you meet one of the criteria listed below.

• You have an active membership in good standing with an association recognized by Alberta Blue Cross, regardless of hours of training, and have held prior membership with a regulatory college where massage therapy is provincially regulated.
• You have an active membership in good standing with an association recognised by Alberta Blue Cross, regardless of hours of training, and have held prior membership with an association that required 2,200 hours of formal education or the 2,200-hour equivalent.
• You have an active membership in good standing since December 31, 2004, with an association recognized by Alberta Blue Cross and have at least 1,000 hours of formal education.

If you have any questions on these categories, or require further details, please contact Alberta Blue Cross at:

• 780-969-2858 (Edmonton and area)
• 1-866-969-2858 (toll free)

Given the deadline is now August 1, 2013, the NHCPA has more time to negotiate. In the meantime, and up until the August 1, 2013, deadline, all members will continue to be recognised for reimbursement by Alberta Blue Cross.
return to top

What is the process for applying for exemptions?

Sun Life

While Sun Life will continue reimbursing NHPCA massage therapists with no changes to requirements until September 1, 2013, anyone wanting the CEE exemption must submit the required documentation by July 31, 2013. Sun Life asks that you provide:

• copies of your diplomas or educational certificates documenting training and education;
• documentation of any continuing education or training (including copies of any diplomas or certificates);
• a record of relevant employment/work history; and,
• copies of any existing CEE exemption approval letters you may have received from any other insurance carrier.

Submit the above documentation by:

• scanning your documents (JPG/PDF formats) and e-mailing the files to spector@sunlife.com. Please include the following subject line: CEE Exemption Request [plus your full name and NHPCA membership number]; or,
• faxing your documents to 1-855-208-6032. Your fax cover sheet should be titled CEE Exemption Request, and must include your full name, your NHPCA membership number, and a valid mailing address.

Alberta Blue Cross

For full details regarding the Alberta Blue Cross exemption process, or to obtain an application form, please call:

• 780-969-2858 (Edmonton and area)
• 1-866-969-2858 (toll free)

Alberta Blue Cross asks that you provide only documentation listed in its application forms; please do not include any exemption letters received from other insurers.
return to top

How do these announcements impact claims that are currently in progress?

Any NHPCA massage therapy member whose claims are currently being approved by Alberta Blue Cross will maintain that coverage eligibility uninterrupted until August 1, 2013; eligibility with Sun Life will continue until September 1, 2013.

Any NHPCA massage therapy member who was not previously eligible with Sun Life remains ineligible until such time as you have completed either 2,200 hours of recognised, Canadian massage therapy training or successfully challenged the CEE.
return to top

If I have not yet challenged the CEE, but am interested in doing so, how do these changes impact me?

If you have not yet had a chance to challenge the CEE, you now have a bit more time to prepare and successfully complete the exam. As long as you pass both the written and practical portions by August 1, 2013, you will retain your eligibility with Alberta Blue Cross; you will have until September 1, 2013, to retain Sun Life acceptance. Furthermore, as soon as you finish the CEE, you will regain your standing with Manulife.

For more information about the CEE, please visit www.nhpcanada.org/cee.
return to top

How does this relate to the Temporary Acceptance notification NHPCA sent out on April 3, 2013?

It doesn’t; the dates and timing are coincidental. If you complete the written portion of the CEE prior to May 1, 2013, you will have until August 1, 2013, to complete the practical while still retaining eligibility with Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross.
return to top

Insurance Industry Open House Event

An Insurance Industry update has now been posted in the 'Members Only' section of the website, including a summary of the Open House events and additional information from Alberta Blue Cross, as received Friday, February 8th.

To view this update, which now includes a recording of the online webinar:

1. log in to your NHPC member account
2. click the down arrow beside your name to expand your user menu
3. click Insurance Industry Updates in your user menu to view the update

Insurance Industry Update for Massage Therapists

A number of insurance companies, including Manulife, Sun Life, and Alberta Blue Cross, have agreed that successfully challenging the Continued Competency Exam (CEE) will constitute substantial equivalence to the "2,200-hour standard."

In addition, Manulife has now adopted criteria exempting some massage therapists who lack 2,200 hours of formal training from having to challenge the CEE. This exemption is based on a combination of factors, including years of professional experience, education, and affiliation with certain massage therapy associations. Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross have now also formally adopted Manulife’s criteria.

Exemption Process for Manulife, Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross

Manulife
Manulife's exemption application process consists of contacting the insurer, requesting the relevant form, and then completing and submitting this form to:

• P: (519) 747-7000 ext. 238109
• F: (519) 883-0761
• E: ehc.wat.referrals@manulife.com

Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross
To assist us in developing an exemption process that will work with Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross, we ask that you send us a copy of your Manulife CEE exemption letter to:

•  F: 780-484-3605
•  E: emorin@nhpcanada.org

As part of this process, please do not send your exemption application form to the NHPCA. All applications should be sent directly to Manulife through the process outlined above. The NHPCA only requires a copy of the letter from Manulife exempting you from the CEE requirements.

The NHPCA is working with Sun Life and Alberta Blue Cross to develop a process that will lead to their formal recognition of CEE-exempt practitioners.  Our goal is to provide you with an approach that is simple and requires minimal action on your part.

As soon as we have an approved process in place we will notify you and include an update on the NHPCA website.

Other Insurers
We continue to negotiate on behalf of all our practitioners with the entire health benefit insurance sector.

With respect to recognition of NHPCA members in non-regulated provinces, most insurers recognize you on the basis of your membership with us, and deal directly with us in the event there are any questions regarding your credentials. As always, we will keep you abreast of any specific industry changes as we learn of them.

Criminal Record Check Random Audit of Edmonton Members

NHPCA members based in Edmonton, Alberta, are being selected at random to supply their Criminal Record Check (CRC) as a part of a biannual audit in accordance with a service level agreement that we hold with the City of Edmonton.

If you are selected for this random audit, you will receive a letter and an email notifying you about the audit and what your next steps are.

If you are due for renewal this spring and selected for the audit, you will need to submit your Criminal Record Check (CRC) or receipt of CRC along with your renewal application by April 30, 2013. We will not be able to process your renewal application without your CRC or receipt for CRC, if you are selected for the Criminal Record Check audit.

You don't need to submit your CRC, if you have not received a letter stating that you are being audited.

Both your renewal form and your Criminal Record Check (or receipt for your Criminal Record Check) must be submitted, if you are being audited and renewing this spring.

You have two options on how to submit your renewal and Criminal Record Check:

• send both forms by post to:
  Natural Health Practitioners of Canada Association
  6th Floor
  10339 124 ST NW
  Edmonton, AB T5N 3W1
  or
• fax both copies to 780-484-3605, attention: Paul Donovan.

For any questions, you are welcome to contact the NHPCA Renewal Coordinator, Paul Donovan, by email at pdonovan@nhpcanada.org or by phone at 1-888-711-7701 ext. 222.