Manulife Requests Massage Therapy Members' Information

As many of you know, NHPC has been in conversations with Manulife regarding their recent policy change requesting NHPC Massage Therapy members’ information. NHPC continues to look for solutions to this issue that will meet the needs of all parties. In the meantime, please ensure that you are complying with Manulife policies.

Manulife has requested that NHPC Massage Therapy members send in the following:

• Description of your schooling
• Copy of your diploma
• Description of continuing education
• Number of years of hands on experience within your practice

Manulife has requested that this information comes from the NHPC member. Due to privacy legislation, NHPC is not able to provide this information to Manulife on your behalf.

These documents are to be sent to:

Manulife Financial
Technical Services Department GB-A
Re: NHPC Practitioner Eligibility
380 Weber Street N
Waterloo, ON N2J 3J3

Fax: 519-883-0761
Email: ehc.wat.referrals@manulife.com

Questions regarding the information required can be directed to Manulife at 519-747-7000 ext. 238109.

In order to save your clients the inconvenience of having their claims rejected by Manulife, we encourage NHPC Massage Therapy members to be proactive and send this information to Manulife so that an assessment can be done to determine eligibility.

Read the Manulife Letter to NHPC

 

City of Saskatoon Will No Longer Restrict Use of "RMT"

This fall, NHPC members in Saskatchewan were urged to help create a change and a reversal of the City of Saskatoon Business Licensing restriction on the use of RMT. Members were urged to take action and stop the misuse of official mark registrations in an attempt to control health-care regulation in non-regulated provinces.

We are pleased to report that your voice was heard and the City of Saskatoon has removed any restriction on the use of "RMT" in massage business license applications. The City of Saskatoon will now only provide massage business licenses to massage therapists who are members of either the NHPC or MTAS with no restrictions on the use of RMT.

Letter from the City of Saskatoon

Dear Paul and Colleen,

I want to thank you for meeting with us a few weeks ago. The exchange of information was extremely helpful and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future.

We would like to reiterate that we are committed to maintaining the integrity of businesses performing massage. As such, we will continue to license only those businesses as massage (either in their business name and/or description) which have provided proof that they are certified in the field (either through MTAS or NHPC); in accordance with our License Bylaw No. 6066. Those who are not affiliated with either organization will not be permitted to use massage in their name or description.

As discussed, in order to ensure that those permitted to perform massage are licensed accordingly, we would like to be notified if any member of your organization is no longer a member or is not in good standing. Upon such notification, we will advise the licensee that they are not permitted to hold a license using the terms “massage,” and we will suspend the license within 30 days if they have not provided new proof of qualification.

With regards to the use of the Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) designation, the City of Saskatoon does not enforce or regulate trademarks, designations or titles for any other profession or business, and, as such, will not regulate the use of the term RMT on business licenses for those licensed to do massage. In other words, applicants who are approved for massage (members in good standing with MTAS or NHPC) will be able to use the term RMT if they wish, as the City of Saskatoon has no jurisdiction regulating such trademarks or titles. This is in line with the way other professions are licensed by the City – for example, we do not regulate the use of CA or M.D. designations, as these are the responsibility of the respective trademark holder or professional association.

As mentioned during our meeting, the City of Saskatoon licenses businesses to ensure compliance with the Zoning Bylaw and land-use regulations. While a business license is required for any business operating in the City, it does not verify the quality of work performed or control the use of designations or business trademarks (and the use of such trademarks on business correspondence).

Based on this reasoning, we trust that you are in agreement with our decision. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

City of Edmonton Changes "Massage Parlour" Bylaw

Over the past year, NHPC has been in discussions with the City of Edmonton on the revision of their "Massage Parlour Regulation" and had proposed that the City of Edmonton adopt NHPC's "collaborative model". In the past, NHPC members have been lumped in the same category as exotic dancers and escorts when applying for business licenses.

The Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) works with municipal administrators and elected officials to ensure the advancement of professions represented by the NHPC.

NHPC has been proposing that municipalities across Canada adopt a "Collaborative Model for Business Licensing of Natural Health Care". This municipal "collaborative model" provides the best possible public protection by capturing the recognition of all professionals working as natural health practitioners—including those who are members of a regulatory college and those who are members of a municipally recognized professional association.

Additionally, as it should be, the "collaborative model" removes municipalities from the responsibility of "credentialing" professionals and places that responsibility with regulatory bodies or associations.

To date (October 2011), the City of Toronto and City of Brantford have adopted this "collaborative model" and we are pleased to add the City of Edmonton to this growing list.

The NHPC's "collaborative model" has now been passed by Edmonton City Council , meaning that NHPC members in Edmonton, AB, will no longer be licensed in the same way as exotic dancers and escorts, as of January 1, 2012.

The new bylaw has separate business license categories and regulations for authentic health enhancement practitioners and adult-oriented services, to reflect the reality that these require different legislation. Authentic health enhancement services include all 65 modalities recognized by NHPC.

Health enhancement practitioners and centres would have to demonstrate good standing in either our NHPC or the Massage Therapist Association of Alberta.

Body-rub (or non-health related) practitioners and centers would include everyone that does not have good standing in either of the two recognized associations, including those providing adult-oriented service.

This is very exciting news for NHPC and its members, because it means that the City of Edmonton has trusted NHPC to validate authenticity of its members as qualified health care professionals. Because NHPC has requirements to become a member, including a detailed application, criminal record check, graduation from a recognized school or program, and mandatory compliance with the Continued Competency Program (CCP), it is in the position to qualify members as healthcare professionals.

When applying for business licenses in the City of Edmonton under "Health Enhancement Practitioner", there will not be a significant change in fees. NHPC members are no longer required to submit criminal record checks as the city recognizes these are required for NHPC membership.

The road to legitimacy for natural healthcare practitioners is a long one, and overcoming this major hurdle is a big step in the right direction. Finally, in the eyes of the City of Edmonton, NHPC members are legitimate healthcare workers. As of January 1st, 2012, members will no longer be subject to being classified along with "massage parlour" businesses.

For more information, contact Bobbi Palynchuck at rpalynchuck@nhpcanada.org  or by phone at 780-484-2010 or (toll-free) 1-888-711-7701.

For additional information, see Professional Service Businesses on the City of Edmonton’s website.

SunLife Now Accepting MTCAP Approved Members

Sunlife is now accepting claims for NHPC MTCAP approved members, as well as resubmissions from clients retroactively to their NHPC MTCAP approval date. If you are an NHPC MTCAP approved member and have had client claims rejected, you are advised to re-submit these claims to SunLife for approval.

NHPC continues to make progress with other insurance providers and will continue to update you on progress.

If you are a massage therapist with less than 2200 formal training hours, are CCP compliant, and have about two years of clinical Massage Therapy practice, you are encouraged to apply for MTCAP approval.

To apply for MTCAP approval, review the Self-Assessment Tool and then submit a Review Application Form to the NHPC by mail or fax. 

NOTE: MTCAP does not apply in provinces that have regulated Massage Therapy (BC, Ontario, Newfoundland & Labrador). In those provinces, regulatory colleges determine the standards for Massage Therapy.

If you have any questions about MTCAP, please contact us at growingtogether@nhpcanada.org or by phone at (toll free) at 1-888-711-7701.

Use of "RMT" in Non-Regulated Provinces

Saskatchewan and Manitoba members of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) have reported receiving strongly worded correspondence from the Massage Therapy Association of Saskatchewan (MTAS) and the Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba (MTAM) identifying that use of the letters "RMT" must be discontinued under threat of legal action.

At the heart of the issue is the MTAS and MTAM $100 purchase of a “trademark” license from the College of Massage Therapy Ontario (CMTO). NHPC members and other organizations across Canada regularly use terms related to massage therapy including "RMT".

Few jurisdictions in Canada regulate the titles massage therapists may use to describe themselves. Saskatchewan and Manitoba do not regulate the titles that massage therapists may use to describe themselves.

Legal advice and opinion secured by the NHPC states "…in our view the official marks of the CMTO are not valid and enforceable." Therefore, the extended use of the CMTO trademark license by MTAS and MTAM, through license or otherwise, is not valid or enforceable in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

NHPC acknowledges the stress and strain that the MTAS action has caused Saskatchewan members and encourages practitioners to continue with their daily activities as before and maintain contact with their Association.

View NHPC's bulletin to NHPC Manitoba members on this issue.

View NHPC's letter to NHPC Saskatchewan members on this issue.