What does a professional association do for the public and for its member?

When we consult a health professional whether it is for a relaxation massage, an Orthotherapy treatment, or any other treatment, how can we know if the treatments received will be re-imboursed by our insurance? Here is a question that will have multiple answers.

The first thing to do is ask to assure ourselves, as a consumer, if we have the right! For example if you have insurance verify before making an appointment if the treatments that you desire to receive are in your insurance contract; if not, you probably haven’t bought the insurance that includes these treatments. You can still receive the treatments however it will be up to you to pay for the whole treatment yourself. During the renewal of your insurance, buy the insurance for these treatments.

The second thing to do is to verify if the professional that you consult possesses:

1. A training diploma in the discipline of the treatment you wish to receive,

2. A registered number from a professional association.

It is the registered number that permits the professional that you consult to give you receipts for your insurance.

There are many professional associations in Québec and in Canada. The most known publicize but none of them are governmental; all associations are private. Each association possesses their own rules, regulations and Ethic codes.

The therapist, for his own part, must choose an association that responds more to their needs and their clients. He must equally be qualified in a recognized school to become a member of the chosen association. During his professional training, the therapist should receive all the useful information for choosing a good association. The training school has the obligation to train but to also adequately inform its students on the diverse associations existing; it is up to the student to make the choice and not the schools. In the goal to be impartial and objective, no schools should be associated, near or far, to a professional association.

What is a professional association in the domain of complementary medicine?

It is a regroupment of therapist that has fixed a goal to help the professional and to permit to give insurance receipts thanks to the acknowledgment they have towards these companies.

Not to be neglected: a therapist will always be covered on the discipline of which he is diplomed. After all these precautions, the only thing left is to relax in good hands! Profit to the max!