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"Osteopathic Manual Practice. Safe, effective and time-tested health care for the whole body."
Mission Statement Registration and Accreditation in Osteopathic Manual Practice.
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Last Updated October 2011 |
Patient FAQ'sClick on each topic to see the answers.
Reimbursements for TreatmentsOsteopathic Manual Practice treatments provided by members of GOCC have been covered by many Insurance Providers. However, it has been brought to our attention recently that some claims are being disputed with the reason given that the GOCC Ontario Society was not a recognized registration body. If it appears that your provider only considers providing Osteopathic coverage to their clients if they have been treated by an Osteopath affiliated to OAO or another group, respectfully advise them of the following: 1. The Osteopaths registered with the OAO are no different than any other Osteopaths that are educated and registered in Ontario. The OAO was formed to register graduates from a small group of Osteopathic schools and not as a body to register qualified osteopaths trained anywhere else.
2. Currently, Osteopaths are not regulated in Ontario. As per the OAO website: Plans to Regulate Osteopathy in Ontario: "There is currently no government regulation for the manual practice of osteopathy in Ontario."
Multiple groups representing Osteopaths in Ontario are working on a group submission to the Ontario government that asks for the regulation for osteopathy in Ontario and to recognize Osteopathic Manual Practitioners.
3. There is not one association of Osteopaths but a multitude of approximately 23 groups in Ontario alone. Any exclusive preference on the part of any Insurance Provider of one professional association over another is paramount to discrimination and deeply prejudicial to their clients. What is Osteopathic Manual Practice (OMP)?Osteopathic Manual Practice is a system of manual medicine based on the original discoveries and clinical experiences of its American founder, Dr Andrew Taylor Still (1828 – 1917). It is the study of the human body as it functions in health and disease. OMP uses precise manipulative and palpatory techniques to treat the restrictions in the body thereby restoring mobility to different bodily systems, (musculo-skeletal, circulatory, digestive, pulmonary and nervous systems) thus improving the regulation and interactions of these systems. Do I Need a Prescription to Receive Treatment?A prescription from a Medical Professional is not necessary unless it is required by your Insurance Company for reimbursement of fees. What Type of Problems Can OMP Treat?Providing a list of conditions that OMP Practitioners help treat can sometimes give a false picture. OMP Practitioners treat people, not conditions and are able to assist in numerous ways when a patient’s function is affected. OMP Practitioners help patients of all ages, from newborn to 100+, with a variety of conditions such as:
What Is the Duration of a Treatment and How Many Are Necessary?An OMP treatment's length can vary depending on the the nature of the problem and the general state of the patient. Generally, a treatment can last from 45 to 60 minutes. The number of treatments required to obtain expected results can vary according to the nature of the problem and its associated conditions. What Happens During an OMP Treatment?During your initial consultation, the OMP Practitioner will have you fill in a complete Patient Case History outlining the state of health and the reason for the consultation. These questions will assist the OMP Practitioner in determining the cause of your problem and the treatment necessary. During the treatment, the OMP Practitioner will ask you to remove all of your clothing (as much as you are comfortable with) as well as all jewellery, glasses, etc and have you put on a patient gown. This will assist the OMP Practitioner in evaluating your posture, observing tension zones and lines of gravity as well as guiding the OMP Practitioner in their palpatory evaluation. Treatments can include a range of stretching, mobilizing and manipulative techniques designed to help restore normal function and to facilitate the body's healing process. Your OMP Practitioner will explain to you what will be involved in any treatment. What Is the Cost of an OMP Treatment?The fee can vary depending on the location (office or on location visit) and the OMP Practitioner's experience. The minimal fee for treatment is $60.00. OMP treatments are tax exempted as are other medical and paramedical procedures. Is the Cost Covered by Provincial or Private Insurance?As OMP is considered as private healthcare, it is therefore not covered by your Provincial Health Insurance and you must incur the costs of treatment yourself. However, most private insurance companies reimburse all or part of the costs for OMP treatments given by Member in Good Standing of the GOCC. All receipts from OMP Practitioners are eligible for tax deductions if you do not have private insurance. If your private insurance company does not cover 100% of the OMP fees, the difference can be claimed on your income tax return. It is your insurance company’s responsibility to issue a statement of fees not covered as the OMP Practitioner will not issue a second receipt. What Is the Difference Between OMP, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy?The differences between OMP, Chiropractic and Physiotherapy are based at the basic levels of diagnosis. Physiotherapy follows traditional medical approaches of compartmentalizing illness and pain whereas OMP and Chiropractic are both 'alternative' medical models in that they are truly holistic, treating each patient as an individual, and applying their own methods of diagnosis, and therefore treatment to each case. OMP follows the philosophy of "Treat the patient, not the disease". It does not focus on treating the symptoms but in discovering the source of the dis-equilibrium. Does it Hurt?OMP treatments are not usually painful though the nature of the presenting condition may be such that some discomfort cannot be avoided. Most techniques are extremely gentle. In devising the treatment plan, the OMP Practitioner will take into account the nature of the condition, symptoms and the patient's general health and concerns. The OMP Practitioner will not perform a procedure on a patient unless the patient gives consent to proceed.
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