( Disponible en anglais seulement )
The Ontario Auto Insurance Anti-Fraud Task Force recently released its Interim Report. One of the more interesting discussions in the report is the recommendation to consider licensing health clinics.
The Task Force found that in Ontario, there has been an “extraordinary increase” in the number of clinics submitting forms through HCAI over the past 18 months. The Task Force said it plans to consider whether a licensing and/or regulatory regime would make sense and, if so, what type of regime might be best suited to Ontario.
The report notes that some other jurisdictions require clinics providing health care services, including those that treat auto accident victims, to be regulated or licensed (owners and/or operators) to varying degrees. In September 2011, Hillsborough County, Florida, passed an ordinance requiring the licensing of any medical clinic that provides treatment or therapy to patients claiming injury due to an automobile accident.
In Ontario, the Law Society of Upper Canada regulates paralegals, many of who are involved in the claims process at FSCO. It makes a lot of sense to also require clinics treating accident victims to apply to FSCO for licenses if they expect insurers to fund the services they provide. This would make clinics more accountable for the services they propose, while protecting claimants and insurers from rogue clinics.
Read the Interim Report.
