PRESIDENT’S REPORT
By: Dr. David Dos Santos
Since my last communication, much has been happening
with CSCE and in the world of independent chiropractic
assessments in Canada. Significant changes have been occurring
in Ontario and Alberta. This has presented both challenges
and opportunities for the CSCE Board.
As you will undoubtedly be aware, the new CSCE Desktop Reference
Manual has been completed and is has been distributed
to third party payers including insurers, government agencies,
the legal community and other interested parties. The manual
features an expanded Standards and Guidelines section, new information
on the International Federation of Chiropractic Evaluators,
and provincial regulatory details as they pertain to chiropractic
evaluations.
The membership of CSCE continues to steadily grow. I would
like to thank the membership committee for their continued efforts
on expanding the membership base. CSCE continues to
need provincial liasons in Alberta and British Columbia.
Alberta has announced a new independent assessment system,
similar to the current Designated Assessment System in Ontario.
I am hopeful that CSCE can provide assistance to chiropractic
evaluators in Alberta to help improve their Standards and Pro. le
in their assessment system.
In Ontario, the McGuinty Government has moved forward with
the elimination of the Designated Assessment System effective
March 1, 2006. While CSCE pointed out signi. cant . aws in the
replacement model, the Government pushed ahead with changes
to regulations. The new system involves claimants attending for
insurer examinations, with limited access to a rebuttal assessment
to address denied bene. ts. Neither of the assessment outcomes
are binding on the insurer, and the only subsequent recourse for
the claimant is to apply for mediation/arbitration, or legal courts,
which can take years to run it’s course. An independent examination
is no longer a pre-requisite for proceeding to mediation. The
regulations feature an expanded Unfair and Deceptive Acts and
Practices, which among other things requires insurers to have the
insurer’s evaluation performed by a someone ‘reasonably quali-
. ed by training and experience’.
The Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has indicated
that they are in the process of reviewing the Regional Evaluation
Centre (REC) Multi-Disciplinary Health Care Assessment
(MDHCA) review. The review process is complete. I am pleased
to inform you that the new proposed model includes chiropractors
involved on the assessment team.
Current efforts of CSCE are focused on continuing to pro. le the
expertise of CSCE members in the performance of independent
assessments. To that end, we will liase with insurers and the legal
community, as well as Government agencies and other interested
parties. We are in the process of reviewing the CSCE website to
ensure that it meets the needs of our members and third parties.
We are also working on a power point presentation on CSCE that
members can access and utilize for their own marketing efforts.
CSCE has put on the initial independent chiropractic evaluation
(ICE) program in conjunction with CMCC in April 2006. Another
ICE program is currently underway. I would like to thank
Dr. Rocco Guerriero for his efforts on this program.
In late 2005 CSCE was asked by the Financial Services Commission
of Ontario, along with the OCA and CCO, to put forth
potential names for Pre-approved Framework (PAF) Guideline
Development. Dr. Guerriero, along with Dr. David Cassidy, serve
as chiropractic representatives on the PAF working group.
CSCE presence will be prominent at the upcoming Canadian
Chiropractic Convention in Vancouver, BC.
We are currently in the process of discussing topics for the next
CSCE annual conference. This will likely take place sometime in
the spring of 2007.
I would like to remind the membership that CSCE is a voluntary
organization, operating with limited resources, and remind
everyone that a requirement of maintenance of membership is
sharing in the committee work. If interested, please contact Dr.
Moez Rajwani. I thank the current members of the committees
and Board for their ongoing efforts and sacrifices.
Best of wishes for the coming holiday season and new year.
Sincerely,
Dr. D. Dos Santos, B.Sc.,D.C.,FCCRS(C),FCCO(C)
CSCE President
