OPA RESPONSE TO FSRA AUTO INSURANCE CONSULTATIONS – November 28, 2024

In Ontario’s 2024 budget, the Government requested that Ontario’s Financial Services Regulator, FSRA, conduct a review of the health service provider guidelines and frameworks. Consultations were open from October 1 to November 29, and FSRA solicited consultation on the following three policies:

1. Health Service Provider Framework Review
2. Health Claims for Auto Insurance (HCAI) System Review
3. Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS) Review

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association submitted a response which was informed by direct consultation with members of the physiotherapy profession who work extensively in the auto sector, as well as open consultation with OPA members between October 21 to November 11, 2024. OPA’s response focuses on key priorities including reducing red tape, advocating for fair compensation, and reducing redundancy in regulation.

Read OPA’s Response

OPA also contributed to a submission on behalf of the Coalition of Health Professions in Auto Insurance (“The Coalition”), which represents eight health professional associations in Ontario with members who work in the auto sector. This submission presents shared perspective and a unified voice, while also supporting the need for FSRA to engage directly with individual Associations to optimize auto sector policies for respective professions, including physiotherapy.

AUTO INSURANCE ADVOCACY UPDATE – September 5, 2024

OPA submitted a letter to the Ontario Minister of Finance on September 5, 2024, in response to the Government of Ontario’s open consultation on the proposed amendments to the Insurance Act and Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule. This letter was informed by feedback from the physiotherapy community, collected through open consultation.

Read letter

AUTO COALITION MEETING UPDATE – August 14, 2024

The OPA’s CEO S. Hutchison and Project Manager A. Nikolovski met with members of the Coalition on Monday August 12 to engage in discussion around an approach to respond to the Government of Ontario’s consultation on Proposed Amendments to the Insurance Act and to Ontario Regulation 34/10 (SABS) . The Coalition highlighted discussion around auto insurance benefit optionality and coverage limits.

The OPA team is also seeking input through our Advisory Committees and members on this regulation to further inform our response.

FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ONTARIO (FSRA) – July 17, 2024

In March, 2024 the Ontario Government requested the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) to conduct reviews of the following:

• Professional Services Guideline;
• Attendant Care Hourly Rate Guideline;
• Health Service Provider Framework; and
• Health Claims for Auto Insurance(HCAI) system

FSRA has recently reached out to OPA with a request for stakeholder engagement in consultations, to which OPA has welcomed involvement. FSRA consultations are set to begin in October 2024. Additionally, OPA leadership has applied to be a part of their new Auto Sector – Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC).

AUTO SECTOR COALITION UPDATE – May 22, 2024

On May 22, OPA attended a meeting with The Coalition of Health Professional Associations in Ontario’s Automobile Insurance Sector (“The Coalition”) to discuss recent developments in the auto sector across disciplines. The recent budget announcement requested a review of the Professional Services Guideline, the Health Service Provider Frameworks, and the HCAI system. The Coalition engaged in meaningful and action-oriented discussion around the potential for involvement in supporting next steps and implementation of long-overdue changes to the auto-sector policies, procedures, and fee schedules.