Frequently Asked Questions - Physiotherapy
Motion Plus Physiotherapy is a private physiotherapy facility. OHIP cannot be billed for our services, however, you may have coverage through sources such as:
Extended Health Benefits (EHB)
Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance (MVA) Benefits
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Benefits
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)
Long Term Disability Plans
While you do not need a Physician’s referral to access private physiotherapy, some insurers do require one prior to reimbursement. We recommend you check with your Extended Health Benefits (EHB) carrier to clarify your situation.
We can bill many insurance companies on-line on your behalf. Please ask our administrative staff if your EHB carrier is one of them.
Prior to billing your EHB carrier for physiotherapy services, we require that you complete and sign an authorization form. For those companies that do not allow on-line submission, you will be billed directly for physiotherapy services and will receive a detailed invoice that you can submit on your own.
Direct billing is also available for:
Approved WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) claims
Approved MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) claims
Approved DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) claims
Your first visit will be an assessment. At that time your Physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your current injury and conduct a physical assessment. After discussing the assessment findings, your Physiotherapist will outline a future course of treatment. In many cases, treatment will also begin at this initial session.
Wear comfortable clothing that exposes the area to be treated. Shorts are suitable for back and leg injuries, sleeveless tops for arm injuries. If you are not sure what to wear or forget your change of clothes, don’t worry! We have an in-house supply of gowns (to expose the spine) and shorts.
On average, we suggest allowing 45 – 60 minutes for your initial session. Your Physiotherapist will be able to provide you with an indication of your follow-up appointment length at the conclusion of your assessment.
Absolutely. You can choose to attend physiotherapy sessions at a clinic of your choice. Always confirm that any physiotherapy you receive is being delivered by a Registered Physiotherapist who is licensed with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO). All the Physiotherapists at Motion Plus Physiotherapy are licensed with the CPO.
Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) often result in significant soft tissue, bone, joint and neurological injuries. At Motion Plus Physiotherapy, we can assist you with your recovery. Our individualized approach that focuses on education, restoration of function and movement, promoting tissue healing and decreasing/controlling pain will help optimize your physical recovery.
If you require physiotherapy after an MVA, your auto insurance company will fund a portion of the costs provided the treatment is reasonable and necessary. Most soft tissue injuries fall within the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG), a 12 week pre-approved program that can be initiated by several different health care professionals, including Physiotherapists. Up to $3500 is available for treatment of these injuries within the MIG. Additional funds are also available to clients with more severe injuries (e.g. fractures). Ontario law requires that all costs for treatments such as physiotherapy or massage be first submitted to your extended health benefits (EHB) for reimbursement. Your auto insurance company will then fund the remainder, providing your request for treatment has been approved.
Please Note: Navigating the auto insurance system can be stressful! Our capable and knowledgeable staff is here to guide and assist you as needed.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is the regulatory agency of the Ministry of Finance that regulates the insurance industry. To learn more about auto insurance in Ontario go to www.fsrao.ca.
Injuries in the workplace either traumatic or repetitive in origin often require physiotherapy to assist in achieving return to meaningful work. At Motion Plus Physiotherapy we work with injured workers to promote recovery of the injured area. Regular communication with the WSIB is maintained and we communicate with employers and Physician’s as needed to ensure you are working within your functional abilities.
Please note that you may wish to wait until the WSIB has approved your claim for health care prior to starting treatment. Should you choose not to wait for this approval and your claim is denied, you will be responsible for the full cost of your treatment.
Motion Plus Physiotherapy is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal health information. We collect, use, and disclose personal health information in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
- Who we are
Motion Plus Physiotherapy is a physiotherapy clinic located in Guelph, Ontario. The clinic co-owner, Denise Fogal-Smith, is the Health Information Custodian. All physiotherapists working at the clinic act as agents of the Health Information Custodian and are required to follow our privacy policies and PHIPA requirements.
- What is personal health information?
Personal health information includes identifying information about your physical or mental health or the health care you receive. This may include:
- Your name, contact information, and date of birth
- Your health history and assessment findings
- Treatment plans, progress notes, and reports
- Appointment and billing information
- Insurance or third‑party payor details
- How we collect personal health information
We usually collect personal health information directly from you or from someone legally authorized to act on your behalf. With your consent, or where permitted by law, we may also collect information from other health‑care providers, insurers, or referral sources to support your care.
We only collect the information that is reasonably necessary to provide physiotherapy services.
- How we use and share your personal health information
We use your personal health information to:
- Assess, treat, and care for you
- Communicate with you about your care and appointments
- Share relevant information with other health‑care providers involved in your care
- Get payment from insurers or third‑party payors
- Meet legal, regulatory, and professional obligations
Your consent is required for most uses and disclosures. Sometimes the law allows or requires disclosure without your consent. For example, to reduce serious risk of harm or to meet mandatory reporting obligations.
- Your choices and consent
You can withhold or withdraw consent for some uses or disclosures of your personal health information.
You can also ask that we do not share specific information with certain people or organizations. This is sometimes called a “lock box.” We will follow your request unless the law says otherwise.
- How we protect your personal health information
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal health information against theft, loss, and unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Safeguards may include:
- Secure electronic record systems
- Locked filing cabinets for paper records
- Password protection and access controls
- Privacy training and confidentiality agreements for staff
- Accessing or correcting your records
You have the right to:
- Request access to your personal health record
- Ask for corrections if information seems inaccurate or incomplete
Requests must be in writing. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
- Who to contact with questions or concerns
If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact our Health Information Custodian:
Denise Fogal-Smith
Phone: 519-767-7587
Email: Denise@motionplusphysioA.com
If you think your privacy rights have been violated, you can also contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC):
Website: www.ipc.on.ca
Phone: 1‑800‑387‑0073
Yes! We are a scent free environment for the health of our clients and staff. Strong fragrances commonly found in personal hygiene products can cause a respiratory irritation to certain individuals. As a result, we have postings around our clinic and in our intake paperwork to ensure a clean air environment for all to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions – Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints. Massage Therapy helps alleviate the soft tissue discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular over-use and many chronic pain conditions. Massage Therapy can be a formal medical based modality to help address a health concern or it can simply be a relaxation, de-stressing treatment.
There are tremendous benefits to be achieved through regular Massage Therapy treatments from a Registered Massage Therapist. Whether your need is to have a moment of relaxation, reduce muscle tension or attain relief from chronic pain, a therapeutic massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well-being as well as your quality of life.
Massage Therapy benefits people of all ages. While it benefits the injured, the ill and the stressed, the strength of Massage Therapy in preventing illness and conditions before they develop cannot be overlooked. Massage Therapy can be used in the treatment of both acute and chronic stages of conditions.
On your first visit we ask that you arrive 5 – 10 minutes early to complete a confidential health history. This is important as the Massage Therapist (RMT) needs to know if you have any medical conditions or are taking any medications. The RMT will listen to your concerns and assess your individual needs as well as other factors that may be contributing to your injury (lifestyle, etc.). The RMT will then work with you to develop a treatment plan to ensure you receive appropriate treatment. If you have been injured through an accident, there will be more time during the first appointment to make sure all details of the injury are documented accurately.
In the case of general, relaxation, or what is often called "Swedish" massage, there is an almost universal procedure among Massage Therapists in the North America. You are asked to undress to whatever point you are comfortable. Whatever you choose, the RMT will act in a professional manner, no matter what your level of undress.
The RMT will leave the room and give you sufficient time to undress. After undressing, you will lie down on the table under a sheet so that you remain covered. During the massage, only the part of your body currently being treated is uncovered. When it is necessary to change your lying position, the RMT will first make sure that you remain properly covered and then direct you to change position (e.g. turn over). Our Massage Therapists are all well-trained in draping techniques.
If you are uncomfortable with any aspect of the massage, you should inform the RMT immediately.
In order to become a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) in Ontario, an individual must complete a 2200-hour educational program at an educational institution recognized by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Upon graduation, the individual must become registered with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO), the regulatory body for the Massage Therapy Profession. This includes the completion of Certification Examinations.
The practice of Massage Therapy is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and is therefore a Regulated Health Profession. Only individuals who have completed the requisite training and have met the strict competency requirements of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) can call themselves a "Massage Therapist" or a "Registered Massage Therapist".
When seeking Massage Therapy, look for an individual who uses one of those two titles and ask to see their registration with the CMTO.
No. Massage Therapy treatments are not covered under OHIP, regardless of whether the treatments are provided by a Massage Therapist directly, by a physician or required by a physician.
Most progressive extended health benefit plans cover Massage Therapy treatments when provided by a Registered Massage Therapist. Most do not require a Physician's referral for treatments, although a few may still have this requirement. Most plans require that the covered individual pay for the treatment, and then submit the receipt for reimbursement. Contact your employer for more information.
Most Massage Therapists will require payment upon the provision of services, with the exception of MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) claims. Direct billing is available for approved MVA claims.
Under the Federal Excise Tax Act, Massage Therapy is a service to which HST was applied. While Massage Therapist are considered health care practitioners under Ontario Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, Massage Therapy is not included in the definition of health services that are exempt from the application of the HST. The list of exemptions is controlled by the federal government and the federal Minister of Finance has made it clear that the current policies governing exemptions will remain in place. A health profession can be exempted if it is regulated in five provinces or territories or if it is paid for in the health plans of three provinces. Massage Therapy does not meet either of these conditions.