Newsletter Published for Insurers by International Osteopathic Association

March 18, 2011 - PRLog -- In an effort to continue open communication with insurers, International Osteopathic Association (IOA) has begun distributing a semi-annual newsletter to representatives of the insurance industry.

We have also begun a telephone support program for insurers’ policy development and claims staff. Staff members in our Insurance Relations Department make periodic contact with insurance representatives to discuss concerns regarding manual osteopathy claims and to share any new IOA resources.  IOA’s goal is to simplify and expedite the manual osteopathy claims process for the insurance industry.

IOA is mandated with the task of licensing manual osteopathic practitioners globally. IOA only licenses manual osteopaths who have graduated from an accredited manual osteopathy educational program, and who have successfully passed exams administered by Canadian Manual Osteopathy Examining Board (CMOEB). The IOA registered manual osteopaths must also adhere to the code of ethics and the clinical guidelines established by IOA.

A list of all IOA registered members are mailed semi-annually to the insurance industry, managed care organizations, third party payers, & Workers’ Safety & Insurance Boards (WSIB). All MVA insurance adjusters, EHP claims managers and WSIB case workers are more than welcome to check with IOA in regards to the validity of the license number submitted for manual osteopathy billing by any manual osteopath submitting a claim.  

International Osteopathic Association is committed to work with all insurers (including workers’ compensation, auto insurers and extended health plan providers among others) to help them compensate for manual osteopathy services that are standard and medically necessary. As such insurers can rest assured that any member of IOA follows the code of ethics and standard business practices established by IOA.

Insurers should note that rendering a diagnosis and performing spinal and joints manipulative therapy are controlled acts in many jurisdictions and only regulated health professional such as physicians, surgeons and doctors of chiropractic may render a diagnosis or perform manipulations. IOA registered manual osteopaths follow the health rules and regulations established by the authorities in the jurisdictions they practice. Insurers can rest assured IOA members refrains from rendering a diagnosis and will not perform spinal manipulation. Instead they limit their practice only to treatment and management of conditions associated with disorders of muscles, bones, nerves and joints. IOA members only use scientific, researched proven manual osteopathy techniques such as soft tissue therapy and joint mobilization.

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International Osteopathic Association (IOA) is a self-governing body, established by the manual osteopathy profession to help regulate and develop international standard of care for manual osteopaths.