News & Info

Permanent, full-time position available: Hearing Aid Practitioner at Stanton Territorial Hospital

More information in the employment section.

VAC Now Recognizes Hearing Instrument Practitioners as Authorized Prescribers

AC Update – January 2, 2008

Some time ago, CHIPS spearheaded the initiative to have VAC recognize Hearing Instrument Practitioners as qualified prescribers in order to provide more efficient services to veterans and to achieve recognition of Practitioners as qualified hearing healthcare professionals. VAC policy makers were receptive to the requested update to their audio program policy, however official change of this magnitude is a slow process . CHIPS is very pleased to be able to inform our members that the collaborative consultation process with VAC has finally resulted in the desired outcome. CHIPS has just received official confirmation from VAC that Hearing Instrument Practitioners from regulated provinces are now recognized by VAC as authorized hearing aid Prescribers, along with MD’s and Audiologists. Please review the following news bulletin received from Veterans Affairs.

VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA (VAC) / PROVIDER UPDATE - PROGRAM OF CHOICE (POC) 03 - AUDIO (HEARING) SERVICES

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) wishes to advise of a change to Program of Choice (POC) 03 - Audio (Hearing) Services. Effective January 1, 2008, Hearing Instrument Practitioners will be recognized by VAC as prescribers of services for Veteran clients. To date this change is in effect in all provinces across Canada with the exception of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. A new prescriber code, HP - Hearing Instrument Practitioner has been added to the Benefit Grids for the provinces affected.

Please feel free to communicate this change to your members. Your members may direct their inquiries toll free to the regional Blue Cross office at 1-888-261-4033. Should you have any questions and/or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,
Colleen Fahey-Budd
Federal Communications and Customer Relations
liette.couturier@medavie.bluecross.ca

Anciens Combattants Canada (ACC) / Tableau des avantages pour fournisseurs

Madame, Monsieur,

À compter du 1er juillet 2007, l'augmentation du tarif suivant sera appliqué au tableau des avantages du Programme de choix 12 – Services Paramédicaux – d’Anciens Combattants Canada (ACC) pour la province de l'Ontario. Code d'avantage : 244980 – Gestionnaire de soins cliniques - travailleur social - 75.00 $ par demi-heure Veuillez s'il vous plaît communiquer ce changement à vos membres. Vos membres peuvent adresser leurs demandes de renseignements au bureau régional de la Croix Bleue au 1-888 261-4033. Si vous avez des questions, n'hésitez pas de nous contacter. Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, mes sincères salutations.

Liette Couturier
Communications fédérales et relations avec la clientèle
liette.couturier@medavie.bluecross.ca

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• AHIP symposium - Niagara April 2008
• IHS 57th Annual Convention and Expo in Savannah, Georgia, September 24-28, 2008

NEW ARTICLES:

• Provincial Reports
• What's the difference between an audiologist and a hearing instrument specialist? - Ted Venema PhD
• A Professional Practice Profile for Hearing Health Professionals - International Hearing Society

VAC UPDATE - May 10, 2007

CHIPS and AHIP Directors recently met with representatives from Veteran Affairs Canada to discuss needed policy changes to the federal hearing aid program.

As a result of that meeting and previous discussions, the following response was provided by Kathy Mijatovich, Senior Operations Analyst, Program Management Directorate, VAC.

1) Pension letters say only "audiologists"....
A new letter is almost ready to be sent. It is gone for final review/comments and will address this issue with updated information.

2) Tubes & Domes...
New pricing has been signed off and is effective immediately:
- replacement of tubes & domes will be covered by the warranty of the hearing aid;
- if tubes & domes need to be replaced in the first two years, it will be at no cost to the departments; and
- after the warranty period, the departments would allow yearly replacement orders of four(4) sets of tubes and domes (4 tubes, 4 domes) for which they would pay the manufacturers up to a maximum of $20.00.

3) CIC's...
These are being considered for making as a standard benefit without pre-authorization. A revised policy, addressing this item, will hopefully be released by July 1, 2007.

4) Repairs...
Repairs - first two years - covered under warranty. Repairs outside the warranty are covered by their own warranty of twelve months. Repairs inside the warranty are covered either by the hearing aid warranty or twelve months, whichever is longer.

5) Updated audiogram for ALD is required...
This has been part of the policy review and should be addressed in the revised policy slated to be released by July 1, 2007. (Keeping in mind that provincial governments usually pay for hearing tests every 2 years.)

6) Billing...
It was clarified that Ontario and east sends bills to Moncton Medavie Blue Cross, and west of Ontario send to Blue in respective provinces.

7) VAC & DND... Please be sure to ask if a client is still active in the military since the pension entitlement may come from VAC, but the treatment benefits may still be under DND's policy.

8) FM Systems...
STATS - what is usually approved... I am waiting for this figure and will send it when received.

If you have any questions about these policy updates, please contact John Letts at 306 343-9516 or letjoh@sasktel.net

Province Hotlines

British Columbia - Scott McDonald

• The transition to the College of Speech and Hearing of B.C. has been delayed. We are on hold until November or December with possible Cabinet approval of the designation regulation in the New Year. This may shift full operation of the College to April 1, 2010.
• Members are making preparations in anticipation of negotiations with WorkSafe BC next June.
• As of December 2007 Sandi Bichard will be leaving the provincial Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Consultants and Scott McDonald has put his name forward to replace her.
• Our website is up and running and can be accessed at www.hissbc.com.
• Dee to have this website linked to ours.
• The 2009 Western Symposium will be held in Kelowna at the Grand Hotel.
• We are having ongoing discussions about changing our name to Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society or Hearing Aid Practitioners Society.
• B.C.’s regional office of VAC continues to deny test results from Hearing Instrument Practitioners for the purposes of pension reviews.
• We have 28 new licensees effective May 2007.
• “Minimum” education requirement (2 year program in hearing instrument studies) has been delayed.
• Effective March 15, 2007 all B.C. Board registrants (HIPS and dispensing audiologists) are able to provide services and prescribe hearing aids to Employment and Income Assistance clients when regional health authority clinic services are not available.

Alberta - David (Dee) Leishman

• CHAPA President Al Kirkham has inquired about the access to the Audioprostology Course offered by I.I.H.I.S.. The course is going to be on-line and we wonder if it would be an asset for Canadian Practitioners to have or if it is aimed more at training support staff.
• Section 3 of Health Professions Act under which we are a College states that he College must protect and serve the public, provide direction and regulate the practice of its members, enforce continuing competency, standards of practice and codes of ethics. Over the next year there will be significant changes to our bylaws, code of ethics, standards and regulations to help us fall in line with the stipulations in the Health Professions Act.
• CHAPA has hired Brian Baby to be the paid Registrar to help the changes that need to be made to CHAPA and also to streamline the Registration procedures. To facilitate this, an office has been rented in Edmonton to be the full time office for CHAPA.
• The Alberta Government has finally, after approximately 5 years brought an injunction against Puretone.
• CHAPA’s new website will be up and running soon – (January, 2008) www.chapa.ca . We’ve developed guidelines for advertising, fee schedules, and it should facilitate better communication with the members.
• The continuing competency requirements have progressed to the point that the program needs to be completed by practitioners in the next twelve months. www.chapacms.com .
• NBC-HIS will likely no longer be a requirement with the new regulation (due to TILMA which ensures absolutely no barriers).

Saskatchewan – Adele Wiegers

• 22 members in the Association - 10 members renewed their 2007 CHIPS membership. 15 members are National Board certified. Since legislation was implemented, it is not mandatory to belong to SHIPS. The impact on CHIPS members was discussed.
• John will give a CHIPS report at the next SHIPS meeting (May 1st & 2nd, 2008)
• Provisional Hearing Instrument Practitioner status members who have completed their formal program of study, IHS course, before March 13, 2006, must successfully complete the National Competency Exam, NBC-HIS, no later that March 13, 2008. Provisional members who do not successfully complete the NBC-HIS will not be able to practice.
• A court injunction will prevent an individual in Saskatchewan will no longer be allowed to practice as Saskatchewan Health will not grant him a license.
• Adele will forward this individuals name to all representatives for a head’s up – once the decision is made.
• There is an important issue that will need to be discussed at our next Saskatchewan executive meeting: the Hearing Aid Plan is sending their clients to private clinics for hearing tests and having them return back to their technicians to fit the clients. We will be contacting Saskatchewan Health with our objections. We feel that this is not fair to any of the private clinics.
• Good news with individual Blue Cross coverage: as of July 1, 2007, in their new policy, Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialists/Practitioners will be recognized under the hearing aid benefit portion to test, prescribe and fit hearing aids. Reimbursements are made according to the terms of each member’s policy, including all restrictions, limitations and exclusions. All NBC-HIS members need to provide their full name (written legibly) along with their designation and signature. They asked the SHIPS association to submit on a quarterly basis the names of new members who have become Board Certified.
• Adele will forward the Blue Cross information to all provincial representatives.
• As for Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation, we are no further ahead. They will only work with audiologists.
• All NBC-HIS exams must be done by computer now (website: www.nbc-his.com). The applicant needs to contact the NBC-HIS office with the following documentation:

- Photocopy of State/Provincial License or Certificate of Registration;

- Applicable fees (US funds); and,

- A letter on company letterhead attesting to his/her two years dispensing experience.

The fees are as follows:

Non IHS Member $ 75.00 IHS Member $ 50.00

Exam Fee $150.00 Exam Fee $125.00

Total Fees: $225.00 Total Fees: $175.00

• Upon verification of eligibility, an Exam Confirmation Notice, including Place of Exam, will be emailed to the applicant. This copy of confirmation must be brought by the applicant to the exam site to facilitate the sign-in process. We have six members in our SHIPS association who need to get their NBC-HIS. There is a college in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where the applicants can go for their exams.
• Two of our members and me attended the International Conference in Reno, Nevada. The Classes were excellent, as was the food and entertainment. The next IHS conference will be held in Savannah, Georgia on September 24 to September 28, 2008.
• Our next Saskatchewan Hearing Health Conference will be held on May 1 and 2, 2008, at

the Bessborough Hotel, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Manitoba - Leslie Holden

No Report issued – nothing new to report.

Ontario - Chris Helik

• At our Annual General Meeting in April 2007 elections took place and the new President of AHIP is Maggie Arzani, H.I.D. We were pleased to welcome CHIPS at our annual Symposium, as well Mr. Jim Ogurek NCB-HIS, President of IHS who addressed the full AHIP membership at the Friday luncheon.
• Maggie Arzani and Joanne Sproule, Executive Director, on behalf of AHIP attended the International Hearing Society 56^th Annual convention in Reno Nevada. A point of interest came out of the Chapter Leaders meeting – Veterans (in the US) are being denied services. They are required to go to a Veteran Hospital for Audiology services to get an approved recommendation for hearing aids. This means they may have to travel 200-300 km even if they have been seeing a practitioner in their own community for years!
• We look forward for to our 2008 Symposium which will held April 16-19, 2008 at Niagara Falls, Ontario. Chris Helik is the chair. AHIP, once again welcome our provincial and international colleagues if they choose to attend (at member rates).
• A full review of the Ontario WSIB – Program of Care has been completed and we are expecting to be provided details soon regarding an improved, more streamlined approach to the program. WSIB officials have agreed to present a seminar at our next Symposium and answer any questions regarding the revised NIHL-POC. This makes it sound like our WSIB negotiations are going “tickety boo” – they are NOT! As the representative on that committee I am extremely embarrassed at the length of time that has lapsed to review our issues. We are into our 3^rd year with no changes to policies or prices. We still get paid $45 for an earmold! We often wait months to get paid. VERY, VERY frustrating!
• After meeting with Veterans Affairs Canada at our last Symposium we were pleased that some items identified have been addressed; for example: testing for pension purposes; open fit devices; billing and audiograms for ALD’s. We await resolve on other items such as the possibility of VAC revising policy to make CIC’s a standard benefit without pre- authorization. Our last cost of living increase (2.5%) 3 years ago is not acceptable.
• An individual published false and misleading advertisements in Niagara Falls and area newspapers, against Hearing Instrument Practitioners (in your Board packages & e-mails). The Association immediately lodged a formal complaint against the individual to their regulated college. This and several more grievances are currently in legal process. In fact, the college has 180 days to respond to the complaint. Ted Venema – Conestoga College HIS Program Coordinator – released an article (short & longer version) about differences between Audiologist & Hearing Instrument Practitioner (almost like a reply to the audiologist’s ad) – this article will be available to members (also on the website soon) – individual members are to decide if they want to run it in the local newspaper or brochure etc.
• MPP Campaign - before Ontario’s election, AHIP sent a letter to all MPPs stating our disappointment in not regulating our members under bill 171, Health System Improvements Act, 2007. To date, we received about 10-12 responses (mostly letters MPP wrote to Minister Smitherman) and a letter from the Minister’s office, as well as a letter from Premier Dalton McGuinty.
• ILE Exam – as of July 1, 2007, any new graduates have to pass an ILE exam as a requirement for entry to practice – AHIP will administer this exam.
• Chris got a feel from other provinces for how they deal with cerumen management in their scope of practice. Generally provinces have not incorporated it into their scope of practice (accept Alberta) yet they also do not deny the practice (given appropriate training). British Columbia is still working on this under their new college regulations.

CHIPS is promoted within Ontario by;

• Donation of space in the AHIP Signal
• AHIP sent CHIPS information packages to every AHIP member after their attendance at Symposium.
• Every year AHIP has a CHIPS report at our AGM
• AHIP donates booth space to CHIPS at every Symposium.
• Each Member of CHIPS now gets a copy of our Signal Magazine (published quarterly).

Quebec – Claude Forest

Claude distributed a technical, legal report regarding litigation to remove the Audiologists are taking WCB to court for agreeing to allow practitioners to test. At this time, Practitioners in Quebec are happy with the flexibility of the government program – given specific guidelines. However, the court decision has already been stayed twice for procedural reasons and may still take many months to resolve.

Claude continues to promote CHIPS within Quebec at many board meetings and the AGM.

Nova Scotia - Annette Cross

Nova Scotia is still working on improving their practical examination process.

• Sandy Bichard will forward the ILE protocol from BC to the President of the Nova Scotia.
• Sandy will send an official thank you to Atlantic Canada for sponsoring the CHIPS representatives and allowing us to attend their AGM’s.

New Brunswick – Don Vincent

• There have been no new developments in the hearing instrument dispensing field in the province of New Brunswick.

• The provincial chapter (the New Brunswick Hearing Aid Society’s) membership stands at 15.
• This is the first year for the requirement of continuing education for renewal of membership and it seems to be going well.

• The NBHAS will have held it’s AGM on Friday the 2^nd of November, 2007 at the Hotel Delta Barrington in Halifax, N.S.

Prince Edward Island –

No Report Issued.

Newfoundland Labrador - Joan Loughlin

There is no formal report as there have not been any recent meetings. More information may follow with regards to WCB.