Nurse psychotherapist patients denied coverage
Tara Tourloukis is a registered nurse psychotherapist and has spent the past 19 years as a registered nurse dealing with people’s mental health in the public system.
This past fall, she opened a private psychotherapy practice in Kincardine only to find out some of her clients were being denied benefits coverage for her services.
“Imagine you’re a consumer and you take that first step to look for therapy and you make that first call, which is really hard, and you connect with somebody and then you submit your claim and it gets denied. That’s really terrible,” she says.
Registered nurse psychotherapy isn’t new, but not many nurses choose this route, especially in private practice, says Tourloukis.
There are only 65 registered nurse psychotherapists in Ontario, but Tourloukis says they are recognized both by the provincial government and the College of Nurses of Ontario, as Psychotherapists.
“I realize not everyone knows that psychotherapy can be a speciality for nurse, but we put a lot of time and effort into higher education and courses, and treatment modalities. It’s really important to us to offer this skilled ability for people who are looking for mental health care,” she says.
One of the insurers, Tourloukis says is denying RN Psychotherapist claims, Sunlife, had this to say when contacted by CTV News, “It’s important to us that our clients receive the care and coverage they need. Last year alone, Sun Life paid over 85 million health and dental claims. We are continuously reviewing provider eligibility, including nurse psychotherapists, to ensure plans are meeting our client’s needs.”
“Two major benefit providers are saying things like nurses aren’t qualified to do psychotherapy or they need to be regulated in a different college, when in fact both of these are wrong, and inaccurate,” says Tourloukis.
At a time when mental health is being discussed more openly and waitlists for publicly funded assistance for mental health are months, if not years, Tourloukis finds it frustrating that the help she can provide isn’t being accepted by all insurance providers.
“We know there’s lots of literature looking at why people don’t follow up with mental health care and that’s one of them, rejection. That rejection, and having to do it all over again is going to be such a big deal. So, yes we will continue to do what we’re doing, and we’ll continue to advocate,” she says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.