Nature of Action: An undertaking and consent of the registrant under section 33(6)(c) of the Health Professions Act providing for a fine and limits and conditions on the registrant’s practice, including:

• An undertaking and consent to a 6 month suspension commencing on June 19, 2013;
• An undertaking and consent to pay the College a fine in the amount of $20,000, in equal monthly instalments over a period of 3 years, commencing on December 19, 2013;
• An undertaking and consent to complete a College-approved course or tutorial in professional ethics at the registrant’s expense by June 19, 2014; and
• An undertaking and consent to cooperate with random practice audits by the College for a period of 4 years, commencing on June 19, 2013.

Reasons: The College received a complaint alleging that the registrant fraudulently claimed extended health care benefits for reimbursement from a third party insurance company for massage therapy services that had never been performed. The complainant further alleged that the registrant used the name, signature and billing number of another registrant as well as the name of a clinic in order to make the false claims for extended health benefits without the knowledge, authorization or consent of that registrant or the clinic owner.

The registrant admitted the alleged conduct and repaid the third party insurance company $64,462.05 on the basis that the insurance company alleged this to be the amount of money that was reimbursed to the registrant through the false claims.

It is a breach of the College’s Bylaws for a registrant to create and submit false or misleading documents and accounts.