Earlier in the year, we surveyed readers regarding invoicing practices. There were 102 responses, including 99 from RPs. Virtually all respondent RPs (96%) reported being paid for services by clients and/or insurers (as opposed to, for example, only providing publicly funded services). 26% of respondents reported having another person involved in billing, possibly suggesting that most RPs bill on their own (for example, as part of their solo private practice). A small number of respondents (9%) reported directly billing services to auto insurance companies (through Health Claims for Auto Insurance or HCAI). 93% of respondents reported that their name always appears on invoices; 1% responded “No”; 1% “I don’t know”; and 5% responded “Not applicable.”

A large majority of respondents (92%) agreed that it is or should be expected that the treating RP’s name be included on invoices, bills and receipts issued to clients or insurers. Several respondents reiterated the importance of transparency; others discussed the challenges or realities of supervised practice and insurance invoicing. Some commented that the supervisor responsible for the client might not list the treating RP’s name on the invoice.

While CRPO’s practice standards do not currently cover this exact topic, they do require RP’s to “ensure that documents they sign or transmit in a professional capacity contain accurate and complete information.” We will consider this issue (supervision, insurance and invoicing) as part of CRPO’s future review of the practice standards. Transparency in invoicing can further reassure health system actors (such as insurance companies), clients, and the public, that RPs provide safe, ethical care.