Table 9 Access by naturopaths to private and public resources and reimbursementsc
| Â | Regulation Type | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total (n=65) | No Regulation (n=28)b | Title protection (n=18)b | Defined Practice (n=27)b | Other (n=7)b | |
Access to private health insurance | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) |
 Full/Limited Access | 41 (63.1) | 14 (50.0) | 16 (88.9) | 20 (74.0) | 7 (100.0) |
 Not Allowed/Not Applicable | 23 (35.4) | 13 (46.4) | 1 (5.5) | 6 (22.2) | 0 (0.0) |
 Unsure | 3 (4.6) | 1 (3.5) | 1 (5.5) | 1 (3.7) | 0 (0.0) |
Access to government funded public health | |||||
 Full/Limited Access | 9 (13.8)a | 2 (7.1)a | 6 (33.3)a | 8 (29.6)a | 0 (0.0) |
 Not Allowed/Not Applicable | 55 (84.6) | 25 (89.2)a | 11 (61.1)a | 18 (66.6)a | 7 (100.0) |
 Unsure | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Access to medical integration (hospital privileges) | |||||
 Full/Limited Access | 14 (21.5)a | 4 (14.2)a | 10 (55.5)a | 11 (40.7)a | 1 (14.2) |
 Not Allowed/Not Applicable | 49 (75.4) | 23 (82.1)a | 7 (38.8)a | 14 (51.8)a | 6 (85.7) |
 Unsure | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.7) | 0 (0.0) |
Method of payment/cost reimbursement for naturopathic services | |||||
 Direct payment by patient (no reimbursement by third-party) | |||||
  Consultation Costs | 43 (66.2) | 13 (46.4) | 12 (66.6) | 20 (74.0) | 4 (57.1) |
  Naturopathic Product Prescriptions | 42 (64.6) | 13 (46.4) | 13 (72.2) | 20 (74.0) | 5 (71.4) |
  In-Office treatments | 38 (58.5) | 11 (39.2) | 13 (72.2) | 20 (74.0) | 4 (57.1) |
 Government funded / public health reimbursement | |||||
  Consultation Costs | 6 (9.2) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (33.3) | 6 (22.2) | 0 (0.0) |
  Naturopathic Product Prescriptions | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
  In-Office treatments | 7 (10.8) | 1 (3.5) | 6 (33.3) | 5 (18.5) | 1 (14.2) |
 Private health insurance reimbursement | |||||
  Consultation Costs | 36 (55.4) | 13 (46.4) | 13 (72.2) | 19 (70.3) | 4 (57.1) |
  Naturopathic Product Prescriptions | 14 (21.5) | 5 (17.8) | 4 (22.2) | 4 (14.8) | 1 (14.2) |
  In-Office treatments | 36 (55.4) | 11 (39.2) | 14 (77.7) | 18 (66.6) | 4 (57.1) |
 Other third-party funder reimbursement (e.g. Veteran’s affairs, Employer-funded workplace injury insurance) | |||||
  Consultation Costs | 10 (15.4) | 2 (7.1) | 4 (22.2) | 6 (22.2) | 1 (14.2) |
  Naturopathic Product Prescriptions | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
  In-Office treatments | 7 (10.8) | 1 (3.5) | 3 (16.6) | 4 (14.8) | 1 (14.2) |
 Not applicable | |||||
  Consultation Costs | 10 (15.4) | 9 (32.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.7) | 0 (0.0) |
  Naturopathic Product Prescriptions | 10 (15.4) | 8 (28.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.7) | 0 (0.0) |
  In-Office treatments | 9 (13.8) | 7 (25.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.7) | 0 (0.0) |
Factors that impact patient cost reimbursement of naturopathic services | |||||
 Practitioner must have malpractice insurance | 21 (32.3) | 11 (39.2) | 5 (27.7) | 11 (40.7) | 3 (42.8) |
 Practitioner must have registered title/number from regulatory body | 30 (46.2) | 9 (32.1) | 11 (61.1) | 18 (66.6) | 4 (57.1) |
 Patient characteristics (e.g. veterans, workplace, injury, elderly) | 3 (4.6) | 1 (3.5) | 3 (16.6) | 3 (11.1) | 0 (0.0) |
 Diagnosed disease/condition | 13 (20.0) | 2 (7.1) | 8 (44.4) | 9 (33.3) | 2 (28.5) |
 Level of practitioner education/qualification | 19 (29.2) | 10 (35.7) | 7 (38.8) | 9 (33.3) | 2 (28.5) |
 Referral from a medical practitioner | 8 (12.3) | 3 (10.7) | 3 (16.6) | 3 (11.1) | 1 (14.2) |
 Type of therapies /treatments provided by the practitioner | 24 (36.9) | 7 (25.0) | 11 (61.1) | 14 (51.8) | 3 (42.8) |
 Other | 13 (20.0) | 6 (21.4) | 5 (27.7) | 7 (25.9) | 1 (14.2) |
 Not applicable | 19 (29.2) | 12 (42.8) | 1 (5.5) | 3 (11.1) | 1 (14.2) |