1.0 The Context
1.1 The Federal Environment
Inclusion of Athletic Therapy services in the Federal Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) is part of the current contact negotiations between the Federal Government, led by the Treasury Board of Canada, and the federal unions, whose strongest voice is the …show more content…
Last week PSCA and 12 other unions launched a court case against the Federal Government regarding delayed payments to employees resulting from the Government’s adoption of a new pay system.
Although coverage of Athletic Therapy is not part of the current contract negotiations, CATA should be aware of tensions between the unions and the Government as they may influence discussions in non-contract areas. Most bargaining units will not be meeting over the summer, which is a normal pattern. This hiatus should provide CATA the opportunity to present its case to key players who might otherwise be preoccupied with negotiations.
1.2 Public Service Health Care Plan
The Federal Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) Administration Authority indicates that the PSHCP covers the services of a “Physiotherapist”. A “Physiotherapist” is defined as “a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association or of a provincial association affiliated with it, or in the absence of such association, a person with comparable qualifications as determined by the Administrator.” The Administration Authority does not have the power to make changes to the Plan. 2.0 The Process
2.1 The National Joint …show more content…
The AA focuses on administration, as opposed to the policy role of the NJC. The AA is sponsored by the Federal Government to oversee the Plan Administrator’s (Sun Life Assurance) administration and interpretation of the PSHCP. The AA is does not make changes to the PCHCP but it is in close liaison with the NJC’s Public Service Health Care Plan Partners Committee referred to above. The two bodies discuss the intersection the policy and administration matters and it would be useful for CATA to factor the AA into its advocacy