ACAC Council met prior to the annual general meeting and made some significant decisions to position the organization well as it transitions to become the College of Chiropractors of Alberta by January 1, 2022. This included revisions to bylaws to be compliant with legislation.

Additionally, Council received a presentation from the new Chiropractic Association of Alberta on their progress.

Council Executive positions 2021-22

Council Chair, Dr. Brad Kane
Vice-Chair, Dr. Kirsten Baxter
Chair, Finance and Audit Committee, Ms. Patricia Pelton
Chair, Governance Committee, Dr. Kirsten Baxter
Chair, Nominating Committee, Ms. Karen Reschke

Updated direction related to practicing during a pandemic

Council approved the revisions to the ACAC Direction of provision of services under pandemic restrictions. That update was provided to all members on September 21 in a Notice to Members. Council also approved providing the Registrar authority to revise and publish updates to the directive in line with changed Chief Medical Officer of Health orders without the requirement of special Council meeting for approval.

Standards of Practice review and development

The Health Professions Act (HPA) requires College Councils to develop Bylaws, Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which define the conduct, ethics and requirements of a profession. Changes made to the HPA under Bill 46 require the College to prepare new Standards of Practice and provide a draft to Government no later than March 31, 2022 for external consultation. Prior to this time, all regulated chiropractors will have an opportunity for input and engagement on these new standards later this year and into early January 2022.

Skills and Competencies Matrix for the nomination and election of regulated members to Council

Council reviewed and approved documents to support the implementation of a skills and competencies matrix for the nomination and election of regulated members to College Council. These documents, a full nomination package, and more information on the process will be provided to all regulated members via email, and available on the college website, prior to the opening of nominations for the regulated member Council position.

Modification of timelines for renewal, updated College dues structure

In response to changes required by Bill 46 for regulatory colleges and their operations, which will include a provincial registry of all regulated health professionals, Council reviewed and approved changes to both the membership renewal timelines – to meet government requirements – and updated the regulated member fees and dues structure for the standalone, single-mandate regulatory college. Council also approved moving from a quarterly pro-rating to semi-annual prorating, in line with what other regulatory colleges do.

2022 College dues structure

Effective January 1, 2022, the College of Chiropractors of Alberta will have the following annual dues structure.

Regular Members:

Full year $1,900 (licensing between July – December)
Half year $950.00 (licensing between Jan – June)

New Graduate Member:

Full year $950.00 (licensing between July – December)
Half-year $475.00 (licensing between Jan – June)

*NOTE: A Canadian Chiropractic Guidelines Initiative (CCGI) levy of $25.00 will be assessed to all regulated members at annual renewal.

New renewal requirements and deadlines

Bill 46 introduced the requirement of a centralized, online Provincial Provider Registry (PPR) – a single point-of-access registry of regulated health professions for Albertans. The College must change renewal process to achieve compliance with these requirements.

All College practice permits must expire at 11:59:59 p.m. on June 30, the end of the membership year.

New College practice permits are valid at 12:00:01 a.m. on July 1, the start of the new membership year.

There will be no “grace period” or “late renewal” past 11:59:59 p.m. on June 30.

All active College regulated members without an active practice permit at 12:00:01 a.m. on July 1 must show as suspended on the registry with the status of “not entitled to practice”.

The new College of Chiropractors of Alberta will end membership renewal application period prior to the new membership year to achieve compliance with the legislation.

Change in status applications

When leaving practice for retirement, parental leave, or any other reason, the legislation requires, a Change in Status Application to move to a non-practicing category. In addition to College requirements, the College communicates information to stakeholders of the change – including Government, the CCA, the CCPA, third-party insurers, WCB, and others. As this process takes significant time to complete, effective November 1, 2021, the College will implement the following procedures:

Submission deadlines for change in status are 11:59:59 p.m. on the 15th day of every month. The status change effective date will be the last business day of that month. Any change in status application received from 12:00:00 a.m. on the 16th day of the month, or thereafter will be processed on the last day of the subsequent month.

For annual renewal only, submissions for change of status must be submitted by June 15, 2021. Submissions received from 12:00:00 a.m. on June 16 until June 23 at 11:59:59 p.m. will be assessed a $400 late fee. Payment of that fee is required prior to processing the application for June 30. Failure to pay the late fee or filing a change in status application on or after June 24 will result in the regulated member change in status application not being processed before June 30, and the regulated member will move into a suspended category on July 1.

Additional acupuncture program accepted

Council accepted a recommendation from the Chair of the Continuing Competence Committee to recognize the Advanced Functional Needling program as taught by Advanced Therapeutic Programs, as it complies with the requirements identified in ACAC Admin Policy 3.6 – Recognized acupuncture programs.

Council meeting minutes
Approved Council meeting minutes for past meetings are posted on the ACAC members’ website.

Sincerely,

ACAC Council

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Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

11203 - 70 Street NW

Edmonton, AB, T5B 1T1

P 780.420.0932 | F 780.425.6583