Standard of Practice: Fees and Billing
Bolded terms below are found in the Glossary.
Client Outcome
The client is charged reasonable fees that are fair and explained to them before receiving care.
Registered Massage Therapist Outcome
The Registered Massage Therapist (RMT/MT) charges fees that are fair and equitable, reasonable, transparent, and communicated to the client.
Requirements
The RMT must:
- Keep a financial record for each client that contains the particulars of the services provided, the fees charged and a copy of the receipt issued to the client.
- Not submit an account or charge for services that the RMT knows is false or misleading.
- Not sell or assign any debt owed for professional services to a third party (for example, a collection agency). This does not include paying for services with credit cards.
- Make any penalties for missing or cancelling appointments public and known to the client in advance of their first appointment and inform the client of any changes to the policy thereafter.
Fees must:
- Be communicated to the client prior to providing services.
- Be itemized on a receipt, if requested by the client or a person or agency paying for the services.
- Be posted in a visible location in the practice setting.
- Not differ from the posted fee without noting the rationale and difference in the client’s health record, and without the prior acceptance of the client.
- Not be excessive or unreasonable.
- Not be reduced for prompt payment.
Receipts for Massage Therapy (whether in paper or electronic form) must:
- Include at a minimum:
- date of appointment;
- name of client;
- name of the RMT;
- amount of the transaction;
- signature and registration number of the RMT; and
- HST number (if applicable).
- Only indicate “Massage Therapy treatment” and include the RMT’s registrant number for products and services that are within the Scope of Practice of Massage Therapy. Receipts for products and services outside the Scope of Practice of Massage Therapy must indicate the product or service provided and must not refer to Massage Therapy.
- When a gift certificate is purchased, include the description of the service as “Gift Certificate” and the dollar amount paid on the receipt. When the gift certificate is redeemed, a receipt for the dollar amount of the gift certificate cannot be issued. If the recipient wishes to receive a receipt, then the dollar amount listed must be “gift certificate redeemed” with no dollar amount given.
Relevant Legislation and Regulation
Related Career-Span Competencies (CSCs)
FAQ
CMTO does not set rates/fees for RMTs. RMTs independently set rates/fees for their practice. CMTO provides standards and guidelines that relate to fees, including how fees are communicated, that they are equitable and are fairly applied to clients. For more information on these, see the Standard of Practice: Fees and Billing and Section 26 of the General Regulation under the Massage Therapy Act, 1991. The Registered Massage Therapists Association of Ontario (RMTAO) does publish a fee guideline based on fees commonly charged by RMTs.
RMTs can charge a different fee than posted if they are transparent about the rationale for this change and obtain prior acceptance from the client. This change and the rationale for it must be noted in the client’s health record. For more information, see the Standard of Practice: Fees and Billing and General Regulation under the Massage Therapy Act, 1991. RMTs should use their professional judgement to ensure fees changes do not compromise care or put the reputation of the profession in disrepute. This includes careful consideration of how rates and fees are set, advertised and promoted.
The information to be recorded on receipts remains the same regardless of the practice type and location of the practice. Please refer to the Standard of Practice: Fees and Billing to review the specific information that must be included on a receipt.
