Page 8 - Jan_Feb 19 Reporter

Insurance UPDATE

Provided by
morneau shepell

MORNEAU SHEPELL'S AbilitiCBT approved
tm

AS ELIGIBLE PARAMEDICAL SERVICE UNDER

GROUP BENEFIT PROGRAMS

orneau Shepell announced on January 15th that workforce than ever before, resulting in a decline in
Mits internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy workplace productivity and overall employee well-
(iCBT) program, AbilitiCBT™, will now be offered being,” said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief
to individuals as an approved paramedical benefit executive officer. “One in five employees will deal with
through several insurance companies. This type of a mental health concern in any given year. Employers
service is typically provided by professionals outside are beginning to understand the need to invest in
the public health system. This launch marks the first accessible programs that maximize care and support
time that Morneau Shepell will provide iCBT directly the performance of their team. AbilitiCBT™ closes this
to individuals. gap by optimizing employers’ benefits programs to
Morneau Shepell’s AbilitiCBT™ delivers include iCBT as a reimbursable paramedical expense.”
"Enabling access best practice, research-based iCBT According to the Centre for Addiction and
through a digital platform that combines Mental Health, the economic burden of mental
directly through therapist guidance with interactive illness in Canada is an estimated $51 billion per
benefit program exercises and activities to improve on year, including healthcare costs, lost productivity
traditional therapy. This state-of-the-art and reductions in health-related quality of life.
insurance program focuses on changing negative With mental health claims costing more and
thought patterns, emotional responses taking longer to treat, an evident need exists for
providers will... and behaviours to reduce absenteeism a long-term, structured mental health program
reduce time spent and improve engagement; shorten return- that is easy for employees to use. Since launching
to-work time frames; and reduce the costs AbilitiCBT™, Morneau Shepell has partnered with a
away from the of managing employees who are living number of employers and insurance carriers.
office for therapy with mental health conditions. “Recognizing iCBT as an eligible paramedical
“Mental health challenges are
appointments." becoming more prevalent in the Insurance Updated continued on page 22...

8 LBMAO Reporter - January-February 2019 www.lbmao.on.ca