"E-FACTS" REPORT FROM THE ICA
PRESIDENT
On behalf of the officers, Directors, Assembly Representatives, Postgraduate Council officers, and the staff of the ICA, I want to wish you a very healthy and Happy New Year. As 2002 draws to a close, I want to express my sincere thanks to all who have contributed to the worldwide efforts of the ICA on behalf of chiropractic practitioners and patients in many lands, on many fronts and in many languages; all united in a commitment to our great profession.
Over the past year it has been my responsibility and my pleasure to communicate with you through these reports in an effort to keep you apprised of ICA's projects, programs and priorities, as well as breaking news in the chiropractic profession. In the coming months, I look forward to continuing this communications effort, expanding and enhancing ICA's outreach with more of the news and action information on the issues that will shape chiropractic and the world of health care in 2003 and beyond. Please never hesitate to share your ideas, needs and concerns with us, since ICA is here to serve, and our first priority is your chiropractic success.
I look forward to a great new year, with the inevitable challenges as well as the tremendous new opportunities for ICA and for chiropractic. I know that together, we can continue to build our beloved profession and serve more and more of the hundreds of millions of people around the globe who so urgently need what only chiropractic can give. Once again, Happy New Year!
Yours in Service,
D.D. Humber, DC, FICA
ICA President
MICHIGAN GOVERNOR SETS POWERFUL PRECEDENT FOR PATIENT PROTECTION: The Michigan Chiropractic Association (MCA), ICA's affiliate state organization in Michigan has reported some very exciting news that is of great importance to all other state chiropractic communities and organizations. FROM THE MCA: Governor John Engler helped protect Michigan residents by signing an important patient protection bill into law this past weekend. Senate Bill 1121, known as the MCA Patient Protection Bill, will help clear up widespread confusion in relation to who is trained to provide chiropractic care. For Michigan residents, the bill means that only the most qualified will be able to provide chiropractic care. Because of the popularity of chiropractic, some massage therapists, physician's assistants and other health care providers have taken weekend training in manipulation and then advertise that they can provide chiropractic care. "There is currently a lot of confusion in the minds of the public," said MCA Legislative Chairman and former ICA Vice President, Dr. Tim Tarry of Lansing. "The passage of this bill helps assure that only highly trained chiropractors can say they provide chiropractic adjustments."
The bill will prohibit individuals not licensed in chiropractic from holding themselves out to the public as being able to perform chiropractic services. It will ensure the public will receive chiropractic care only from doctors who have gone through the unique and extensive training required for the chiropractic degree. The bill emphasizes chiropractic as a distinct field of health care only to be performed by doctors of chiropractic.
MCA lobbyists, Steve Scofes and Del Chenault and MCA Legislative Chairman Dr. Tim Tarry were the originators of the bill and have worked tirelessly over the past two years to ensure its passage. "Gaining such unanimous support for MCA legislation is a milestone in the history of the MCA and in chiropractic," said MCA lobbyist Steve Scofes.
"After a standstill in the passage of chiropractic bills, this is the first stand-alone chiropractic bill to be passed in 24 years," said Senator Bill Bullard, sponsor of the landmark bill. "This piece of legislation benefits the entire chiropractic profession. If it weren't for Steve Scofes and Dr. Tim Tarry of the MCA bringing this legislation to me two years ago, this bill would not have passed. This is their bill."
The momentum of the bill was amazing as it was voted through the House with a 97-3 vote and passed the Senate unanimously before being signed into law by the Governor. Senator Dale Shugars (R-Portage), Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee and Representative Steve Ehardt (R-83), Chair of the House Health Policy Committee, played a major role in the passage of the bill, as they passed the bill out of their respective houses. Senate Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) was also very instrumental in the passage of the bill and recognized the MCA as one of the most professional associations in Michigan. "The honesty and commitment of Steve Scofes, Del Chenault and Tim Tarry made it much easier for me to vote for passage of the bill," said Senator Joe Schwarz. "This bill's passage is a tribute to their the hard work and to the solid reputation of the MCA."
DCs FROM ACROSS THE NATION ARE SPEAKING OUT ON FCLB-CCE PROPOSAL ON CONTINUING EDUCATION: Nearly 200 doctors of chiropractic from every state in the United States have provided input to the ICA in response to last week's call for comment on the so-called PACE proposal by the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) and the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE). Concerns on the part of doctors in the field range from added costs for re-licensure credits to demands for examinations for every course, to grave fears over the possible arbitrary limitations on subject matter. ICA has convened a study group chaired by Dr. Gary Walsemann, ICA Board Member and Chair of ICA's Legal Affairs Committee, to review this proposal in detail and to offer a carefully considered response to what, on the surface, raises very serious considerations in many areas. ICA will be issuing a detailed report on this matter after the New Year. According to the FCLB release of December 20th:
Entitled PACE - Chiropractic (Providers of Approved Continuing Education -
Chiropractic), the program sets forth a system of outcome-based Criteria to
address both in-person and distance learning methods...As envisioned, the PACE
Criteria will be established and maintained by the Council on Chiropractic
Education, and applied by the PACE Committee of the FCLB.
Briefly, the PACE program is designed as
follows:
1. Chiropractic
regulatory boards allow for PACE approval, while retaining the current
individual approval process as well
2. CE providers seek recognition for their institutions or organizations
3. PACE Recognized Providers register courses with FCLB
The draft PACE design (including the Policies & Procedures and Criteria) is posted on the Federation's website at www.fclb.org. Contact: Donna M. Liewer, FCLB Executive Director 970-356-3500 / FAX 970-356-3599 or by e-mail at dliewer@fclb.org.
ICA urges all in chiropractic who are concerned about the potential for adverse impact of this program to review and comment on the FCLB proposal. It is essential, however, to respond based on a close reading of the proposal, item by item, so as to provide the FCLB with a substantive and clear representation of your concerns. We at the ICA are gratified at the serious response to this proposal and the active involvement of so many in the field in reviewing such an important and controversial initiative.
DATES TO REMEMBER: Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma (CCST) program kickoff, Jan. 18-19th, 2003, with Dr. Dan Murphy, Las Vegas, Nevada; New Era in Whiplash & Spinal Trauma Part I with Dr. Dan Murphy, January 11-12th, 2003 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, January 25-26th, Houston, Texas, and February 1-2nd in Portland, Oregon; New Era in Whiplash and Spinal Trauma, Part II featuring Dr. Richard Christie, Esq., February 1-2nd, 2003, Cromwell, Connecticut; Chiropractic Without a Doubt, with Dr. Steve Hoffman and Dr. Robert Braile, February 22-23rd, Dallas, Texas; 11th Annual ICA Symposium on Natural Fitness Featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, February 28th-March 2nd, 2003, Columbus, Ohio; Inaugural Conference on Chiropractic Philosophical Standards, sponsored by ICA's new Council on Chiropractic Philosophy, Kansas City, Missouri, May 17-18, 2003.
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