"E-FACTS" REPORT FROM THE ICA PRESIDENT, D.D. HUMBER, DC, FICA

AUGUST CONGRESSIONAL RECESS OFFERS SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO LOBBY FOR CHIROPRACTIC LEGISLATION:  Members of Congress from both the U.S. House and Senate are enjoying the traditional August Recess, with a strong emphasis in this election year to listening to "the folks back home".  In what is shaping up to be a hotly contested election year, representatives from both major parties are looking for allies and are seeking information on the wide range of health-related issues that will certainly play a central role on this year's election rhetoric.  At the top of the list is the much-disputed Medicare prescription drug benefit.  To date, the competing sides are so far apart that it seems likely that there will be no bill at all this year, making this debate a centerpiece in the campaign.  ICA CONTINUES TO PROMOTE H.R. 2284, THE MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2002, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DRUG DEBATE, AND THE LIST OF CO-SPONSORS CONTINUES TO GROW.  This bill would expand the list of chiropractic services under both Medicare and Medicaid to include exams and x-rays, offering those who cannot or elect not to take advantage of any new drug benefit, an enhanced chiropractic option.  THIS BILL WILL ALSO WRITE INTO THE CONCRETE OF FEDERAL STATUTE A PROVISION THAT:  "Chiropractic services may only be furnished under this title by a doctor of chiropractic." insuring the best protection of the public since subluxation correction would be made an exclusive chiropractic service through this Act.  THIS LEGISLATION OFFERS CHIROPRACTIC'S BEST HOPE FOR IMPROVING OUR POSITION IN THE MEDICARE PROGRAM IN THIS CONGRESSIONAL SESSION! For more information on this important bill, including model letters and the full text of the bill, see ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org.

GREAT NEW OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE COVERAGE NOW AVAILABLE TO CHIROPRACTIC PRACTITIONERS IN THE UNITED STATES:  After months of searching the nationwide insurance markets and hard negotiations with one of the nation's top carriers, ICA is proud to announce the availability of a new occupational accident insurance program that will provide DCs throughout the United States with much needed injury coverage and disability income benefits in the event of any work-related accident.  AIG, one of the nation's most respected AAA rated carriers, is offering doctors of chiropractic a new policy that will provide up to $2000 per month in disability income and up to $500,000 in health care expenses.  IN TODAY'S INSURANCE MARKET, ANY KIND OF DISABILITY COVERAGE FOR CHIROPRACTORS IS HARD TO COME BY!  ICA IS PROUD TO OFFER THIS EXCEPTIONAL PLAN THROUGH ONE OF THE BEST COMPANIES, AT HIGHLY COMPETITIVE RATES.   This program, which is exclusively for chiropractors, offers a host of benefits, including:

Accident health care expenses up to $500,000

Disability income  - up to $500 per week

Accidental death benefit - $50,000 lump sum

Survivor income benefit - $100,000 ($1,000 per week)

Paralysis benefit - $150,000 (lump sum)

No health care professional can afford to be without the kind of safety net this program provides.  Tailored for self-employed professionals, this new package is as complete and comprehensive as anything you can find in the insurance marketplace, all for an amazing $62.50 a month.  THIS COVERAGE IS AVAILABLE TODAY BY CALLING SELF-FUNDED ALTERNATIVES AT 1-800-535-7086!

CLEVELAND CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGE TO CO-SPONSOR CHIROPRACTIC CERTIFICATION IN SPINAL TRAUMA (CCST) PROGRAM.  This unique postgraduate certification program was developed and has been presented by DR. DAN MURPHY for nearly a decade.  This coming year's program will be directly organized and sponsored by ICA's Council on Applied Chiropractic Sciences and will start in January, 2003.  This highly acclaimed ten-module program is perhaps the most useful, and certainly the most highly respected certification program in chiropractic.  The CCST program is designed to equip the doctor of chiropractic with the clinical, practical and procedural skills to improve clinical outcomes in spinal trauma cases and to effectively represent the trauma patient and the chiropractic practitioner in the legal and third-party payment arena.  The 2003 program will kick-off on January 18-19^th in Las Vegas, Nevada and run through October 18-19, 2003.  Information on the CCST program is available through ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org or by calling ICA at 1-800-423-4690.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS TODAY AND PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TREMENDOUS PROGRAM.  IT IS ONE OF THE BEST INVESTMENTS YOU CAN MAKE IN YOUR OWN CLINICAL AND PRACTICE SUCCESS!  The Council Board and its education task force are also hard at work updating and preparing a new Diplomate in Applied Chiropractic Sciences curriculum, featuring the CCST modules as the first year of the program.  We are very proud to work in partnership with Cleveland College, one of the profession's most respected educational institutions, on this great program.  Thanks to Dr. Carl S. Cleveland, III for his support and cooperation as ICA works to serve the chiropractic profession with the best possible postgraduate offerings. 

ICA CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WORLD OF CHIROPRACTIC IN THE STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR CHILDREN AND WILL PROUDLY HOST THE 12^th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHIROPRACTIC AND PEDIATRICS, NOVEMBER 22-24th, IN NEW ORLEANS.   The ICA Pediatrics Council continues to raise the bar on chiropractic continuing education with its superior pediatric conferences year after year.  The ICA's 12^th Annual Pediatrics Conference will be held at the Wyndham Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.  A slate of 12 excellent speakers, all of them experienced practitioners and many of them Diplomates in Chiropractic Pediatrics (of which there are only 100 in the US and Canada) will inform and educate on topics ranging from scoliosis to developmental milestones, vaccinations, pregnancy, working with other health care professionals, protocols of care, how to write/publish/get involved in pediatric research, etc. There will be interactive case discussions, presentation of case studies from the field and three different adjustive/technique workshops.  Altogether there are 14 different sessions, three workshops and six research papers. The conference is co-sponsored by Palmer College of Chiropractic and 21 hours of license renewal credits have been applied for. Registrations are already coming in so call the ICA Pediatrics Council today and get registered immediately.  This is one conference you do not want to miss.  Call ICA at 1-800-423-4690 or 703-528-5000.

OUR FRIENDS AT PARKER SEMINARS INVITE YOU TO TORONTO THIS AUGUST:  The Toronto Parker Seminar is just around the corner, starting August 29^th through September 1st at the Westin Harbour Castle.  We hope you are planning to join 50 years of Parker Seminars as they continue their year-long celebration, "Celebrate the Past, Embrace the Future".  Over 40 presenters and Team Teachers will be there in Toronto sharing the Parker Principles, great practice information and a strong Chiropractic philosophy.     HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

*           "An Evening of Pure Philosophy" during the opening Thursday evening session.

*           The Saturday closing session will feature Dr. Bernie Siegel, the best-selling author of "Love, Medicine and Miracles" and "Peace, Love and Healing."  He will talk about Prescriptions for Living, a message that is sure to touch and inspire all in attendance.  Dr. Siegel, a retired general/pediatric surgeon, is a tireless advocate of the healing potential within each of us.  He is also a strong supporter of the chiropractic profession and a returning presenter for the Parker Seminars.  BEST WISHES TO THE PARKER COMMUNITY ON THIS IMPORTANT UPCOMING GATHERING.

MEDICAL RESPONSIBILITY?  Today's edition of The Washington Post reports that a Boston orthopedic surgeon who left a patient with an open incision on the operating table under anesthesia and went to a bank a few blocks from the hospital to conduct personal financial business has had his medical license suspended.  The doctor in question reportedly took a 35-minute break from a complicated spine operation to attend to his urgent banking needs.  The article does not say whether the "Harvard-trained surgeon" made a routine practice of such banking breaks during surgery but the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine did seem to think that even once was one time too many.  THIS ONE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!