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

CHIROPRACTIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETS MARCH 25-26th IN WASHINGTON, DC:  ICA representatives were present for the entire proceedings of the third meeting of the Chiropractic Veterans Advisory Committee held over a two-day period in Washington, D.C. on March 25-26, 2003.  The Committee continued its congressionally mandated mission of developing recommendations for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the implementation of a permanent chiropractic benefit for veterans.  This session addressed a number of key issues such as scope of practice, core chiropractic privileges in VA facilities and the vitally important matter of direct access to chiropractic care.  ICA Board Member Dr. Michael S. McLean who serves on the Committee, reported that he felt that the direction of Committee deliberations was quite positive and despite the need to continuously work to establish a better understanding of the potential role of chiropractic in the DVA system on the part of the non-chiropractic members, there is every reason for optimism on the eventual Committee recommendations. 

ICA offered comment at the March 25^th session, focusing on the vital issue of direct access by veteran beneficiaries to chiropractic care.  ICA Executive Director Ronald M. Hendrickson told the Committee, in part: 

At the top of ICA's list of concerns is the need for unhindered, timely, direct access to chiropractic care for the veteran patient.  ICA emphatically holds that in accessing chiropractic care, no mandatory referral requirement should be a part of the chiropractic program. The availability of chiropractic care should be at the request of the patient.  Other key federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, federal worker's compensation and FEHBP programs provide for direct access.  Indeed, direct access is the norm in the health care system for the chiropractic patient. All laws and regulations in the United States allow any citizen to seek the services of the doctor of chiropractic without referral from any other provider. Individuals are free to seek chiropractic care on the same individual initiative basis that applies to other direct access providers. 

The matter of direct access should be seen for what it is, a responsible, viable and practical administrative method to provide timely care.  This discussion should not be confused or obstructed by a debate about the role of the doctor of chiropractic in "primary care".  The doctor of chiropractic is, under the laws of all fifty states, a direct access, first professional degree level provider who serves as a portal-of-entry into the health care system...What is essential to guarantee unfettered and timely access to chiropractic services is the establishment of a clearly identified care option open to qualified beneficiaries which they would be free to seek, without the requirement of a referral from another health care professional...Direct access provides for clarity in decision making, empowers the patient and establishes an effective means of access that will not delay, confuse or otherwise prevent a beneficiary's access to the care of first choice, while waiting for a referral that may be slow in being provided or, never come at all. 

The full text of ICA's comments is available by clicking here or by calling ICA at 1-800-423-4690.  The Advisory Committee will continue to meet in the coming months until its mission ends, as provided in the statute that created it in December 2004.

U.S. SUPREME COURT HANDS DOWN MAJOR VICTORY TO HMO CRITICS:  In an historic and far reaching decision handed down by the United States Supreme Court on April 2nd, managed care plans can no longer impose discriminatory limitations on access to participation on the part of willing providers.  This case, Kentucky Association of Health Plans v. Miller, 00-1471, was hotly contested by the managed care establishment, and despite the arguments of the managed care industry lawyers, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states can force HMOs to open up their doctor networks, upholding a practice used in about half the states to give patients broader health care choices.

The ruling is a shocking blow to the grip the managed care industry thought they had on the health care marketplace, and proved that their arguments, which centered on the assertion that closed networks are more cost-effective because doctors and hospitals that join agree to accept lower fees in return for a guaranteed stream of patients, were simply not convincing when held up against patient and provider rights of access.

ICA has had the passage of any willing provider laws on the top of its state legislative priority list for several years and encourages all state chiropractic communities in jurisdictions where this protection is not in place to mobilize to enact such a bill.  ICA's State Legislative Task Force, chaired by Dr. Donald Hirsh, has prepared an "Any Willing Provider Resource Book" to assist in such efforts. 

The Supreme Court decision validates the so-called "any willing provider" laws passed by state legislatures requiring managed care networks or insurance companies to accept out-of-network health care providers, if in return, those providers agree to the insurer's reimbursement rates and contract terms. The laws affect HMOs in all areas, but are particularly helpful to patients in rural areas or small towns, where health care choices are limited. In those areas, patient sometimes have to drive many miles to see an in-network health care provider.  The Kentucky statutes were challenged by a group of HMOs and an industry trade association. The case turned on whether the laws regulate insurance, which states are allowed to police, or regulate employee benefits, an area reserved for Congress.  The Bush Administration, in a somewhat unexpected turn, had asked the court to uphold the Kentucky laws.

ICA PEDIATRICS COUNCIL TO HOST A SUPER SPECIAL WEEKEND SEMINAR ON CHIROPRACTIC PEDIATRICS AND PREGNANCY:  Dr. Joan Fallon and Dr. Lora Tanis will be the featured speakers at an outstanding continuing education program set for June 7-8 in Arlington, Virginia, sponsored by the ICA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics.  Dr. Fallon and Dr. Tanis represent the best in pediatric instruction from experienced full-time practitioners with successful pediatric practices.  The seminar, co-sponsored by Palmer College of Chiropractic, is approved for 12 hours license renewal credits in Virginia and credits have been applied for in West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. 

Topics addressed will include how vertebral subluxations affect the pregnant patient and how to detect and correct them; specific adjusting techniques to correct in-utero constraints, including breech-turning; procedures for examination and assessment of newborn, toddler; radiology of the pediatric patient; hands-on adjusting demonstrations using a teaching doll; macro and micro-traumatic experiences of childhood that may lead to the creation of subluxation (prenatal, natal and post-natal); the basis of the 3T's in children with ADD, ADHD and Autism; procedures for working with and adjusting the difficult child, plus much more. Attendees will leave this seminar more knowledgeable, more confident about adjusting kids and more enthused about what they do!

The seminar will be held Saturday, June 7 (Noon-6 pm) and Sunday, June 8 (8 am-2 pm) at the Holiday Inn Arlington, 4610 N. Fairfax Drive in Arlington, Virginia.  To register, call the ICA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics at 800-423-4690 or 703-528-5000.  Early-bird discounts end May 23^rd. Sign up today!

NATIONALLY SYNDICATED NEWSPAPER COMIC STRIP HIGHLIGHTS CHIROPRACTIC:  The widely read "Broom Hilda" comic strip featured an amusing and very positive depiction of the role chiropractors play in caring for the daily health needs of people. The March 23^rd edition of the comic strip showed a chiropractor's office filled with people injured doing their Spring gardening.  While comic, the intention of the creator Russell Myers served as a reminder to millions of readers that doctors of chiropractic are there when you need them, whatever the season.  To view this great positive message, visit the Broom Hilda website at http://www.comicspage.com/broomhilda/ and go to the March 23^rd archive. 

SPECIAL NOTE TO ICA MEMBERS:  REMEMBER, APRIL 14^th IS THE NATIONWIDE HIPAA COMPLIANCE DEADLINE!

DATES TO REMEMBER: Certification in Chiropractic Spinal Trauma (CCST) program Module 4, Accident Imaging: X-Ray, MRI, CT, VF, and Analysis with John Donofrio, DC, April 5-6^th, Las Vegas, Nevada; New Era in Whiplash & Spinal Trauma Part I with Dr. Dan Murphy, June 7-8^th, Baltimore, MD; Chiropractic Pediatrics and Pregnancy with Dr. Joan Fallon and Dr. Lora Tanis, June 7-8 in Arlington, Virginia; New Era in Whiplash and Spinal Trauma, Part II featuring Dr. Richard Christie, Esq., April 26-27th, 2003, Sacramento, CA; Inaugural Conference on Philosophical Chiropractic Standards, sponsored by ICA's new Council on Chiropractic Philosophy, May 17-18, Kansas City, Missouri.