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Orange County Chiropractic District
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Memorandum to: ACA Members, Board of Governors, House of
Delegates and Other Interested Parties This week's report includes the following items: 1.ACA, NCMIC, FCER AND PENNYSLVANIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION REACT TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY'S USE OF THE STROKE ISSUE 2. NCLC WAS MORE THAN A LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS 3. PAC ALSO SCORES AT NCLC 3. LEADER TABLE CONTRIBUTES TO THE CAUSE 4. ACA RECOGNIZES PARKER AND FOOTLEVELERS 5. TEXAS PRIMARY UPSET 6. ACA HONORS ITS VOLUNTEERS 7. ACA ENDORSES EZYPAD ACA, NCMIC, FCER AND PENNSYLVANIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION REACT TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY'S USE OF THE STROKE ISSUE It goes without saying that the recent study by a group of neurologists regarding the frequency of stroke was meant to hurt this profession. As you may know, after the study, a group of about 60 Canadian neurologists issued a news release warning of the dangers of neck manipulation. It is interesting to note that one of these 60 neurologists, a Dr Stewart, was reported in the media to have claimed that the news release was more directed toward medical doctors than chiropractors. If this is true, why does the study refer to chiropractic procedures without distinguishing one practitioner from another? It would be tough to convince me that there wasn't clear intent here. But we have to deal with the cards that are dealt and be vigilant about this issue popping up again in the media. Hopefully, the material we have provided the state associations and colleges, which was included in my report last week, will help us maintain a unified message. It appears that we also have to be vigilant about how this issue may be used by insurance companies looking for ways to improve their bottom line. We had such an experience in Pennsylvania. The Health Guard Medical Group, an HMO in Pennsylvania with 100,000 subscribers, took action at its Medical Policy Board Meeting in January and voted to restrict Cervical Manipulation as a carrier benefit, effective immediately. The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association (PCA) heard of this decision and promptly contacted the HMO to confirm that this was, in fact, an official decision. When PCA learned that this was accurate, PCA provided to Health Guard Medical Review Board members with extensive literature on the Practice of Chiropractic and its safe and effective care--especially when treatment is provided to the cervical spine. PCA also called on others to provide the research necessary to bring into serious question the group's decision. ACA , FCER and NCMCI all weighed in to bolster the arguments being presented by the Pennsylvania Association. Dr Louis Sportelli was designated to represent the profession before the group The Pennsylvania Association reported that at the March 5, 2002 meeting of the Health Guard Medical Review Committee, the committee voted unanimously to make the change to its Benefit Package and allow Cervical Manipulation to once again be offered to its 100,000 subscribers. NCLC WAS MORE THAN A LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS Over 350 doctors and students converged on the capitol to promote the profession's legislative agenda. The members of Congress heard the chiropractic message. But NCLC was more than a legislative success, it was also a financial success for the legal action fund. A total of $285,000 was raised in cash and pledges during this period of time. Next week, I will provide a link to our Web site so that everyone who has contributed to the law suit since 1998 can be recognized, including those who contributed at this meeting. Below are the organizations that contributed and, next to their contribution, the total. Organizations
PAC ALSO SCORES AT NCLC There was also support for the PAC during the weekend. Over $10,000 was raised, including $1500 from the SACA chapter at Northwestern, $500 from the SACA Chapter of Cleveland Kansas City, and $500 from the SACA chapter of Texas College. LEADER TABLES CONTRIBUTES TO THE CAUSE Rick Flaherty, President of Leader Table, served as facilitator while contributions were being raised for the lawsuits. He did an excellent job in motivating the doctors and students to contribute to the cause. He personally contributed an adjusting table earlier. Then at NCLC, he made a personal contribution of $1000 and a second table. The total value of the tables and his personal contribution is over $15,000. Rick was a major contributor during the Centennial and is stepping up to the plate again. The major part of his business no longer comes from this profession, but he appreciates the importance of this lawsuit and is willing to make the contribution. I am sorry to say that very few vendors have come forward to show the same level of commitment. May I ask that the next time you purchase products from a vendor, ask about their commitment to the Legal Action Fund. Next week I will provide a link to the Web site listing the contributions by the vendor community since 1998. ACA RECOGNIZES PARKER AND FOOTLEVERS AT NCLC; CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMS At NCLC, Drs Wills and Edwards presented special proclamations to both Dr Fabrizio Mancini and Kent Greenawalt in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Parker Seminars and Footlevelers. It was also in appreciation for their unbelievable assistance at their program in Las Vegas to help us raise $250,000 for the legal action fund and to expose our material on the lawsuit to a group of doctors that we wouldn't have been able to reach. They plan to continue to show this support in the four programs that they have scheduled for the year and we intend to show our appreciation, as well, by maintaining a presence at the program and by encouraging our members to attend. The program at Parker is first rate and deserves our support. The ACA will be staffing a National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund booth at the Parker Seminars in Dallas, April 11-14, 2002. Please join us to get the latest updates from ACA leadership and staff and learn how these lawsuits affect your practice. And don't miss the fresh, substantive seminars by Parker's expert teachers. For more information on Parker's 50th Anniversary Seminar Series, go to: http://www.parkerseminars.com/seminar/Dallas02special.asp TEXAS PRIMARY UPSET! Four-term Congressman Ken Bentsen was dealt a surprising blow to his career on Tuesday. Rep. Bentsen took third place in the Democratic Primary for the Texas Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Phil Gramm. The two democratic contenders, Ron Kirk and Victor Morales, each got 33% of the vote. They will face each other in a run-off for their party nomination on April 9th. The democratic nominee will face state Attorney General John Cornyn in the general election. Reports show Cornyn, who was nominated with 77% of his party's vote, already leading both democratic hopefuls in the polls. The ACA-PAC will monitor this important Senate race in the President's home state. ACA HONORS ITS VOLUNTEERS I have talked in past reports regarding the resources of this organization, which makes it a player in the political world of health. I have bragged about our PAC, our lobbying team, and other financial resources. All of these are important, but this is still a volunteer organization, run by volunteers. And their contributions to the profession are as important--if not more so--than a PAC contribution to a legislator. At NCLC, the ACA President honored five of them. Dr Mario Spoto, delegate from Pennsylvania, for his work with other chiropractic organizations in bringing about unanimous support for our lawsuits against the federal government and Blue Cross/Shield and for coordinating efforts with Kent Greenawalt and Dr. Mancini in spearheading the successful fundraising drive at the Parker Seminars that brought in over $250,000 in pledges and checks. Dr Ken Luedkte, former PAC Chair and ACA President , whose personal relationship with Secretary Thompson going back 15 years provided us with the access to make our case regarding the physical therapists and led to the directive by HHS that physical therapists should not be reimbursed for providing manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation. Dr Keith Overland, delegate from Connecticut, in appreciation for his work in treating over the last few years the U.S. Skating team and, in particular, Derek Parra, the gold and silver medalist. Dr Overland persuaded the ACA and the Auxilary to sponsor Mr Parra over a year ago when he was a virtual unknown outside the skating community. Perra recently cut a pro-chiropractic spot for us. Dr R.J. "Duke" Short. Dr Short is a graduate of Palmer. He has also been chief of staff of Senator Strom Thurmond for over a decade, serving this important role while the Senator served as chairman of the Armed Services Committee. I commented in an early report about the importance of Senator Daschle in getting our VA bill through the Congress. Senator Thurmond and Duke Short were very important in getting the DOD provisions and previous legislative successes through the U.S. Senate and were instrumental in bringing a chiropractor to the nation's capitol to treat members of Congress. Duke Short is not an ACA volunteer, but clearly he and the senator are valuable supporters to the cause and deserved this recognition. Dr Richard Thompson for his great contributions to the Legal Action Fund. Dr Thompson was a former PAC officer who was appointed to the National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund five months ago. During this time, he has spearheaded an effort in Ohio that increased the contributions from the state by over $90,000 This included a personal check for $5,000.. Dr Malcom McDonald, delegate from the Virgin Island. For fifty years of service for this profession. I am sure that Dr McDonald has done many things for this profession. I think the most important contribution is that first in Massachusetts, and later in the Virgin Islands, he pushed the doctors to be involved politically in these areas so that today both Mass and VI are political strongholds for this profession. Thanks, Dr McDonald, for your commitment. A bust of the late Gerald Brassard D.C. , who was a founding member of ACA and served in several positions within the association including ACA President and the ACA Executive Vice President, was presented to Dr Brassard's family and ACA members. The bust, which commemorates Dr Brassard's important work and advocacy on behalf of the chiropractic profession and ACA, will be displayed at ACA headquarters in Arlington, VA. ACA ENDORSES EZYPAD The ACA is pleased to announce our recent endorsement of Ezypad. Developed by Grandom PTY Ltd., Ezypad is an ergonomic mouse pad designed to reduce repetitive motion injuries associated with frequent computer use. According to estimates, 75 million Americans use a computer everyday. The more hours per day spent at the computer, the greater the risk of wrist and arm discomfort, and repetitive motion injuries (RMIs), such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Ezypad's unique 360-degree rotational cushion is designed to help reduce the risk of RMIs often associated with the use of the traditional horizontal computer mouse by supporting the wrist and decreasing shoulder and neck strain, and maintaining the natural movement of the arm. To learn more about EZYPAD, visit http://www.ezypad@jointtech.com/ezypad/ezypad.html or call 949-361-1158. The ACA is always seeking to identify the highest quality products and services available, especially those designed to minimize spinal pain and injury. We would like to be able to better serve the public, doctors of chiropractic, the media, and others. If you would like to recommend specific products for ACA endorsement, please contact Leigh-Anne Perialas at lperialas@amerchiro.org |
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