To: ACA Members, Board of Governors, House of Delegates and Other Interested Parties
From: Gary Cuneo
Re: ACA EVP Weekly Report
Date: November 12, 2002 NON MEMBER ISSUE

The following items are covered in this week's report:

1. ELECTION 2002: HOW DID WE DO?
2. PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT HELPS THE CAUSE
3. ACA IN THE NEWS
4. APTA STRENGTH: WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
5. WHERE WE ARE GOING: THE VISION STATEMENT OF THE ACA
6. PARKER IN LAS VEGAS
7. COMMUNITY OUTREACH TOOLS NOW AVAILABLE ON ACA'S WEB SITE
8. UPCOMING DELEGATE ELECTIONS: JANUARY 2003
9. CAN'T ACCESS THESE LINKS?

1. ELECTION 2002: HOW DID WE DO?

ACA supported an overwhelming number of winning candidates in the November 5 elections this year. Here are the numbers to back it up:

We were involved in 97 races in the House. Of these, we won 89 and lost only 7, for a 92% winning percentage.
On the Senate side, we were involved in 14 races. Of these, we won 11 and lost 2 (One seat is still pending a result). This gives us a temporary winning percentage on the Senate side of 79%. Should we win the pending seat, that percentage would jump to 86%. .

While these are pretty impressive statistics, they are not the only reason why our results were impressive. Picking winners (except for the close and targeted races) isn't extremely difficult. Incumbents usually win, and with few exceptions that was the case this year. Making a non- threatening contribution of $500 to a winner is nice, but it certainly doesn't make a statement.

What I think is most impressive about our success was that we became significantly involved in races where the outcome was too close to call. While this is not the safest way to make PAC decisions, it is the best way to get noticed.

Here is a summary of the races that we took a particular interest in, the contributions we made to them, and their outcomes. In many of these races, we also sent letters to our members in the respective states urging support for the candidate. I think you will notice that the majority of these were races that the major networks were declaring as "to close to call" on election day leading up to the vote counts.

· Candidate: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA); Outcome: Victory; ACA's Hard/Soft Money Contribution: $21,630; ACA's Independent Expenditure: $8,050 for the purchase of radio time on 24 Iowa stations (1,440 30-second spots)

· Candidate: Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD); Outcome: Victory; ACA's Hard/Soft Money Contribution: $22,170; ACA's Independent Expenditure: $14,170 for the purchase of radio time on 24 South Dakota stations (2,304 30-second spots)

· Candidate: Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR); Outcome: Loss; ACA's Hard/Soft Money Contribution: $5,000.
· Candidate: Norman Coleman for Senate (D-MN); Outcome: Victory; ACA's Hard/Soft Money Contribution: $5,000.

· Candidate: Jim Talent for Senate (R-MO); Outcome: Victory; ACA's Hard/Soft Money Contribution: $5,000.

· Congresswoman Nancy Johnson (R-CT); Outcome: Victory; ACA's Contribution: $5,000;
· Governor William Jankow for Congress (R-SD) Outcome: Victory; ACA's contribution: $5,000;
· Senator Max Cleland (D-GA) Outcome: Loss; ACA's contributon: $5,000;
· Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Outcome: Victory; ACA's Hard/Soft Money Contribution: $5,000.

We wanted to make a statement, and I think we did that. The only major disappointment from the profession's standpoint was that Senator Daschle lost his majority leadership position with a shift in control of the Senate to the Republicans. Hopefully, this loss will be tempered with the new friends that we have in the Senate. NOTE: The Tim Johnson race in South Dakota is subject to a recount currently being conducted.

2. PRACTICE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT HELPS THE CAUSE

One of the satisfying outcomes of our lawsuits against Trigon and HHS has been the support we have received from many practice management consultants. Dr. Mark Sanna of Breakthrough Coaching is one of the prime examples. Dr. Sanna's ACA-endorsed company has provided our leadership with numerous opportunities to address its clients regarding ACA activities, including the legal action. Recently, Dr Ken Dougherty, ACA's delegate to Florida, spoke to the group in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Sanna presented him with a check for $5,000 for the legal action fund, plus membership applications and legal action pledges from himself and his staff. He was successful in signing up 20 new ACA members and receiving numerous pledges for the legal action fund

3. ACA IN THE NEWS

In my report last week, I mentioned that ACA continues to be called upon by the media nationwide to represent the chiropractic profession on a variety of topics. I have included some links below to original ACA information that has been picked up by other news outlets, as well as stories that were the result of interviews with ACA officials. ACA's holiday safety story was posted on many major news sites, including CBS Market Watch, Dallas Morning News and Yahoo.

· ACA's Holiday Safety Tips: <biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021108/dcffns1_1.html>
· ACA's Pregnancy Tips: <www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancy.html>
· Interview with AMA News: <www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/amnews/pick_02/prsd1111.htm>
· Interview with National Underwriter: <www.nationalunderwriter.com/pandc/hotnews/
viewPC.asp?article=11_4_02_11_7034.xml>

4. APTA STRENGTH: WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

Last week, ACA Council Vice President Dr. Glenn Manceaux, sent me a copy of the 2001 Annual Report of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). In looking through the document, it didn't take me long to see some disturbing things. The first thing I noticed was a picture of two hands on the back of a person. It sure looks like an adjustment about to be done. Secondly, I noticed the emphasis in the article by their EVP in pushing their efforts in seeking direct access under Medicare. But what really got my attention was their annual budget, which gives their drive for direct access a chance to succeed. Their revenue for 2001 was $22,164,125. While expenditures exceed this amount by $2 million, I don't think anyone over there is filing for unemployment. They have a staff of 130 to support their goals. Meanwhile, we have a budget of $6 million and a staff of 40.

I'm sure this information has grabbed your attention as well. An organization whose unstated goal is to push us aside is something we ought to be concerned about.

What can you do about it? First of all, you already are doing something simply by being an ACA member. But you can do something else: Recruit a new member. And if you are uncomfortable about doing this, recommend to us the name of someone in your community you think we should recruit. Just allow us to use your name when we contact the doctor, and provide us with the doctor's address and phone number. Please also let us know why you think he/she isn't a member. Please send your recommended candidate to me at this email address..

5. WHERE WE ARE GOING: THE VISION STATEMENT OF THE ACA

It is surprising how many doctors aren't clear about the Vision of the ACA and what we are trying to accomplish as an organization. Obviously we haven't done a good enough job in communicating this information. Here is the revised Vision Statement of the ACA that was recently approved by the ACA House of Delegates:

"The ACA seeks a transformation in health care, from a focus on disease to a focus on wellness.

In this new health care environment, doctors of chiropractic are respected and widely used for their unique conservative approach, primary care knowledge, hands-on expertise, and effective patient communication skills. The full integration of doctors of chiropractic as decision makers in the nation's healthcare delivery system results in positive outcomes for public health, primary care delivery, and patient wellness.

The ACA, as the profession's preeminent leadership organization , envisions a patient-centered, wellness-oriented and outcomes-driven health care environment, with open access for all Americans to utilize comprehensive chiropractic care. "

This is our vision...now help us achieve it. Sign up a member.

6. PARKER IN LAS VEGAS

It's not too early to think about Parker in Las Vegas, from January 30th to February 2nd, 2003. Register now at www.parkerseminars.com/registration/index.asp.


7. COMMUNITY OUTREACH TOOLS NOW AVAILABLE ON ACA'S WEB SITE
ACA has always worked to help you promote your practice and your profession. Now ACA has tools available on its Web site to enhance your community outreach efforts as well.

The issue of overloaded backpacks is a growing health concern that can be alleviated through education. To assist member efforts to educate children, parents and teachers on the issue, the ACA has developed a backpack safety program with program scripts and abstracts that ACA members can now access from our Web site. Visit <acatoday.com/hot_topics/backpack_safety.shtml>.

You can now view the ACA-developed Derek Parra PSAs and television ad spots on the home page of our Web site. Derek Parra, the Olympic speed skater who won both a gold and silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, touts the benefits of chiropractic in a new, professionally produced Public Service Announcement (PSA) and television ad spot available to ACA members only. PSAs and television ad spots are perfect community outreach tools to help educate your local community about the importance of chiropractic care. Take a look and order a customized video today! Visit us today at <www.acatoday.com/media/related/070102.shtml>.

8. UPCOMING DELEGATE ELECTIONS: JANUARY 2003

Members seeking election as delegate or alternate delegate must signify such intent in writing via certified mail by Dec. 16, 2002, to the Corporate Secretary of the American Chiropractic Association, 1701 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209.

Ballots will be sent Jan. 15, 2003, to voting members in the states of Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, N. Florida, S. Florida, Hawaii, N. Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York (upstate), North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Term of office is two years. For other details of the delegate election, qualifications, and procedures, consult the ACA Bylaws, Article VIII, Section C. <www.acatoday.com/pdf/2002_aca_bylaws.pdf>

9. CAN'T ACCESS THESE LINKS?

Some of you have been unable to download my PDF links. To view these file types, you need Adobe's Acrobat Reader. This is a free utility available at www.adobe.com. If you need further assistance viewing anything referred to in this report, please e-mail me at gcuneo@amerchiro.org.