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Memorandum to: ACA Members, Board of Governors, House of
Delegates and Other Interested Parties
From: Gary Cuneo
Re: ACA EVP Weekly Report
Date: November 18, 2002 NON MEMBER REPORT
The following items are included in this week's report:
1. NACA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ACA LAWSUITS
2. 1,218 CONTRIBUTIONS IN OCTOBER
3. MEDICARE REFORM PUT OFF FOR ANOTHER YEAR
4. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MEET IN DECEMBER: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON
OUR 2003 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM?
5. MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ACA
6. STATEMENT BY DR. JAY TRIANO ON THE LEGAL ACTION FUND
7. ACA/DEREK PARRA VIDEO AIRS NEARLY 1,500 TIMES ON BROADCAST AND CABLE TV
8. ACA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE LAYS OUT BOLD PLAN
9. FOOT LEVELERS SPONSORS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR LEGAL ACTION
10. IS YOUR PRACTICE VISIBLE IN THE LOCAL PRESS?
11. CAN'T ACCESS THESE LINKS?
1. NACA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ACA LAWSUITS
At a recent meeting of the National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys,
the group reiterated its strong support for the National Chiropractic Legal
Action Fund, making a contribution of $1,000. This brings the organization's
total on-going contribution to $3,000. It is my understanding that our
lawsuits are the only ones that NACA has supported financially.. This show of
support came during deliberations by the group on a number of state and
federal legal issues that affect the chiropractic profession. Mr Daly (ACA
Counsel) and Mr. Shields (VCA Counsel) also had the opportunity to outline
the current status of the case and discuss with individual state attorneys
the continued problems they are having with their local blues plans, and how
a successful outcome will help their situations.
2. 1,218 CONTRIBUTIONS IN OCTOBER
The month of October saw the largest number of contributions to the National
Chiropractic Legal Action Fund since we started raising money for the
lawsuits in 1998. We received 1,000 contributions from ACA members totaling
$133,828, and 218 contributions from non-members totaling $22,872. Total
contributions for the month, including money from other sources, totaled
$172,000. Assisting us in this effort were strong letters of support from
Dr. Fabrizio Mancini and the Wilk Anti-Trust Committee, made up of the
original plaintiffs in the Wilk suit as well as the original fundraisers,
including Dr. Bill Holmberg. While this was an excellent month, we will need
the funds to stay competitive and to prepare for the Trigon trial. .
3. MEDICARE REFORM PUT OFF FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Although the House left Washington, D.C. passing legislation affecting
Medicare, it looks like the Senate will do nothing on the issue. So, it
looks like we are back to square one this January. It's never easy, but at
least we have some new friends in the Senate and the House to help us achieve
our eventual victory.
4. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MEET IN DECEMBER: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON
OUR 2003 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM?
The ACA Legislative Commission will be meeting in December to lay out our
legislative program for 2003, and we want your input. Tell us what you think
the profession needs to address legislatively in order to meet your needs.
You can be assured that your remarks will be shared with the members of the
Commission as they deliberate on the issue. Members of the Commission
include:
 | Dr. Kenneth Padgett, Chairman |
| Dr. Bruce Nordstrom |
| Dr. F. Dow Bates |
| Dr. Paul Smith |
| Dr. Darrell Fore |
| Dr. Kerwin Winkler |
| Dr. Al Norville |
| Ms. Valerie Skow, SACA Legislative Chair |
| Dr. Lewis Bazakos, Board Liaison |
Email me with your concerns and those issues you'd like to see addressed.
5. MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ACA
Last week, my report printed the Vision Statement of the ACA, which states
that the ACA is seeking, in part, a transformation in health care from a
focus on disease to a focus on wellness. I am sure most of you have never
this statement before. This week, I want to share with you our Mission
Statement, which lays out the purpose of our existence:
"The ACA is a professional organization representing doctors of chiropractic.
Its mission is to preserve, protect, improve and promote the chiropractic
profession and the services of doctors of chiropractic for the benefit of
patients they serve. The purpose of the ACA is to provide leadership in
health care and a positive vision for the chiropractic profession and its
natural approach to health and wellness. On behalf of the chiropractic
profession, we accomplish our mission and purpose by affecting public policy
and legislation, by promoting high standards in professional ethics and
quality of treatment and by carrying out a dynamic strategic plan to help
ensure the professional growth and success of doctors of chiropractic."
http://www.acatoday.com/about/
6. STATEMENT BY DR. JAY TRIANO ON THE LEGAL ACTION FUND
There hasn't been an issue since the Wilk suit that has so brought together
this profession than out lawsuits against the blues and against the federal
government.. Recently Dr. Jay Triano, Director of the Chiropractic Division
of the Texas Back Institute submitted the following statement:
"I would encourage each and every chiropractor, clinical scientist and
researcher to donate and support the legal action taken by the ACA. The
lawsuits already are having an effect on chiropractic today and its future
tomorrow. By standing up for the rights of patients, the ACA has put our
detractors and adversaries on notice that inappropriate actions will cost
them. The response in payer and policy maker communities is palpable. By
showing that we are willing to confront the likes of the Federal Government
and large insurance companies engaged in unfair practices, we already are
getting the attention of others when we ask for parity in treatment with
other health professions. For over a year, I have been contributing $100 or
more per month. Regardless of your individual practice style, academic
position or philosophy, I hope you will contribute something, no matter if
it's $25, $50, $100 or more to the National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund.
Our professional sovereignty and the ability to regain control of our future
depends on it."
7. ACA/DEREK PARRA VIDEO AIRS NEARLY 1,500 TIMES ON BROADCAST AND CABLE TV
ACA's video news release (VNR) featuring Olympic gold and silver medalist
Derek Parra aired 1,489 times on broadcast and cable TV stations throughout
the month of May 2002, according to a final distribution report recently
received by ACA. The VNR was broadcast on a newsmagazine called "Health &
Home Report" - which features topics related to consumer health, fitness,
nutrition and lifestyle - and reached an estimated 11.6 million viewers.
Among the media outlets that aired the program were Cablevision in the New
York City area market and Comcast Cable in the Los Angeles, CA market.
In the VNR, Parra discusses the important role chiropractic care played in
his medal-winning performances. And Dr. Keith Overland, ACA's Connecticut
delegate and chiropractic consultant to the U.S. Speed Skating Team, explains
that it's not just the Olympic athlete who can benefit from chiropractic
care. As Dr. Overland points out, even common, everyday activities like
gardening or housework can lead to overuse injuries that could require
treatment.
For information on how you can order ACA's new TV public service
announcements (PSAs) and TV ad spots featuring Derek Parra, see the home page
of ACA's Web site at www.acatoday.com.
8. ACA MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE LAYS OUT BOLD PLAN
I have participated in numerous weekend meetings, but ACA's Membership
Development Committee meeting on November 2nd and 3rd was one of the best.
Membership recruitment isn't a fun task. Frankly, I think it is easier to
secure a $600 contribution for the legal action fund than it is to convince a
doctor to spend $600 to join the organization. But membership is the fuel
that allows us to do the things to help this profession grow, like the
passage of the student loan bill and our insurance and public relations
initiatives. Obviously, we need to do a better job of describing who we are
and what we represent. But I think at our weekend meeting we made
substantial progress in developing a plan that will help our message be
better understood and our organization more effective. Chaired by Dr. Don
Krippendorf, ACA Vice President, the meeting began on Saturday the 2nd of
November at 8:00am and didn't stop until 6:00pm. We started again the next
morning at 8:30 and continued until 3:00pm. Joining Dr. Krippendorf at the
meeting were Drs. Daryl Wills (ACA president); Ken Dougherty (Florida); David
Madison (California); Terry Freitag (Wisconsin); Glenn Manceaux (Louisiana);
Howard Fidler (Minnesota); and Ms. Janelle Whitehead (SACA national chair).
Staff members included Julie Warner de Martinez (ACA vice president of Member
Services); Paula Aviles; Richard Miller, John Wanda and Dean Millard. It was
a real team effort.
Help us in our effort. Recommend a non-member for us to pursue, or sign one
up. Here is a link to the ACA membership application:
http://www.acatoday.com/join.shtml
What do you think we should do to attract new members?
9. FOOT LEVELERS SPONSORS ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR LEGAL ACTION
Foot Levelers, Inc., is planning another excellent seminar, and a portion of
the proceeds earned will go to the National Chiropractic Legal Action Fund.
Scheduled for November 22nd and 24th in Charlotte, NC, and cosponsored by
Northwestern Health Sciences University, the program includes the following
speakers: Dr. Mark Charrette, Dr. William Austin, Dr. Patrick Gentempo, Dr.
John Hyland, Dr. David Jackson, Dr. Kirk Lee, Dr. Jeff Olsen, Dr. Terry
Yochum and Dr. Wayne Zemelka.
Don't miss this excellent program...and help the legal action at the same time!
Call 1-800-553-4860, or register on-line and get a $10 discount at
www.footlevelers.com.
10. IS YOUR PRACTICE VISIBLE IN THE LOCAL PRESS?
To obtain local press coverage you need to know what makes interesting news.
Pay attention to what local reporters cover and then ask yourself these
questions about your proposed press release or article: Does it affect others
in the community? Is it controversial or remarkable in some way? Does it
fit a current trend? Try it out on a friend for honest feedback. If you get
a yawn, try a new angle.
Media tips like the one above can be found in our newly revised Practice
Promotion Tool Kit. The kit also contains valuable background information and
research; sample news releases, letters to the editor and advertisements that
you can customize for submission to your local paper. This is the perfect
tool for new and established doctors of chiropractic to promote their
practice in their local community.
ACA Member Price: $49.95; Non-Member Price: $99.95
Order Item PPTK.
To order, call 800-368-3083 or visit us at
http://www.lighthousemarket.net/acastore/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2&pf%5Fid=1
11. 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.
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