Richard Miller (ACA vice president of Government Relations), and Michael Hogan (asst. director), along with Jerome McAndrews, D.C. (vice president of Professional Affairs), introduced evidence that chiropractic care can and should play a role in reducing costs and increasing access to primary care in any future health care delivery system.
Arnold Ciancuilli, D.C. (president of NCMIC and FCER board member), and health economist Dr. Miron Stano (noted author of many chiropractic cost-effectiveness studies) were also present to lend their support for chiropractic.
Transition team members Atul Gawande (deputy director for health policy), and Bruce Fried (director of health policy outreach) were apprised of studies and information which show chiropractic has taken the necessary steps toward developing a consensus on standards of care, peer review, and outcomes research.
"Our basic point to get across was that DCs ought, for a variety of reasons, be the provider of first choice, at least for a range of conditions that we treat most effectively," said Richard Miller.
Other topics of concern to chiropractic were discussed, including the core-benefit package, managed competition, and possible ways to prevent "gatekeeper discrimination" against DCs due to lingering bias or ignorance.
Michael Hogan said, "While no immediate solutions were adopted, this meeting will serve as a starting point for a productive dialogue with the new administration. These people are likely to have continuing influence, while the debate over how to reform the system wrangles on."
At the request of the transition team, the ACA helped form a coalition among non-MD provider groups which met January 13 at the presidential transition headquarters in Washington, D.C. Among those present were members of the American Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, American Optometric Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, and American Academy of Physicians' Assistants.
"While there was a diverse group with varying levels of membership and varying levels of training, the message was clear," said Mr. Hogan. "We are part of the solution to the problems of cost containment and access, and you (the new administration) must assure that the market works in a fair and open way."
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