In effect, the respective resolutions state that chiropractors have the necessary education and training to treat neuromusculoskeletal disorders and related conditions; that no other health providers have the education and experience required to perform the chiropractic services of manual manipulation and correcting subluxations; and that the "choice of practitioner" provision proposed by HCFA violates the state's right and authority to "regulate and license the professional practice of chiropractic within its borders and to protect the health and safety of its citizens."
"I think one of the reasons this resolution was passed was because the board truly believes that the authority of the chiropractic profession should lie with the states," noted Louisiana delegate Glenn Manceaux,DC. "Spinal manipulation to correct a subluxation is a unique chiropractic service, and this treatment should not be threatened by the government."
New Mexico delegate Gretchen Gilbertson believes it is "crucial" for other states to adopt the resolution. By doing so, she said, "the states make the statement that chiropractors are the only qualified physicians to provide the service of manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation."
"We feel the entire chiropractic profession and all leadership should be involved in this," added Pennsylvania delegate Mario Spoto,DC. "What HCFA is doing is wrong, and this should not interfere with a patient's right to see a chiropractor."
ACA Joins Bone and Joint Campaign
The American Chiropractic Association has joined forces with more than 400 organizations worldwide as part of the "Bone and Joint Decade" (www.boneandjointdecade.org ), a 10-year campaign that hopes to improve the quality of life for people with bone and joint disorders.
The campaign hopes to achieve a number of goals between now and the year 2010, including: raising awareness and educating people about the societal impact of bone and joint disorders and injuries; enabling patients to have more authority in their treatment and care decisions; increasing funding for preventative activities and research; and seeking cost-effective programs for the prevention and treatment of bone and joint disorders.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the American Chiropractic Association to work with numerous national organizations of various disciplines to stress the importance of health bones of joints, and that chiropractic care and other forms of treatment are effective for Americans suffering from bone and joint disorders," said the ACA's Dr. Edward Maurer. "I am hopeful this campaign will bring about many positive efforts in the next decade."
Northwestern Professor Earns AHCPR Fellowship
Craig Nelson,DC, an associate professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University, was recently awarded a two-year fellowship by the University of Minnesota. The fellowship, the first of its kind offered at the school, is federally funded by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.
Dr. Nelson will use the fellowship to study at the school's department of health services research and policy. "This field is concerned with the financing, economics and sociological impact of health care policy and health care reform," Dr. Nelson said.
The department's mission is to provide research-based information and programs that provide more cost-effective health services while improving the quality of life for patients. Dr. Nelson hopes that upon completion of his fellowship, he will be in a better position to influence health care policy through chiropractic.
"There is very little chiropractic-related research from an economic or related role, with very few doctors of chiropractic in this field," Dr. Nelson said. " ... The chiropractic profession needs to have people trained in this field, to be on the inside and negotiate directly to define policy that makes sense for chiropractic."
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