(from left): Dr. Lowry Morton, ACA chairman of the board; HHS Secretary Donna Shalala; RIchard Miller (ACA, vp of government relations; Thomas Daly (ACA legal council).
The ACA sent Chairman of the Board Dr. Lowry Morton, Richard Miller, and Tom Daly to met with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Donna Shalala April 7 in Washington, D.C. The meeting was the result of correspondence between Secretary Shalala (and other HHS officials) and Dr. Morton.
The ACA officials urged the HHS secretary to:
- clarify that Medicare limitations on chiropractic are not to impact scope of practice or status of chiropractors as physicians;
- review their regulatory policy on reimbursement for x-rays taken by DCs under Medicare;
- correct carrier denial of payment for x-ray services ordered by a DC and when a patient is referred from a DC;
- ensure access to chiropractic services in Medicare HMOs/CMPs;
- appoint a HHS "liaison" to the ACA.
The ACA's proposed HHS liaison, according to Dr. Morton, would be a senior official to facilitate a thorough review of chiropractic issues as they relate to HHS programs and the administration's health care policy.
Brenda Sirois, CA. congratulates Maine Governor Angus King after he and Marc Chasse, DC, (far right) completed the 20-mile snowmiobile trek in sub-zero weather.
(From left): The Chasse family chiropractors, Dan, Roland, Marc, Carl, Kevin, and Tom, total 100 years of service to Maine.
The Chasse Family Celebrates 100 Years of Chiropractic Service
On February 25th Dr. Marc Chasse, with Maine's new governor Angus King (Indep.) aboard, led an avalanche of 25 snowmobiles on a 20-mile ride from Fort Kent, Maine to St. Agatha. The governor took the controls to finish the trip.
Marc organized the drive to introduce the governor to the pristine snowmobile trails of northern Maine, which are rated among the best in New England.
Dr. March Chasse, in chiropractic practice for 33 years in Fort Kent, notes that the Chasse family chiropractors have served Maine for a combined 100 years. His brothers Tom and Roland have been in practice for 26 and 21 years respectfully. Marc's three sons continue the chiropractic legacy: Dan has been in practice for nine years; Carl, seven, and Kevin, four. All of the Chasse chiropractors are Palmer alumni.
(From l): Michael Smatt, DC, chiropractor for Marla Maples Trump and her daughter Tiffany; Robert Debonais, DC, New York Board of Examiners and past executive board member of the council; Julia Erickson, executive director for City Harvest; New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani; Stephen Simonetti, DC, chairman for Project HOPE and executive board member of the council; and Roger Costa, DC, district representative for district four of the council. Photo by Diane Bondareff.
NY Chiro Council Makes HOPE Day a Success
On Helping Other People Eat (HOPE) day, Feb. 13, nearly 100 members of the New York Chiropractic Council opened their doors and asked their patients to bring in non-perishable foods in exchange for chiropractic services. The results were donations of over 50,000 lbs. of food.
HOPE day featured Marla Maples Trump as the project's celebrity spokesperson. Her color photo was displayed on over 1,000 HOPE day posters which the doctors distributed throughout their communities. Dr. Michael Smatt, Ms. Trump's chiropractor, encouraged her to give her time to the project.
For the second year, Waldbaums Supermarket was the official participating food store in the downstate region. Every one of their 91 stores from Long Island to Kingston promoted the event, offering their shoppers the opportunity to purchase HOPE day giving certificates in exchange for a comprehensive chiropractic office visit.
New York Governor George Pataki and New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani offered proclamations praising HOPE day. The event was also acknowledged and written into the Congressional Record by Rep. Jerry Solomon, commending the New York Chiropractic Council and the HOPE day doctors for "their selfless and generous response to the problems of hunger."
(From left): DCs Thomas Pratt and Robin Bruck; Bernard Kraus, 1995 World Pro skiing champion, U.S. Pro skiing champion, and Chrysler Si Series champion; and Dr. Leo Kenney, director of chiropractic care, U.S. Pro SKi Tour. Photo: Lisa Mutz.
Chiropractic Joins U.S. Pro Ski Tour
Beginning with the Telluride, Colorado competition in January 1995, numerous DCs, sponsored by Lloyd Table Company and New England Chiropractic Consultants, have provided care to the racers and staff of the U.S. Pro Ski Tour. Dr. Leo Kenney of North Conway, New Hampshire, was the director of chiropractic care on the tour. The chiropractors have been available to treat injuries at all 1995 sites.
For more information contact Dr. Kenney at (603) 356-2471, or fax (603) 356-8759.
Michael Schmidt, DC, author of Beyond Antibiotics.
Dr. Michael Schmidt's best-selling book Beyond Antibiotics was chosen as the Book-of-the-Month Club's "Health Book of the Month" for December 1994. A Book-of-the Month designation is considered a distinction in the publishing world since several thousand titles are reviewed for consideration. Dr. Schmidt is in private practice and is a visiting professor of applied biochemistry and clinical nutrition at Northwestern College of Chiropractic.
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