The California Chiropractic Association (CCA) has been lobbying State Assembly and Senate members from both political parties, educating them about the inequities of current managed health care. The CCA specifically targeted Republican Assembly members because they have already authored two major workers' compensation bills this session.
Chiropractic's role in workers' compensation may become another victim of the state's economic belt tightening. The California state government has been trying to stave off the outward migration of jobs and businesses from the state by examining ways to reduce business costs and create incentives for companies to relocate here. A prime target for reform is in cost containment for the economically burdensome workers' compensations system.
"When it became known that the governor and others were considering workers' compensation reform that would implement an HMO-style system for injured workers," said CCA President Dr. James Peterson, "CCA made sure that legislators were aware of the full implications."
The following letter was sent to Governor Pete Wilson and signed by the twenty Republican state legislators.
Assembly California Legislature
Paul V. Horcher
Assemblyman, Fifty-Second District
Serving the cities & communities of Whittier, Hacienda Heights, La Mirada, La Habra Heights, Walnut, Diamond Bar, West Covina
Capitol Office
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
(918) 445-7550
FAX (916) 324-6973
District Office
16209 E. Whittier Blvd.
Whittier, CA 90603
(310) 947-9878
FAX (310) 943-6397
Vice-Chair
Insurance Committee
Committees:
Judiciary
Labor & Employment
Utilities and Commerce
Republican Drug Task Force
June 8, 1992
The Honorable Pete Wilson
Governor of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Wilson:
The undersigned members of the California State Assembly wish to express our strong concern for any reform of the workers' compensations system that limits the right of injured workers to seek care by chiropractic doctors. We are particularly concerned that any use of managed care systems be provider neutral.
Traditionally, organized medicine has excluded chiropractic doctors in managed care. Until these artificial market barriers are remedied, we cannot support any proposal which authorizes the use of a health care delivery system that disallows chiropractic services.
Many of our constituents utilize chiropractic which has been shown to be a cost effective treatment for industrial injuries. The California Workers' Compensation Institute (CWCI) showed in 1986 that chiropractic doctors accounted for nearly 20% of the services rendered to the injured workers, but accounted for only 13% of the cost. In this time of urgent need for cost controls, we support the efficacious services performed by chiropractic doctors and strongly oppose any provision that inadvertently or purposefully disallows delivery of these services.
As always, we appreciate your interest in our concern and look forward to working with you on the resolution of this important issue.
Sincerely
Paul Horcher
52 Assem. District
Ross Johnson
64th Assem. District
Andrea Seastrand
29th Assem. District
Dean Andal
38th Assem. District
Paula Boland
38th Assem. District
Gerald N. Felando
51st Assem. District
Cathie Wright
37th Assem. District
Pat Nolan
41st Assem. District
Tricia Rae Hunter
76th Assem. District
Tom McClintock
36th Assem. District
James L. Brulte
65th Assem. District
Dick Mountjoy
42nd Assem. District
Bill Baker
15th Assem. District
Tom Mays
58th Assem. District
Phil Wyman
34th Assem. District
Carol Bentley
77th Assem. District
Bev Hatsen
8th Assem. District
Stan Statham
1st Assem. District
Trice Harvey
33rd Assem. District
Chuck Quackenbush
22nd Assem. District
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