One of the key points in the lawsuit is that because of HCFA's illegal regulation, non-chiropractors are allowed to render spinal manipulation to Medicare patients in HMOs, and chiropractic care rendered by chiropractors is being eliminated. Nothing drives that concern home like the following information ACA recently received.
The ACA, using the Freedom of Information Act, requested how much chiropractic care was being provided to Medicare patients in large HMOs. Here's just one example: PacifiCare of California reported they had 390,000 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in its plan in 1996. Are you sitting down? Of those 390,000 members, only 38 received chiropractic care, and we don't even know if a doctor of chiropractic performed those 38!
Your support of this lawsuit is critical to its success. Send your checks to ACA's HCFA lawsuit:
Legal Action Fund/
HCFA Lawsuit
P.O. Box 75359
Baltimore, MD 21275
Dr. Michael D. Pedigo is a past president of the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractors Association, and the only doctor to receive the Chiropractor of the Year Award from both organizations. He practices in San Leandro, Calif., and can be contacted with questions and comments via his Web site: www.drpedigo.com.