Time to Turn Up the Heat on the Insurance Industry
Dear Editor:
I have to agree with Dr. Andreoli [We Get Letters & E-Mail, Jan. 1 issue] in his assertion that DC has focused way too much attention on "fraud" perpetrated by chiropractors versus the fraudulent and often criminal behavior of the insurance industry. He is correct that the fraud is often subjective and determined by the insurance carrier, not any true legal authority.
We should ask ourselves, if the insurance industry behaved in a morally responsible manner, how many of those chiropractors who overtly committed fraud would have taken that step? No doubt a very few would have, regardless. It is important that we not make any excuses for them; yet it would be wise to look into the circumstances surrounding their decision. It may have been desperation, anxiety and even depression that led them down that path. It may have been a billing error that resulted in payment that they took advantage of. It may have been anger at a system that is so blatantly corrupt that they threw in their moral towel and said, "Screw it."
We must not forget that it was the insurance industry's choice to single out chiropractors for unequal treatment and it is the insurance industry that has broadened the definition of fraud to suit its own ends. Another question we must ask ourselves is, at what point does this unequal and overtly hostile treatment of our profession, when broken down, become a violation of our individual civil rights?
If even one case can be made against the insurance industry identifying an act that has singled out a doctor of chiropractic while failing to acknowledge or deliberately snubbing their professional status, there may be a case for civil rights prosecution. When an insurer (or anyone else) deliberately snubs the chiropractor by dis-acknowledging their professional status, it then becomes a personal attack against the chiropractor and any further jibes are meant to cause emotional distress to a person, not a professional.
It is important that DC take up a pro-chiropractic stance when referencing fraud and the circumstances surrounding it. We must not forget that the criminal conduct of the entire insurance industry is aimed at chiropractic. It is also important to understand that it is the insurance industry that is increasingly under fire for its own dubious behavior, and in many cases has been already found guilty of criminal conduct that would have resulted in jail time for most individuals found guilty of the same offense.
We need to turn up the heat on the insurance industry. We need to uncover cases in which insurers have turned their prosecutions into personal attacks so that we may make a case of civil rights violations against the industry. It takes only one case and there are chiropractors out there who know full well that there is more than just one case out there to be made.
Dr. Andreoli is right - we need to focus on our contribution to the world, not the poor decisions a few of our colleagues have made as a result of industry bias against us. It is time we throw off the shackles and beat down our oppressors.
Richard Bend, DC
Monterey, Calif.
"Uncalled for, Wrong and Misleading"
Dear Editor:
I went on the UnitedHealthcare/Oxford provider list recently to see my listing as a provider and was quite taken back by their description of chiropractor. This is what I wrote to them and await their response:
"I was just checking my name online on your website and I'm a little surprised at your description of chiropractic: 'CHIROPRACTOR: A non-physician professional practicing chiropractic medicine based on the inter-relationship between the spinal column and nervous system.' I'm also in 3rd-year medical school but I'm sure your chiropractic 'non-physician' description is incorrect. Chiropractors are physicians, even says so on my N.J. license. Please correct this 'error' by bringing it the attention of your upper brass. I'm sure you can come up with a better description in describing chiropractors as not being a MD, but this is not acceptable."
This is uncalled for, wrong and misleading to the public. Feel free to print this in your publication.
Jay Cohen, DC
Union, N.J.
A Chiropractic Patient Speaks
Dear Editor:
I never could understand all the negative propaganda against the chiropractic profession. As a patient with chronic issues, I've been under chiropractic care for over a decade and it's made a remarkable difference in my overall quality of life. With mild scoliosis and a bulging disc at my L5/S1, I can truly say I would be in a lot worse shape without chiropractic care. With regular visits my back problems are much more manageable. My spine would look like a pretzel by now if it weren't for my chiro. If the people who blast chiropractic had chronic back trouble themselves, I think they would sing a different tune.
Gregory Miletti
Chiropractic Patient
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