At a public hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Workers' Compensation in Austin, Texas, Dr. Rosner delivered testimony related to the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care. Taking issue with the WCRI's findings, he emphasized:
- The sampling frame of chiropractors chosen must be truly representative of all practitioners within the state. Detailed information must be presented indicating the distribution of costs, number of visits, and the numbers of procedures within that sampling frame.
- Details of the actual comparative outcomes of claimants through different providers must be furnished.
- Bundling and billing of all services provided must be clearly spelled out.
- The case mix between providers compared must be more clearly matched in severity.
- The actual sum of benefits paid out to chiropractors is a "miniscule" fraction of the 16 percent to 33 percent of workers' compensation expenditures for back pain.
In November 2001, Dr. Rosner first faced off with the WCRI, testifying for the Pennsylvania legislature; the resulting report was released through the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) in 2003. Dr. Rosner also participated in the All-Committee meeting for the International Association of Industrial Accidents Boards and Commissions, held in Kissimmee, Fla., earlier this year.
Dr. Rosner's testimony is available online at www.fcer.org/html/news/texasWC.htm. A 30-page report responding to recent WCRI reports is obtainable from COCSA: www.cocsa.org.
Chiropractic in the Military Health Care System: Resources
The U.S. Defense Department currently accommodates chiropractors at 42 facilities. Due to the overwhelming interest expressed by doctors of chiropractic in serving members of the military, the ACA has provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
How can a DC obtain information about care in the military health system? Monitor the Defense Department's Chiropractic Health Care Program home page: www.tricare.osd.mil/chiropractic/default.htm, or call the ACA Government Relations dept.: 800-986-4636.
To whom should a DC submit a resume/CV if interested in treating active-duty U.S. Army or Air Force personnel? Resumes should be submitted directly to the private companies selected by the Army and Air Force to employ chiropractors and their staff. The two main points of contact are:
Army: Sgt. Ric Rodriguez (ret.)
Aliron International, Inc.
5257 River Road, #400
Bethesda, MD 20816-1415
254-542-4505
www.aliron.com
Air Force: Ron Miles
Cherokee Nations Industries
18945 FM 2252, Suite 115
Garden Ridge, Texas 78266
210-651-0027
To whom should a DC submit a resume/CV if interested in treating active-duty U.S. Navy or Marine Corps personnel? The Navy announces openings for chiropractors in the classified ads sections of local newspapers and in chiropractic publications such as DC. For the most current information, DCs should continually monitor the Naval Medical DCs should continually monitor the Naval Medical Logistics Command home page: www-nmlc.med.navy.mil/acquisitions/isa.asp. Actual jobs are listed at specific sites, and related paperwork is available on the page.
How about treating retired military personnel? The ACA is currently campaigning for passage of H.R. 3476, a bill before Congress designed to ?extend chiropractic care benefits to military retirees, dependents and survivors, and to create new opportunities for DCs.? More information is available at www.acatoday.com or through ACA Government Relations.
DC Shows Appreciation to New York Guard
PEEKSKILL, N.Y. - Alan Creed, DC, provided a free seminar for members of the Chiropractic Services Unit (CSU) of the 244th Medical Clinic of the New York Guard (NYG) on March 30, 2004, as a show of appreciation for their assistance after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
CSU chiropractors were on hand shortly after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, to provide hundreds of treatments to individuals helping rescue and recover victims. On one of their more productive days, the NYG provided more than 200 adjustments. Dr. Creed, a U.S. Army veteran and past veterans post commander, was inspired by those efforts, and wanted to help.
Dr. Creed's seminar was held at Camp Smith, training base for the NYG. During the event, he demonstrated his technique of instrument adjusting and protocols for evaluation, treatment and assessment of soldiers' health issues from the perspective of the chiropractor, patient and technique. CSU attendees received continuing education credits from Texas Chiropractic College.
During welcoming remarks for the event, LTC Patrick Delamere, DC, NYG chief of protective services, and MAJ Floyd Miller, DC, NYG deputy chief, enthused: "It is a proud day in the history of the CSU ... The chiropractors of the NYG were the first fully commissioned chiropractors in any military organization, and the fact that we could host such a prestigious seminar is a further sign that chiropractic and the military are to be partners in the 21st century."
Dr. Creed maintains a practice in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Dr. William Pratt: WSCA Chiropractor of the Year
Among those honored at the annual conference of the Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) in Tukwila, Wash., was charter member Dr. William Pratt, who received the organization's "Chiropractor of the Year" award. Dr. Pratt was also honored with the "President's Gavel," in recognition of his outstanding service as president of the WSCA Board of Directors.
Dr. Pratt is also a past president of the North Central Washington Chiropractic Association and a board member of the North Central Washington Chiropractic Independent Physicians Association. A 1970 Palmer graduate, he is also chairman of the Chiropractic Advisory Committee to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and a member of the Washington Chiropractic Trust. Dr. Pratt operates his own clinic in Cashmere.
Also honored at this year's conference was Donald W. Olson, DC, named the WSCA's "Volunteer of the Year," for "extraordinary dedication and years of service to the chiropractic profession." Francis "Butch" Corbin, DC, received the Pioneer Award, after recently completing a term on the board of directors. He is a founding member of the WSCA.
Life West: Student Council Officers Named; Scholarships Awarded
Student council officers were recently elected by their peers at Life Chiropractic College West (LCCW) to serve three-quarter terms (spring, summer, fall). The four students are: David DeBonis (Spring Valley, N.Y.), president; Topher Ruegg (Madison, N.J.), vice president; Mascha Williams (Springfield, Va.), secretary; and Kara Waltz (Westerville, Ohio), treasurer.
LCCW student Brandon Holmes was also honored with two awards: the quarterly Michael Beddoe Memorial Scholarship and the Student Achievement Award. Both honors were the result of his high grade-point average, college involvement and volunteer work for his college and community.
Brandon is a graduate of Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, Calif., and earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from California State University, San Luis Obispo, prior to attending Life West.
Technique Pioneer Dr. James Cox Volunteering at Palmer
The developer of the Cox distraction manipulation (flexion distraction) technique, Dr. James Cox, is volunteering his time to train 10 Palmer College of Chiropractic technicians, who will use their knowledge to treat subjects in studies associated with the technique.
Dr. Cox was at the Palmer campus in Davenport, Iowa in April for initial training sessions, preparing clinicians for low back pain research scheduled to take place at the Palmer Chiropractic Research Clinic (PCRC) over the next several months.
Robert Rowell, DC, PCRC director, commented on Dr. Cox's participation: "It's quite a coup to have Dr. Cox be able to train our clinicians in the technique he developed. He requested to talk to students and faculty while he was here on campus, so it's clear that he is dedicated to expanding future chiropractors' knowledge of research."
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