The National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys (NACA) met in Charleston, South Carolina on November 10, 2000. NACA members are the attorneys around the country that represent state chiropractic associations, state chiropractic licensing boards, and chiropractic colleges. Along with their usual exchange of information regarding developments in different states, the main item that was discussed by NACA during its general session was the issue of chiropractic e-commerce deals. After extensive discussion, many of the new chiropractic e-commerce deals that are being pitched to chiropractic doctors by entrepreneurs, NACA unanimously adopted the following cautionary resolution:
The National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys cautions chiropractic doctors to carefully scrutinize e-commerce business relationships that involve marketing or sales to a chiropractic doctorÕs patients. The National Association of Chiropractic Attorneys notes that federal and state laws relating to fee splitting and patient confidentiality are not suspended simply because a business relationship involves e-commerce.
The NACA attorneys were concerned because many of these e-commerce deals are being pitched to chiropractic doctors and chiropractic doctors are being told that the usual rules relating to receiving rebates or commissions for patient referrals donÕt apply. This is simply not true and we wanted to make that clear. This resolution is not intended to comment on any particular e-commerce deal, but rather was passed in the hope that chiropractic doctors would consult with their individual attorneys before jumping into any e-commerce deals that involve making a profit on patient referrals.
NACA re-elected Paul Lambert (Florida) president; Michael Schroeder (California) vice president; Bob Hirtle (Connecticut) treasurer; and David Morrison (Arizona) secretary.
Michael J. Schroeder, Esq.
Santa Ana, California
Editor's note: Michael Schroeder is counsel for the law firm of Hart, King & Coldren. He has represented many chiropractic associations over the last 18 years. He has formed over 400 integrated health care practices since 1982. He is the vice president and General Counsel for the National Chiropractic Council, one of the largest providers of chiropractic malpractice insurance in the country, and for the last 14 years has been vice president of the National Association of Chiropractic. In 1995, NACA named him Attorney of the Year.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
