NCMIC Insurance Company has been given a rating upgrade to "A" (excellent) by A.M. Best Company. NCMIC received an "A-" rating from A.M. Best in 1995.
NCMIC was founded in 1946 and is the largest provider of chiropractic malpractice insurance in the nation. A.M. Best, established in 1899, is the oldest and most respected insurance rating agency in the United States.
The "A" rating, according to A.M. Best, is assigned "to companies which have, on balance, excellent financial strength, operating performance and market profile when compared to the standards established by the A.M. Best Company. These companies, in our opinion, have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations."
Professional Examination Service (PES) has awarded the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards a $3,500 grant in support of a planned credentialing conference, "Understanding Chiropractic: Credentialing Tools for Health Plan Organizations." A credentialing seminar is scheduled to take place in Denver this fall.
Robert Vaughn, DC, FCLB's immediate past president, has been appointed to develop the program. "We intend to define chiropractic education and accreditation, licensure and regulation, including verification of board actions through CIN-BAD, specialty certification, fraud identification and varying scopes of practice."
"We have been deluged with cries for help from our many subscribers to CIN-BAD," noted FCLB President Dr. Larry Gerstein. "As chiropractors are added to the mainstream of insurance participation, confusion about chiropractic credentials is clearly the focal point."
Also nearing completion is the creation of supportive reference materials on chiropractic credentialing, which is funded by a three-year, $165,000 development grant from NCMIC.
For more information, contact the FCLB at (970) 356-3500 or at fclb@fclb.org.
Nalyn Marcus, DC, has been honored by the Two Rivers Area (Pennsylvania) Women's Chamber of Commerce Business Council with the 1999 Athena award. The annual award honors a woman who has demonstrated excellence, creativity and initiative in her business, served the community to improve the quality of life of others, and has assisted other women in reaching their potential.
A 1990 graduate of Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic, Dr. Marcus opened her practice in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania the following year. Her patient education tips come in three languages: English, Spanish and American Sign Language. She has also established a chiropractic scholarship fund to assist single mothers entering college.
Dr. Marcus serves on the board of directors for the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations, and is a member of Sherman College's board of regents and the Lyceum advisory committee. She has received the "B.J. Palmer Philosophy Distinction" award, and was named the "1996 Chiropractic Career Advisor of the Year."
The American Academy of Pain Management has named Arnold Sandlow, DC, to its board of advisors. A 1979 graduate of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, Dr. Sandlow is the only chiropractor on the AAPM's advisory board.
As a member of the board of advisors, Dr. Sandlow will assist the Academy in advancing the field of pain management in individual credentialing, program accreditation, outcomes measurement and postgraduate education.
The AAPM's website is www.aapainmanage.org.
The Wisconsin Blast, an expansion team in the fledgling International Basketball Association (IBA), has named DCs Ron Fischer and Cyndi Schmieder as the club's official sports care providers.
"This is an exciting opportunity for us," enthused Dr. Fischer. "The management and coaching staff was impressed with our ability to handle the responsibilities of team doctors."
Dr. Fischer, a graduate of Northwestern College of Chiropractic (1989), has provided sports care at the Badger State Games, the Fox Cities marathon, and at local rodeo, soccer and rugby tournaments. Dr. Schmieder has also provided care at the Fox Cities marathon and has worked with the athletic training staff at Fresno State University in California.
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?
