The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Duke University Center for Health Policy Research and Education, have invited peer review nominees from 35 organizations, four of which are chiropractic, for the AHCPR-sponsored seven-stage report on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic headache pain. (See "AHCPR and Duke to Produce Headache Evidence Reports" in the 5-31-97 issue.)
The four chiropractic organizations invited to present nominees are: the Council for Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters; the American Chiropractic Association; the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research; and the Consortium for Chiropractic Research.
At press time only the ACA had named its nominees: DCs Craig Nelson, Pat Boline, Monica Smith, and Eric Hurwitz. The panel members selected will be the peer reviewers on reports developed on migraine and tension headaches.
"We're hopeful that the new group of peer reviewers will come to some positive conclusions about the appropriateness of chiropractic treatment for chronic headache pain," commented ACA President Michael Pedigo, DC. Dr. Pedigo noted that while these reports will not be presented as clinical practice guidelines, they will be used by many managed care and insurance groups "as the basis for practice and quality assurance guidelines."
