CCA Members Discuss National Health Care in Washington
A delegation from the California Chiropractic Association (CCA) meet with key congressional and Clinton administration members in Washington, D.C., March 30-April 2 to discuss the proposed national health care system. The team's goal was to educate officials and legislators about chiropractic, and to promote the inclusion of chiropractic in health care reform.
The CCA's visit was in conjunction with the 1993 American Chiropractic Association's National Legislative Conference. The CCA legislative team included:
James Peterson, DC -- CCA president
Bradley Sullivan, DC -- CCA vice president, external affairs
Kurt Hegetschweiler, DC -- chairman, ACA's Legislative Commision
Robert Dark, DC -- chairman, Calif. Chiropractic Political Action Committee
Jerilynn Kaibel, DC -- CCA delegate to the ACA; member of the health care task force's Health Professional Review Group (HPRG) (see front page of "DC" May 7, 1993).
Craig Little, DC -- chairman, CCA Industrial Relations
Lowry Morton, DC -- member, ACA Board of Governors, Exec. Committee
Reed Phillips, DC, PhD -- president, LACC
Peter Martin, DC -- president, Palmer West
Garrett F. Cuneo -- CCA executive director
Phillip Recht, Esq. -- CCA legal counsel
The delegation met with California Senators Feinstein and Boxer, Representatives Waxman, Stark, and Fazio, and some 30 members of Congress and their staffs.
Rep. Waxman is chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, and is also a member of the Select Committee on Aging, Health, and Long-Term Care. Pete Stark heads the Ways and Means Subcommittees on Health. The subcommittees chaired by Reps. Stark and Waxman will be reviewing the health care reform legislation.
CCA delegates also met with Walter Zelman, consultant to the health care task force, and Tom Epstein, deputy assistant to President Clinton.
CCA President Dr. Peterson echoed the sentiments of many in chiropractic when he spoke of the "dramatic effect on the future of chiropractic" that the recommendations of the health care task force may have on the eventual health legislation passed by Congress.
Dr. Robert Dark commented that it was "too early to tell what role chiropractic will play in the new health care policies," but noted the "warm welcome" extended to the chiropractic delegation in Washington. Dr. Dark expressed the importance of continual contact with legislators, "... reminding them of the importance and efficacy of chiropractic as the health care package continues to unravel."
The CCA beat back an appeal from insurance carriers that denied a chiropractic doctor compensation for physical therapy treatment that he provided in a workers' compensation case (Grocery Company vs. Brian McClammy).
The case began in December of 1991 when a CCA doctor from Thousand Oaks in Southern California received notice that his entire bill on a workers' comp. case was being denied by an insurance carrier based solely on the carrier's contention that DCs are not legally licensed to perform physical therapy.
A decision in favor of the DC was rendered in February 1992 by Judge Jerold Cohn, the presiding judge of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) for Ventura County. The favorable decision was based on the fact that Rule 302 (the state regulation defining the legal scope of chiropractic practice) specifically provides that chiropractic doctors can render physical therapy to their patients. Rule 302, subsection (2) states:
As part of a course of chiropractic treatment, a duly licensed chiropractor may use all necessary mechanical, hygienic, and sanitary measures incident to the care of the body, including, but not limited to, air, cold, diet, exercise, heat, light, massage, physical culture, rest, ultrasound, water, and _physical therapy techniques_ (emphasis added) in the course of chiropractic manipulations and/or adjustments.Judge Cohn ruled that there were "no cases" holding that services rendered by DCs are not reimbursable under the workers' compensation laws. The insurance company appealed Judge Cohn's decision. On February 26, 1993, the Court of Appeals accepted counsel's argument that the appeal from the insurance company in this case should have never been heard. The petition for another review of the case was denied.
CCA President James Peterson, DC, lamented that such a case had to go the appellate level before it was resolved, and added: "It is my sincere desire that insurance carriers finally understand and accept the chiropractic scope of practice and stop making uncalled for attacks on the chiropractic profession." On a more optomistic note he said, "Rulings like this may make our battles with insurance carriers over scope of practice moot."
Palmer College of Chiropractic West (PCCW)'s President Dr. Peter Martin announced four new administrative appointments:
Mr. Robert Lee -- assistant to the president
Dr. Gerald Waagen -- dean of faculty: responsibilities to include curriculum and faculty development, improvement of the overall quality of PCCW's instructional programs.
Dr. Ilyas Dhami -- environmental, occupational, health, and safety director: tasks to include ensuring PCCW compliance with federal, state, and local regulations of health and safety.
Thomas Gregory, DC -- instructor for gross and spinal anatomy, in addition to his duties as a clinician.
PCCW student Bob Tapia won the annual 3.8 mile Saratoga-Los Gatos Great Race Sunday, January 24. The race drew 1,600 runners from around the San Francisco Bay area. Bob ran the hilly course in a fleet 18.46 minutes.
On March 6th, Bob also competed in the San Jose Mercury-News 10K, finishing 17th out of 8,000 runners. The course covered the downtown San Jose area. Bob finished in a very respectable 32.09 minutes.
"My interest in a chiropractic career has evolved from my athletic background. I plan to specialize in chiropractic sports medicine when I go into practice. I can understand how these athletes feel when they are sidelined with an injury. Their priority is to heal quickly without drugs," said Mr. Tapia.
A six-member site-inspection team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) came to LACC March 10-12 to gather information to assess if LACC will receive recognition from the regional accrediting agency. Located at Mills College in Oakland, the WASC is responsible for accrediting schools and colleges in California, Hawaii, and Guam.
LACC President Reed B. Phillips, DC, PhD, welcomed the WASC team to Whittier at a reception dinner with the help of the board of regents, officers of the college, and representatives of LACC's faculty and student body.
The site visit began with a tour of the 38-acre campus, and over the next few days the WASC team met with faculty, staff, students, alumni, administrators, and the board of regents to seek information about the school, its programs, and its people. A report of the team's findings will be submitted to the accrediting commission of the WASC. The commission will convene in June for a final review of LACC's bid for WASC accreditation.
LACC has held candidacy status with WASC for several years and has had periodic visits by WASC teams to assess the progress being made toward meeting the standards established by the commission. After each visit, a set of recommendations has been made to assist LACC in achieving these goals. In January, the college submitted a three-volume self study which identifies LACC's strong features, and those areas in need of strengthening.
The spring 1993 Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles (CCCLA) was held April 10 in Glendale. The graduation speaker was Dr. Monte Greenawalt, founder and chairman of the board of Foot Levelers, Inc. Also speaking was class valedictorian Donna Sheppard of Mission Viejo, California. The following students received DC degrees:
Starting September 1994, prospective students applying to CCCLA will have to possess more hours of prerequisite courses to be admitted to the college. In March, the CCCLA Board of Trustees voted to increase the minimum requirements for admission from 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) to 75 semester hours (112.5 quarter hours). This change affects all prospective students who begin classes at CCCLA on or after September 1, 1994.
"Given the intensity of the curriculum, the increased admissions regulations will better prepare entering students for academic success at Cleveland College," said CCCLA President Dr. Carl S. Cleveland III.
CCCLA admissions counselors are advising future students to complete additional course work in areas such as English and communication skills.
Fourth trimester students Cindy Dix and Vincent Marcel have reactivated the Thompson Club, at CCCLA. About 15 students attended the organization's first meeting on March 15th. Faculty advisors are Dr. William Jacobson, CCCLA professor, and Dr. Carol Claus, chair of the chiropractic sciences department.
"This is a technique club whose sole purpose is to enhance the knowledge, understanding, and performance of the techniques developed by Dr. Clay Thompson," said Cindy Dix. "Members attending the meetings will gain practical experience in diagnostic procedures, set-ups, and supervised adjustments."
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?
