Chiro Delegation Meets with Health Care Task Force
On March 3, 1993, the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee (NCHCAC) presented a 223-page report on the role of chiropractic in national health care reform to Hillary Rodham Clinton in the first lady's White House office.
The document, Health Care for the 21st Century, Opportunities for Change: A Chiropractic Perspective, was developed by representatives from the ACA, the ICA, the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations, and the Arkansas Chiropractic Association.
In a second meeting, Thursday, April 29th at the Old Executive Building, NCHCA Chairman Stan Heard led the chiropractic delegation to meet with senior health care task force personnel.
Dr. Heard first met Bill Clinton fifteen years ago. Mr. Clinton told him of his plans to run for state attorney general, and asked for his help. Clinton also confided to him that he had the dream to become governor and president of the United States.
In 1985, Mrs. Virginia Kelley, Bill Clinton's mother, first came to Dr. Heard's office as a patient with acute low back pain. She has been a patient since. Mr. Dick Kelley has also had care over the years, as has the president's brother Roger.
The regional ties the Arkansas Chiropractic Association had with Governor Clinton, and Dr. Heard's relationship with Clinton family members were no doubt in the president-elect's mind when to ask Dr. Heard in November of 1992 to assist in defining chiropractic in the proposed national health care plan.
The Arkansas Chiropractic Association then sanctioned the formation of the NCHCAC. Heading the committee, appropriately, was Dr. Heard, Governor Clinton's 1992 appointee to the Arkansas Chiropractic Board of Examiners. The committee also includes:
Gerard Clum, DC -- president of Life Chiropractic College-West and the Assoc. of Chiropractic Colleges (just appointed to another term to head the ACC); on the board of directors of the Council on Chiropractic Education, the ICA, and the World Federation of Chiropractic.
Arnold Cianculli, DC, MS -- president of NCMIC, on the board of the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, and serves on the New Jersey Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Brad McKechnie, DC -- dean, postgraduate studies at Texas Chiropractic College; has served the past two years on the Texas Workers' Compensation Commissioner's Medical Advisory Committee, a group that has formed treatment guidelines and cost-saving policies in Texas.
Rollie Dickinson, DC -- president of the Arkansas Chiropractic Association, and secretary of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations.
Gaylon Carter, DC -- member and past president of the Arkansas Chiropractic Board of Examiners; president of a chiropractic PPO, chair of the legislative committee of the Arkansas Chiropractic Association and its "1993 Chiropractor of the Year."
Samuel Haley, DC -- vice chair of the NHCAC; serves on Arkansas Board of Chiropractic Examiners; past president of the state association and its "Chiropractor of the Decade."
John Hofmann, DC -- served over a decade as member of the Commission on Accreditation, and the board of the Council on Chiropractic Education; past chairman of Michigan Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Joe Balkman, DC -- served as director and vice president of the Arkansas Chiropractic Association and was appointed to the state board of examiners.
Members of the NCHCAC met with task force officials in February and were asked for input on managed competition, the cost effectiveness of chiropractic, and the role of chiropractors as primary care providers and gatekeepers.
On February 24th, chiropractic educators and ACA and ICA representatives met in Washington, D.C., to form what they termed a "coalition" to mobilize a broad-based lobbying effort (see "Chiro Educators and Assoc. Reps Forge Coalition" in the March 26 issue of "DC"). Chaired by Palmer Chancellor Michael Crawford, the coalition also unanimously endorsed the NCHCAC in its endeavor to provide the Clinton administration with chiropractic documentation.
"Now is the time for chiropractic to take its rightful place in the health care delivery system," said Dr. Heard. Dr. Heard called for the need of broad support for the profession. "Together we can and will make a difference. Now is the time for action. Tomorrow will be too late."
Editor's note: Copies of Health Care for the 21st Century are available through the NCHCAC, c/o Arkansas Chiropractic Assoc., 501 Woodlane, Suite 136, Little Rock, AR 72201. The $25 fee covers reproduction, postage, shipping and handling. For additional information on the proposed national health plan and chiropractic's role, contact the NCHCAC at the same address, or by phone: (501) 375-6441.
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