Keeping the Public Trust

After hearing the presentation of FBI agent Rick Germroth at the annual meeting of the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB), it was not hard to realize that all health care professions have entered a new phase in their relationship with the public (please see "FBI, FCLB -- Working Together" on page XX of this issue).

Health care physicians, once considered among the most trusted members of the community, now are the subject of scandals presented on prime time television.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has established its own health care fraud special unit, and is cooperating with law enforcement agencies across the country to address a problem that is costing the United States $50-$70 BILLION DOLLARS annually.

As the U.S. gears up to address the needs of 37 million uninsured, health care fraud is a major contributor to the outrageous cost of health care. State and federal agencies are dispelling the belief that they are unable to manage health care efficiently by conducting state and nationwide "sting" operations on fraudulent practitioners and professions.

The age of accountability is in full effect, with stiff penalties for those who ignore the demand.

So why should you care? How does this affect you?

The public trust will no longer be kept by health care professions that sit idly by while their members commit acts of fraud that earn them prominent placement on "60 Minutes." The excuse that "every profession has a few bad apples" will not eradicate the problem that most of the licensing boards are reactive rather than proactive. The public wants to know, "What are we going to do about the bad apples in chiropractic?"

The solutions will not be easy, nor will they always be popular.

For our state licensing boards to do the job currently demanded by the economy and the public, it will require a number of efforts:

• New legislation empowering state chiropractic licensing boards with the ability to raise more money (probably from relicensure fees) and keep that money (this many require appealing to the voters).

   

• Additional laws that will enable the boards to become more aggressive when pursuing health care fraud.

   

• Each licensing board will probably need to hire its own attorney(s) instead of sharing legal bureaucrats.

   

• Better participation with DCs in the field to report problems to the board BEFORE we all get to watch it on television.

These are just a few of the needs that must be met now. It won't do this profession any good to produce research demonstrating the efficacy of chiropractic care if at the same time network television is demonstrating that chiropractors can't be trusted.

The days of developing public trust have not died, but our profession has evolved. No longer is every DC practicing because of personal experience and commitment. Chiropractic has become "big business" for a few.

Someone is going to expose the health care fraud in chiropractic. It we do it, it won't become a public relations weapon for the AMA to use.

Encourage your state board to take the necessary steps to keep the public trust. If there are members on your board who are there just to fulfill some political ambition, get rid of them.

If there are DCs in your area that are involved in questionable practices, take two or three colleagues and meet with them. If they won't change their ways, report them.

The FBI is investigating; a multitude of prime time news programs are doing the same. Nothing will remain hidden under the scrutiny of the next few years.

This may sound strong, and it may sound unpleasant, but remember:

THE PROFESSION YOU SAVE WILL BE YOUR OWN.

Chiropractic must prove itself responsible for all its members if we are to keep and improve upon the public trust we now hold. The 90 percent of the public who don't utilize chiropractic are waiting to see what you do.

DMP Jr., BS, HCD(hc)