ACA Creates Task Force on Managed Care

During the January 31 meeting of the ACA's board of governors in Dallas, Texas, the board unanimously voted to create a special task force on managed care, and elected Jerome McAndrews, D.C., as task force chairman.

The vote took place following the presentation of an ACA staff report titled "Changing Currents in Health Care: ERISA Preemption; Managed Care; Minimum Benefits Laws -- A Threat to the Future of the Chiropractic Profession." The report was prepared at the direction of ACA chairman of the board, David Redding, D.C., and authored by Tom Daly, ACA staff counsel; Helen Ferguson, director of state relations; and Richard Miller, director of governmental relations.

The major conclusion of the report stated: "The single most important issue now confronting the chiropractic profession is ... the need to assess the future viability of the chiropractic profession in the nation's changing health care delivery system ... and as a consequence, develop a comprehensive strategy for responding to the unprecedented challenges and threats posed by this changing environment."

The report described the current health care environment as a "rapidly changing marketplace full of hostile and threatening conditions which threaten chiropractic's future. ... These new market conditions could easily lead to the erosion of the traditional chiropractic patient base; the channeling of current and future patients to other health care providers; the imposition of a de facto national fee schedule, and other harmful conditions -- leading to severe economic loss and a greater isolation of the chiropractic profession."

The report concluded with a recommendation that a special task force of experts be appointed to develop and implement specific public policy positions on key national health care issues such as ERISA preemption, managed care, and minimum benefits laws -- issues perceived by many as a threat to the future of the chiropractic profession.

"We specifically recommend the formation of a task force to handle this project," said legal counsel Tom Daly, "because the scope of the problem is so broad -- and, despite excellent credentials, no single existing ACA committee or commission has the standing, influence or budget to undertake this critical endeavor alone."

"The work of the task force will necessarily cross the boundaries of these committees and commissions," said Richard Miller, "as there will be a need to receive input and advice from a wide variety of sources. Additionally, because of the critical mission of the task force, it had to be accorded a special status and given broad discretionary authority to complete its assignment."

Dr. McAndrews is a member of the ACA and serves as a director of the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company. He served until recently as special assistant to the president at the National College of Chiropractic. McAndrews formerly served as both executive vice president and as director of the ICA. Dr. McAndrews also was president of Palmer College of Chiropractic.