Mark Sanders D.C., author of "Take It From a DC: A Lot of Chiropractic Is a Sham," (see the October 10, 1990 issue of "DC") has resigned from his position as chiropractic medical director for HealthCare Compare, the medical review subcontractor for Aetna (Georgia).
Mark Sanders' article appeared in the September 17 issue of Medical Economics, in which he stated: "I'd have to reluctantly agree that organized medicine's perception of the diagnostic shortcomings and therapeutic abuses of chiropractic has generally been accurate."
Dr. Sanders submitted his resignation to the company effective December 31, 1990.
"HealthCare Compare and Dr. Sanders has developed chiropractic claims review procedures which (are) overburdensome, excessively restrictive, and not in compliance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements," American Chiropractic Association Executive Vice President J. Ray Morgan wrote in a December 5, 1990 letter to Gail Wilensky, Ph.D., administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). "Such an ardent opponent of chiropractic should not serve to judge the reasonableness of chiropractic care for hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries in the state of Georgia."
Wilensky responded by writing that Sanders' article was written without the prior approval of Aetna (Georgia) or HealthCare Compare. She also noted that Sanders had already submitted his resignation.
"I want you to know that we are committed to a meaningful review and comment process. HealthCare Compare shares this commitment," Wilensky wrote. "Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention."
