Michigan Seeks Scope of Practice Changes

The Michigan Chiropractic Society (MSC) and its attorneys have developed a new scope of practice bill to amend Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978. The MCS board of directors unanimously approved the amendment at its January 10 meeting to restore the scope of chiropractic practice in Michigan.

The two chiropractic associations in Michigan, the MSC and the Michigan Chiropractic Council (MCC) are working together out of mutual interest to create a bill that will be satisfactory to as many DCs in the state as possible.

The MCS Newsletter outlines the following chiropractic scope of practice revisions:

• Changing the definition of chiropractor to include DCs "as primary health care provider who may take patients without the need for a referral."

   

• Expanding the definition of diagnosis to include "utilization of consultation, analysis, evaluation, tests, measurements and physical examination."

   

• Enlarging diagnosis to include "the existence of malpositioned osseous articulations of the skeletal system. The existence of abnormal interrelationships between the neuromusculoskeletal system and the spinal column."

   

• Adding that diagnosis includes the determination of "the need for chiropractic care, and if chiropractic care is needed the course of that care, or, the advisability of referral to, or consultation with another health care provider.

   

• Including extremity adjusting in the definition of the practice of chiropractic. The new language would state that the practice of chiropractic would include, "the adjustment or manipulation of malpositioned osseous articulations of the skeletal system."

   

• Adding "ancillary physical measures including massage, mobilization, traction, heat, cold, air light, water, electricity and therapeutic ultrasound" to the definition of the practice of chiropractic.

The next step, according to MCS governmental affairs chairman Dr. Russ Willemin of Portland, is for lobbyist Noble Kheder to take the proposal to the traditional chiropractic adversaries, including the Michigan State Medical Society, the Economic Alliance and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, and to arrive at "a workable solution before we go to the legislature."