ARLINGTON, Virginia -- Recognizing the important role the states will play in the future of health care policy, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) has begun to work with the Democratic Governors' Association to promote chiropractic and to educate policymakers on the value of chiropractic science in effective, quality care delivery, and in cost containment. ICA responded to an invitation by Colorado Governor Roy Romer, chairman of the Democratic Governors' Association, to participate in these talks.
The second in a series of meetings took place during a policy forum attended by governors of seven states in Washington, D.C., October 29, 1991. The ICA was represented by Dr. Alan Lichter, assembly representative for the District of Columbia; Ronald Hendrickson, executive director; and Catherine Elliott, government relations director.
The ICA delegation presented the governors with detailed information on chiropractic and discussed proposals in ICA's soon-to-be-published report, "The Future of Health Care in the United States."
Detailed information on the cost effectiveness of chiropractic, including copies of the recent RAND study and other research papers, information on chiropractic education, basic facts about chiropractic science and practice, and specific recommendations on health care policy were part of the ICA package.
Meaningful health care reform is an urgent priority for the states because of exploding costs and the lack of a national program which assures public access to quality care.
Vermont Governor Howard Dean expressed his concern of the direction health care must not take: "The federal government has engaged in a dramatic withdrawal from housing and education over the past ten years, leaving the states to fill in the void. This cannot be allowed to happen in health care."
The governors were unanimous in their conclusion that the federal government and the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) had not demonstrated a capacity to fairly and effectively administer national health care programs on a sound basis. They felt the record showed the states are doing a much better job of meeting genuine needs with a minimum of bureaucratic red tape. ICA supports an approach to health care reform which will give states the flexibility necessary to build on local strengths and assets and to address special needs.
The ICA affirms its involvement with the Democratic Governors' Association is not an endorsement of any political party, but rather reflects its commitment to active involvement at every level on behalf of the chiropractic profession.
In a letter to Colorado Governor Roy Romer, chairman of the Democratic Governors' Association, Dr. Sid E. Williams, legislative committee chairman of the ICA, and president and founder of Life College, wrote: "ICA commends the Democratic Governors' Association for working to involve the health care community in an effort to develop practical proposals that present true alternatives to our current failing system. The ICA looks forward to a continuing dialogue and offers the support and assistance of the association in the development of a meaningful set of health care reform proposals.
