In a landmark development, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reached a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve antitrust claims brought by health care providers, including chiropractors. The lawsuit accused BCBS of dividing the nation into exclusive regions and limiting competition, which resulted in lower reimbursements for providers. Although BCBS denies any wrongdoing, the company agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy litigation – and you can get a piece of the pie.
FCER Conference on Chiropractic Research: A Call for Papers
The Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, which will hold its annual Conference on Chiropractic Research in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 15-16, 2006, welcomes chiropractic-related research submissions from clinicians, students and faculty in all fields of natural health, including chiropractic, acupuncture, allopathic medicine, massage therapy, naturopathy, nursing and osteopathy. The FCER is touting the conference as "the most prestigious forum within the chiropractic community for presentation of original thought and research in 2006."
Dependent upon the quality of submissions, 80 to 90 abstracts are anticipated to be accepted for platform (60) and poster (20-30) presentation at this year's conference. Submitted abstracts should focus on one of the following research categories:
- diagnostic and basic sciences
- technique and instrumentation
- cost-effectiveness
- safety
- education
- epidemiology and public health
The deadline for abstract submissions is March 31, 2006. Accepted papers will be published in the Proceedings of the 2006 Conference on Chiropractic Research. Bear in mind that submissions will only be accepted electronically via the official abstract submission form on the FCER Web site: www.fcer.org/CCR06/cfp.asp.
Written by Julie Engebretson