Two chiropractors and a patient, backed by the Arizona Chiropractic Society (ACS), filed a lawsuit on March 14 against the Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI), alleging failure to enforce the chiropractic insurance equality law, ARS 20-461(A)17 and ARS 20-461(B). This law requires insurers to give patients the option to use their health insurance to see a medical, osteopathic or chiropractic doctor for treatment of common neck and back problems and pay the same co-pays and deductibles with the same overall limitations on treatment.
At the current time, co-pays, deductibles and other limitations for chiropractic care discriminate severely against chiropractic care with financial barriers so huge that insurers, led by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, basically force patients to choose MDs or DOs for back and neck pain. ADOI, despite hundreds of consumer complaints over multiple blatant violations, has refused to enforce this law, which only they have the legal authority to enforce. Therefore, this legal action is asking the courts to order ADOI to properly enforce the law. Technically, it is called a "Writ of Mandamus" or a "Special Action."
For extensive additional information, go to the Arizona Chiropractic Society Web page, www.azchiropractors.org. If you have any questions, contact Alan M. Immerman, DC, ACS president and executive director, at (602) 368-9496 or acs@azchiropractors.org.
Source: Arizona Chiropractic Society
