Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed legislation requiring state insurers to reimburse chiropractors for medically necessary non-opioid pain treatments.1The legislation, which takes effect April 1, 2018, includes several significant stipulations that directly benefit the state's doctors of chiropractic.2
Relative to the opioid crisis, which has been characterized as epidemic in Rhode Island and is spearheading ongoing legislative and policy changes nationwide: "Patients with substance use disorders shall have access to evidence-based non-opioid treatment for pain, therefore coverage shall apply to medically necessary chiropractic care, and osteopathic manipulative treatment."
The legislation also adds an important medical necessity requirement to existing unfair discrimination language:
"[W]henever the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract provides for reimbursement for any services which may be legally performed by any person licensed under the provisions of chapters 29, 30, 35 and 37 of title 5, reimbursement under the insurance policy, certificate, or service contract shall be based upon a determination of medical necessity and shall not be denied because of race, color, or creed, nor shall any insurer make or permit any unfair discrimination against particular individuals or persons licensed under chapters 29, 30, 35 and 37 of title 5." [Italics added]
Chiropractic physicians are recognized as licensed providers in Chapter 5-30 of the Rhode Island General Laws, Title 5: Businesses and Professions.3
Editor's Note: For another example of positive changes spurred by the opioid crisis, read "Coming Soon to a Hospital Near You" in this issue. That article discusses recent standards revisions by The Joint Commission, which accredits nearly 90 percent of U.S. hospitals.
References
"Raimondo Signs Bill Requiring Non-Opioid Treatment Coverage." WPRI Channel 12 (Rhode Island), via the Associated Press, July 11, 2017.
S0789 / H6124: An Act Relating to Insurance - Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies. Introduced in the state Senate April 25, 2017; signed into law July 11, 2017.
2013 Rhode Island General Laws. Title 5 - Businesses and Professions. Chapter 5-30 - Chiropractic Physicians.
Because they have yet to pass national legislation protecting the chiropractic profession, Japanese DCs are in a similar situation that U.S. DCs faced. We were fortunate enough to be able to pass chiropractic licensure state by state. The DCs in Japan must accomplish this nationally, which has proved to be an extremely difficult task. And in spite of their efforts, Japanese DCs are currently faced with two chiropractic professions.
This article focuses on nine severe injuries that are generally not diagnosable until the third to fourth week following the date of injury, including how to diagnose these severe injuries. The discovery of any of these injuries early can make a significant difference in the case outcome.
There has long been an attempt by those who are not legitimate doctors of chiropractic to usurp the title of chiropractor from those who have earned their degree from an accredited chiropractic program. This generally happens in countries where the local doctors of chiropractic have yet to pass legislation requiring a degree from an accredited institution. The result is essentially two chiropractic professions. Nowhere is this danger more pronounced than in Japan.
