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.
Northwestern Health Sciences University Lands $3 Million in Federal Research Grants
The Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies (WHCCS) at Northwestern Health Sciences University will receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to conduct two new clinical trials. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding a three-year grant to Northwestern for approximately $1.65 million for the study, "Chiropractic and Exercise for Low Back Pain in Adolescents." The university will also receive a three-year grant award for approximately $1.6 million for the study, "Chiropractic and Exercise Management of Spinal Dysfunction in Seniors." Recruitment of participants for both studies is anticipated to begin in 2010.
"We are extremely proud of the groundbreaking research being done at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies," said Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern. "For nearly two decades our world-renowned research team has been an international leader in conducting research intended to develop new models of evidence-informed, patient-centered care."
Both awards are part of a large grant-writing effort completed by Northwestern's research department earlier this spring. With the addition of these two new studies, the university has secured more than $13 million in federal funding in the past decade.
Source: Northwestern Health Sciences University.