A bi-monthly report submitted by the national associations to keep you up-to date-on the latest activities affecting national laws and legislations American Chiropractors Association (ACA) House Passes New Chiropractic Benefit for Veterans In a resounding victory for the chiropractic profession, the U.S. House of Representatives, on Oct. 23, passed legislation mandating a new program of chiropractic benefits within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The legislation allows veterans to select a doctor of chiropractic as their primary care provider. The House decision followed an intensive lobbying campaign spearheaded by the ACA. Joining the ACA in support of the legislation were the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) and the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). New ACA Insurance Initiative with National Blues Seeks to Improve Relations ACA and the national Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association have implemented a joint initiative to improve relations between doctors of chiropractic and the state BC/BS plans. ACA has appointed more than 50 liaisons to promote discussions with state plans regarding appointing DCs to their medical policymaking and crcdentialing committees. The national BC/BS Association and the state Blues plans have also appointed more than 50 plan liaisons to become internal contacts for the chiropractic community. The liaisons will provide feedback to ACA about their discussions with local Blues plans and, when progress is made, they will share information with others so that they can attain the same results. ACA Launches Jim Rome Letter-Writing Campaign The ACA is urging doctors of chiropractic nationwide to launch a letter-writing campaign to sports radio personality Jim Rome, who made vicious comments against the profession on his Aug. 15 broadcast. Rome referred to chiropractors as "witch doctors," and claimed that they "ruin people's spines for a living" so that patients will have to keep coming back to their offices. Write, fax or call the Jim Rome show with your own comments, or use ACA's letter of response as an example. For a copy of ACA's letter to Jim Rome, visit ACA's Web site at http:// www.acatoday.com/mcdia/lctters/ jim_rome.html. Letters can be mailed c/o Premiere Radio Networks, Inc.; 15260 Ventura Blvd., 5th Floor; Sherman Oaks, CA 91403; Phone: 1-800-636-8686; Fax: 1-800-470-SMAK. International Chiropractors Association (ICA) ICA and Chiropractic Step Forward to Serve at Pentagon and New York Disaster Sites ICA's state affiliate, the New York Chiropractic Council, organized a chiropractic effort to provide assistance for the thousands of rescue and emergency personnel facing the grim task of searching through the devastation at the site which has now become known to the world as "Ground Zero." In the Washington, DC area, ICA's central office, located a few short miles away from the Pentagon, was an ideal point from which to coordinate the massive care effort that would be necessary to meet the needs of the thousands of rescue and recovery, fire, emergency medical, law enforcement and military personnel gathering at that crash site. ICA's crisis assistance team leaders gained official recognition and formal authorization to meet the high security nature of that disaster location, and mobilized chiropractic care in a tent facility less than 100 yards from the crash site. For more information and pictures of the chiropractic relief efforts, visit ICA's web site at www.chiropractic.org. ICA Legislative Initiatives Continue ICA is continuing its campaign to pass H.R. 2284, reforming and improving the chiropractic program under Medicare. Co-sponsors are being recruited and a major education effort is underway to inform and orient members of Congress on the merits of this initiative. ICA needs the active help of every member in passing this long-overdue reform legislation. Information on the bill including model letters for both patients and DCs are available on ICA's website or through the ICA offices by calling 1 -800-423-4690. Please act today to make sure your voice is heard on this key legislative initiative. Another top priority in legislation is passage of a chiropractic benefits package for veterans. Legislation has already passed the House of Representatives that would achieve most of ICA's goals for chiropractic in this area. H.R. 2792 passed the house on October 23rd and is now in the hands of the senate veterans affairs committee. ICA is urgently lobbying the Senate Committee to add specific subluxation language to the House-passed bill and then act to pass the amended package. Details of this effort and information on how you can help lobby the Senate to pass a meaningful chiropractic program that includes subluxation in the bill's language, along with the positive elements contained in H.R. 2792, is available on the main page of ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org. World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) Because of the Sept. 11 th terrorist attacks, the WCA postponed its Capitol "Chiropractic Day," originally scheduled for September 25. The event will be held concurrent with the World Chiropractic Alliance International Summit in April 2002. Despite the turbulent world situation, legislative work on the Hill continues. The WCA redoubled its efforts to encourage congressional leaders to co-sponsor House Concurrent Resolution 46, which expresses the "sense of congress" about chiropractic. The wording in this resolution was approved, and the resolution, itself, supported by all major chiropractic organizations. The WCA sends free pre-printed postcards to all DCs wishing to join the grassroots campaign. (http://w\vw.worldcliiropruclicalliancc.orp/resolulion/resolution-info.htm) The WCA is also working hard to reverse changes made to the Veterans Bill. The original bill contained language similar to the wording in HCR 46. However, the reference to subluxation correction was deleted in subcommittee, as was a provision stating that only DCs could provide chiropractic care. The WCA has vowed to do everything in its power to prevent these important elements from being deleted in the final bill. The WCA has also been busy responding to media attacks and misinformation, including articles in the men's magazine Maxim, and on an asthma website sponsored by About.com. More information on both these issues can be found on The Chiropractic Journal website www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tc). To ensure the media is provided with up-to-date and accurate information on subluxation correction, the WCA distributes press releases on research published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. Recent research reports have debunked the link between chiropractic and strokes and explained how even minor pressure on nerves can cause health problems, (http://www.jvsr.com) On behalf of its Florida members, the WCA contacted the Florida State Licensing Board and expressed opposition to expanding the scope of chiropractic practice to include in-jectable vitamins. For more information visit: hup: www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/whatsnew/florida.htm and http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/positions/ drugs.htm). Editor s note: TAC encourages you to contact and participate with the national associations that support you!
