A bi-monthly report submitted by the national associations to keep you up-to-date on the tyest activities affecting national laws and legislation American Chiropractic Association (ACA) ACA-Sponsorcd Speed Skater Wins Cold and Silver ACA-sponsored speed skater Derek Parra became the first double medalist at the Olympic speed skating oval, when he broke the world record and won a gold medal in the men's 1,500 on February 19. Just a little more than a week earlier, Parra zipped his way to an Olympic silver medal in the 5.000 meters event. The gold and silver medalist helps keep his body at its peak performance by receiving regular chiropractic care. HHS Prohibits Physical Therapists From Providing Chiropractic Service Under Medicare: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a new policy directive that, under Medicare, physical therapists cannot provide manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation. The ACA is hailing the ruling as a major victory in its lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly HCFA, but has vowed to continue its fight to prohibit medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy from providing the chiropractic service. In a January 15, 2002. revision to an Operational Policy Letter originally issued in 1994, Medicare's Center for Beneficiary Choices writes, "The (Medicare) statute specifically references manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation as a physician service. Thus, Medicare+Choice organizations must use physicians, which includes chiropractors, to perform this service. They may not use non-physician physical therapists for manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation." (emphasis added) Canadian Stroke Study Prompts Strong Response from ACA The ACA is denouncing as "junk science" a recent paper by Canadian neurologists regarding chiropractic and the risk of stroke. The study, which is extremely limited and seriously flawed, has needlessly alanned patients about one of the most safe and effective treatments in health care today, according to the ACA. The study was presented by Dr. John W. Norris and colleagues at the American Stroke Association's 27'1' International Stroke Conference. ACA's full response to this extremely flawed study can be found on ACA's Web site in the "Hot Topics" section at http:// www.acatodav.com/hot topics/. International Chiropractors Association (ICA) Arnold Schwarzenegger, global superstar and chiropractic champion, again headlined ICA's Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness, held February 22-23rd, in Columbus, Ohio. No event in chiropractic can match this annual extravaganza for energy, enthusiasm, star power and solid clinical information. Nearly 400 DCs, students, chiropractic friends and family members, and VIP guests packed the Westin Columbus to sec and hear fitness greats like Lee Haney, 8-timc Mr. Olympia and current Chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness; Tom Deters, DC, Editor of Muscle & Fitness Magazine; and fitness sensation Denise Paglia, who has the distinction of appearing on more fitness magazine covers in the past three years than any other woman in the world. Perhaps the world's best known chiropractic patient, Arnold Schwarzenegger, again gave a resounding and powerful endorsement of chiropractic, citing the importance of chiropractic care in his own life and career, as well as in the well being of his entire family. Plans for the gala 11lh Annual Symposium with Arnold are already underway, and ICA looks forward to again hosting a galaxy of fitness stars at this tremendous Fitness Weekend. For more news about this and other ICA Fitness Council programs, visit ICA's website at www.chiropractic.org. New privacy and confidentiality requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, the so-called HIPAA law is being carefully studied by the ICA senior staff, special consultants and ICA's Legal Affairs Committee, and a major member education program is being developed to insure that DCs are fully prepared to meet all requirements under this broad and complicated new law. Typical of such a new and complicated federal program, the exact responsibilities and requirements for the doctor of chiropractic in private practice remain somewhat unclear, as does the absolute effective date by which DCs must have their compliance efforts in place, April 14,2003. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has prepared a 34-pagc information package that is accessible on the internet at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/finalmaster.html. and is also available free to DCs by callj-inu ICA at 1 -800-423-4690. World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) WCA on a "Star Search" The WCA has launched a "celebrity search" to find doctors who are related to, or have famous entertainers, politicians, athletes, authors and other celebrities as patients. The organization will invite these high-profile individuals to participate in a public relations program featuring celebrity endorsements of chiropractic, focusing on the need for subluxation-based wcllness care. Doctors who have celebrity patients or relatives should contact the WCA by mail at 2950 N. Dobson Rd., Suite 1, Chandler, AZ 85224; by fax at 480-732-9313; or via e-mail at [email protected]. WCA issues strong rebuttal of stroke claims The medical community is continuing its attack on chiropractic by repeating its assertion that chiropractic care is linked to stroke, despite numerous research findings to the contrary. The WCA has written strong and well-documented counter arguments to the false claim that chiropractic causes strokes, and continues to distribute this information world-wide. Doctors or chiropractic organizations are invited to download and disseminate any and all WCA materials showing that chiropractic is safe and that the incidence of stroke following chiropractic adjustments is so small as to be insignificant. Among the documents available are: The WCA position paper on strokes and chiropractic (http:// www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/positions/stroke.htm) A review of studies involving chiropractic adjustments and stroke (http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/positions/ strokestudies.htm) Press releases on the issue: httpyywww.worldchiropracticalliance.org/ media/cohahtm http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/media/stroke2.htm Students rally 'round WCA The first of what is destined to become an international network of Student World Chiropractic Alliance (SWCA) chapters has been founded at Parker College of Chiropractic. "This is a significant event, since it reflects the growing interest in subluxation-based chiropractic on our college campuses," says Terry A. Rondberg, D.C.. WCA president. Elected to serve as the chapter's first slate of officers were Jaime Sanchez, President; Brent Stevens, Vice-President; Christie Sonchar, Secretary, and Eric Rawlin, Treasurer. Students interested in joining the Parker SWCA should contact M icah Carter at n8chiropractic(a>,yahoo.com. Students on other campuses interested in establishing an SWCA chapter should contact the WCA at 800-347-1011. for information and assistance.
