Category: News

Runners encouraged to Register for inaugural Team NPCO!

Los Angeles, California (August 3, 2011) –   The 2012 Honda LA Marathon will feature its’ first Chiropractic running team by NPCO. Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization (NPCO) is excited to announce its’ participation in the 2012 Honda LA Marathon being held on Sunday, March 18 in Los Angeles, California.

The 26.2 mile LA Marathon course takes runners through many iconic landmarks in Los Angeles beginning at the historic Dodger Stadium, winding through famous Hollywood landmarks, Beverly Hills and ultimately ending near the Santa Monica Pier.

Registration for this world-famous race opened August 1 and NPCO is currently in the process of recruiting runners to be part of its’ inaugural team.

Including this year, NPCO has successfully fielded a team of runners to run on the behalf of chiropractic healthcare in the Chicago Marathon for the last 3 years.  By adding the LA Marathon to the Team NPCO event schedule, NPCO hopes to have a great group of people represent chiropractic healthcare in one of the greatest marathons in the world.

Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization (NPCO) is an official 501(c)3 charity dedicated to providing chiropractic healthcare, in the form of non-profit clinics, to those living in poverty around the world.

For more information on becoming a runner on the first-ever NPCO LA Marathon team, please visit www.NPCO.org.

Seneca Falls:  New York State Chiropractic Association past-president Dr. Mariangela Penna presented NYCC President Dr. Frank J. Nicchi with the association’s highest honor, the Ernest G. Napolitano Award, during the College’s Homecoming weekend attended by more than 430 alumni, students and members of the faculty.

Homecoming speakers included Texas Chiropractic College faculty member Dr. Michael Dobbins, popular guest lecturer Dr. Mark Charrette, NYCC faculty members Drs. Teresa Hoban, Sandra Hartwell, and Lisa Bloom, Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedics board member Dr. Stephen Savoie, SpiderTech, Inc.’s Dr. Nick Tsaggarelis, and Zheng Gu Tui Na’s co-founder Frank Butler, LAc.

A Friday evening dinner dance at nearby Ventosa Vineyards drew more than 230 people who observed NYCC Board of Trustees’ recognition of Drs. George and Teresa Ngo (NYCC ’72) for their many years of generous support to both the College and to the chiropractic profession. The Ngos number among a select group comprising NYCC’s President’s Council charter members. A wine and cheese reception and Casino Night rounded out the weekend on Saturday evening.

College sponsors and vendors who helped make the event a resounding success included Standard Process, Inc., Foot Levelers, Inc., Future Health, Inc., Performance Health, Multi Radiance, Douglas Laboratories, and NCMIC.

FDA notified healthcare professionals that it is reviewing data from a clinical trial that evaluated the effects of the antiarrhythmic drug Multaq (dronedarone) in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation. The study was stopped early after the data monitoring committee found a two-fold increase in death, as well as two-fold increases in stroke and hospitalization for heart failure in patients receiving Multaq compared to patients taking a placebo. FDA is evaluating whether and how the preliminary results of the PALLAS study apply to patients taking Multaq for paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The PALLAS study results are considered preliminary at this time.

Multaq is approved for use to reduce the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL), with a recent episode of AF/AFL and associated cardiovascular risk factors, who are in sinus rhythm or who will be cardioverted.

At this time, patients taking Multaq should talk to their healthcare professional about whether they should continue to take Multaq for non-permanent atrial fibrillation. Patients should not stop taking Multaq without talking to a healthcare professional. Healthcare professionals should not prescribe Multaq to patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.

Source: FDA

Including valproate sodium (Depacon), divalproex sodium (Depakote, Depakote CP, and Depakote ER), valproic acid (Depakene and Stavzor), and their generics

The FDA notified healthcare professionals that children born to mothers who take the anti-seizure medication valproate sodium or related products (valproic acid and divalproex sodium) during pregnancy have an increased risk of lower cognitive test scores than children exposed to other anti-seizure medications during pregnancy. This conclusion is based on the results of epidemiologic studies that show that children born to mothers who took valproate sodium or related products throughout their pregnancy tend to score lower on cognitive tests (IQ and other tests) than children born to mothers who took other anti-seizure medications during pregnancy. See the Drug Safety Communication for a data summary and additional information.

Valproate products are FDA-approved drugs to treat seizures, and manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder), and to prevent migraine headaches. They are also used off-label (for unapproved uses) for other conditions, particularly for other psychiatric conditions.

Healthcare professionals should inform women of childbearing age of the increased risk for adverse effects on cognitive development with prenatal valproate exposure, and should continue to counsel women of childbearing potential taking valproate about the increased risk of major malformations, including neural tube defects, when valproate is used during pregnancy.

Source: FDA

A Las Vegas chiropractor and boxing judge was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison for fraudulently collecting $400,000 in Social Security disability benefits.

The sentence handed down to Paul G. Smith, 66, includes three years of supervised release and $435,674 in restitution.

According to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice:

■ Smith received Social Security disability benefits from September 1994 to December 2005 based on his claim that a back injury affected his ability to work as a chiropractor.

■ While receiving the benefits, Smith continued to regularly own and manage Las Vegas chiropractic business Rainbow Chiropractic Center, regularly withdrawing revenues for personal expenses. Smith sold the business for $325,000 in December 2002.

■ He also worked as a licensed boxing judge in Nevada on a consistent and ongoing basis from January 1987 until December 2007, judging about 189 fights and receiving $133,000 in income. Smith failed to provide information about his employment to the Social Security Administration.

Smith pleaded guilty to Social Security fraud on Aug. 26 and must report to prison by July 20.

Sourse: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Connecticut chiropractors, under fire for allegedly violating state law and failing to warn patients of the potential risk of some of their treatments, scored two recent victories, thanks to the General Assembly and the courts.

“We’re very pleased with the outcome in the legislative arena as well as the courts,” said Dr. Gina Carucci, president of the Connecticut Chiropractic Association.

The legislative victory centers on Connecticut’s use-of-name statute, which mandates that “No person shall practice as a chiropractor under any name other than the name of the chiropractor actually owning the practice or a corporate name containing the name or names of such chiropractors.” A bill just passed by the General Assembly eliminates that requirement while still mandating that licensed chiropractors display their names at the entrance to their business. The bill also grants amnesty to chiropractors found in violation of the use-of-name law.

In action now made moot by the new legislation, Victims of Chiropractic Abuse (VOCA) had identified close to 500 chiropractors that it claimed were in violation of the use-of-name statute.

The second victory for chiropractors involves a lawsuit filed by VOCA against two chiropractic associations, the Connecticut Chiropractic Association and the Connecticut Chiropractic Council. The lawsuit, filed a year ago, charges, in part, that chiropractors don’t adequately inform patients about the risks associated with certain neck adjustments.

Earlier this month a Superior Court judge found that VOCA lacked standing to file the suit and dismissed the case. Levy said VOCA is reviewing its legal options. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursing informed consent for health care consumers so that they can make fully informed decisions,” she said.

Source: The New Haven Independant

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A chiropractor has been ordered to pay $1.9 million in criminal restitution to 14 medical insurers and several union welfare funds.

John M. Hardimon, 41, who ran the Hardimon Chiropractic Clinic in Shiloh, Ill., was charged with federal health care fraud and money laundering. He pleaded guilty in October to 15 counts.

Hardimon admitted that he kept almost no records and submitted fake documents to insurance companies for more than $2 million since 2006, prosecutors said.

Hardimon was sentenced in March to 70 months in federal prison.

Hardimon’s BMW convertible, Toyota Sierra minivan, and Chrysler Town and Country minivan were seized for restitution, along with two homes and $700,000.

Shiloh is 20 miles east of St. Louis.

Source: Courthouse News Service

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) held its annual meeting on May 2-6, 2011, in Marco Island, Fla., to seat new board members and to elect the officers who make up the executive committee.

Dr. Ron Tripp (OK) was seated as the new District IV Director, replacing Dr. Theodore Scott (UT). The remaining district directors will continue their terms on the NBCE board. They are Dr. Robin Lecy (SD) in District I, Dr. Donna Craft (MI) in District II, Dr. Paul Morin (ME) in District III and Dr. Norman Ouzts, Jr. (SC) in District V.

The board also has four at-large positions; Dr. Daniel Saint-Germain (Quebec) was elected to a one-year term. Dr. Oliver Smith (TX) was elected to a two-year term as Director-at-Large. Dr. Salvatore LaRusso (FL) and Dr. N. Edwin Weathersby (AZ) will both continue in their at-large positions on the board.

The other two positions are appointed by the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board. The FCLB appointed directors are the FCLB president and vice president Dr. Lawrence O’Connor (NJ) and Dr. LeRoy Otto (MN).

Once the 11-member board was complete, the Executive Committee was chosen. Dr. N. Edwin Weathersby (AZ) was elected president of the board. Dr. Norman Ouzts, Jr. (SC) was re-elected vice-president. Dr. Oliver Smith (TX) was elected secretary.  Dr. Paul Morin (ME) was elected treasurer.

For people who have Medicare, there are important changes, including new benefits, to consider since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law last year.

Consumer Reports now has a free guide to explain the changes to Medicare. Free copies of “Medicare: 6 Things You Need to Know Now” are available for a limited time by calling toll-free 1-855-CR-GUIDE or visiting ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

The 15-page guide provides easy-to-understand information about changes in Medicare:

If you have Medicare and struggle with the cost of prescription drugs, the guide explains the sizable drug discounts now available when you reach the gap in Medicare drug plans known as the “doughnut hole.”

For those who have skipped preventive-care visits to the doctor because they could not afford them, the guide describes the free and low-cost coverage options for certain preventive services, such as annual wellness visits, mammograms and prostate cancer screenings, and flu shots.

The guide explains the changes in Medicare Advantage plans, such as new limits on your annual out-of-pocket costs.

If you have relatively high income, the guide takes you through important changes in what you pay.

Beginning this year, the open enrollment period for changing Medicare plans is starting and ending earlier, and the guide helps you check the new dates and understand your options.

If you are about to turn 65, you can find out what you need to know before signing up for Medicare.

The back of the guide offers an in-depth resource section with contact information for key agencies that can answer your specific questions about Medicare, including toll-free numbers for help in every state.

OKLAHOMA: A Tulsa chiropractor who sells naturopathic remedies, including some that area medical professionals say are ineffective, is being told to stop allowing himself to be misrepresented as a medical doctor.

Joel Robbins has been licensed in Oklahoma since 1978, is in good standing and has active status with the Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners. He operates Living Health Concepts at 61st Street and Sheridan Avenue.

A Tulsa World investigation shows that Robbins has degrees from nonaccredited, offshore colleges and provides at least one service his laboratory is not qualified to provide.

The Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision has investigated Robbins and told him to cease and desist portraying himself as a medical doctor by putting the initials MD after his name on advertisements, Executive Director Lyle Kelsey said.

In an interview at his office recently, Robbins said he does not pretend to practice medicine. He has no opposition to traditional medicine and considers his practice complementary to it.

Robbins said he has stopped putting the MD after his name, but other organizations still do, despite letters he has sent that ask them to stop.

Robbins is listed as an MD on at least five websites and is named as a medical doctor in an online video, although he is not licensed to practice medicine anywhere.

Kelsey said the medical board has sent its information about Robbins to the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office requesting prosecution.

The District Attorney’s Office has no current investigation into Robbins, a spokeswoman said.

Kelsey said Robbins has the responsibility to attempt to set the record straight.

“He ought to be trying to make some effort to take it off,” he said.

Oklahoma law requires children attending school to receive certain vaccines, but parents may exempt their children for medical, personal or religious reasons.

Robbins keeps the exemption paperwork on file in his office with a summary for personal beliefs against vaccines already filled in.

Robbins said he believes a product called an immunity booster combined with a proper diet is just as effective as a vaccine.

Dr. Brian McDowell, a local pediatrician, said a patient asked him about Robbins’ “alternative to vaccines.”

McDowell told her vaccines are vital to preventing serious diseases and said Robbins is “dangerous.”

There has been no evidence that vaccines can cause autism, a relatively common misconception, said Dr. Stanley Grogg, an associate dean of clinical research at Oklahoma State University.

“Vaccines have been proven by evidence-based medicine to be very safe,” he said.

Robbins said he received a medical degree from the British West Indies Medical College, which is not accredited and was founded by a man who pleaded guilty to practicing medicine without a license in October 1989.

www.tulsaworld.com