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A law which was claimed to have been designed to allow chiropractors the ability to fill the void of Primary Care Physicians in the state of New Mexico failed in the New Mexico Senate by several votes, after having passed the state house. The passion that many D.C.’s demonstrated in a debate that has been just under the surface within various chiropractic circles for decades seems to have come to a head. The “limited formulary” which chiropractors were seeking the right to be able to prescribe, after having passed examinations as well as further training, included such things as muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, as well as other internal and topical substances. Opponents of the bill, many of which originated from within the chiropractic profession, claim that chiropractors have no business prescribing medications, as chiropractic, from its inception, has differentiated itself by being a drugless profession. Supporters of the bill point out that even those that prescribe things such as vitamins, fatty acids, or herbs, may one day fall under the regulatory authority as prescription medications, and that the purpose of the bill is to help with the current shortage of Primary Care Physicians. |
Category: Newsflash
FDA Acts to Reduce Harm from Opioid Drugs
The White House on Tuesday unveiled a multi-agency plan aimed at reducing the “epidemic” of prescription drug abuse in the U.S.—
including an FDA-backed education program that zeros-in on reducing the misuse and misprescribing of opioids.
Gil Kerlikowske, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, says the plan—a collaborative effort involving agencies of the departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Defense, and others—provides a national framework for reducing prescription drug abuse and the diversion of prescription drugs for recreational use.
“The toll our nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic has taken in communities nationwide is devastating,” says Kerlikowske. “We share a responsibility to protect our communities from the damage done by prescription drug abuse.”
Key elements of the plan—called Epidemic: Responding to America’s Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis—include:
- expansion of state-based prescription drug monitoring programs
- recommending convenient and environmentally responsible ways to remove unused medications from homes
- supporting education for patients and health care providers
- reducing the number of “pill mills” and doctor-shopping through law enforcement
FDA Opioid Strategy
In concert with the White House plan, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a new risk reduction program—called a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy—for all extended-release and long-acting opioid medications.
Opioids are synthetic versions of opium that are used to treat moderate and severe pain.
FDA experts say extended-release and long-acting opioids—including OxyContin, Avinza, Dolophine, Duragesic, and eight other brand names—are extensively misprescribed, misused, and abused, leading to overdoses, addiction, and even deaths across the United States. FDA says a 2007 survey revealed that more than half of opioid abusers got the drug from a friend or relative.
Opioids—such as morphine and oxycodone—are used to treat moderate and severe pain. Over the past few decades, drug makers have developed extended-release opioid formulas to treat people in pain over a long period.
The new REMS plan focuses primarily on: educating doctors about proper pain management, patient selection, and other requirements and improving patient awareness about how to use these drugs safely. As part of the plan, FDA wants companies to give patients education materials, including a medication guide that uses consumer friendly language to explain safe use and disposal.
FDA wants drug makers to work together to develop a single system for implementing the REMS strategies. Toward that goal, FDA is now notifying opioid makers that they must propose a REMS plan within 120 days.
Janet Woodcock, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says this risk management strategy is designed to improve pain management, while preserving patient access to these needed medications.
“This will be an important step toward addressing what has become a critical public health problem,” she says.
Doctor training, patient counseling, and other risk reduction measures developed by opioid makers as part of the REMS are expected to become effective by early 2012. They will be required for various brand name products known under the generic names:
- hydromorphone
- oxycodone
- morphine
- oxymorphone
- methadone
- transdermal fentanyl
- transdermal buprenorphine
Widespread Problem
FDA estimates that more than 33 million Americans age 12 and older misused extended-release and long-acting opioids during 2007—up from 29 million just five years earlier. And in 2006, nearly 50,000 emergency room visits were related to opioids.
“Opioid drugs have benefit when used properly and are a necessary component of pain management for certain patients, but we know that they pose serious risks when used improperly—with serious negative consequences for individuals, families, and communities,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “The prescriber education component of this Opioid REMS balances the need for continued access to these medications with stronger measures to reduce their risks.”
Although doctor training is not mandatory under the REMS plan, other federal agencies are working to get Congress to link mandatory physician training to the already required Drug Enforcement Administration registration number that doctors must have to prescribe controlled substances.
FDA will also require the risk management plan to include a way to determine if the education programs are helping to reduce problems associated with long-acting and extended-release opioids, as well as allowing patients who need opioids to get them.
FDA has had the power to request companies to develop REMS since 2007. The plans may also include medication guides and patient package inserts.
This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
April 19, 2011
NPCO Running for Chiropractic in Chicago This Fall
Chicago, Illinois (April 11, 2011) – Runners will be hitting the streets of Chicago this October when Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization (NPCO) fields its’ largest charity team ever at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this fall. The October 9, 2011 event will be the third time NPCO participates in this world-famous race that brings together runners from all over the world.
Running 26.2 miles is no easy feat and the majority of Team NPCO for Chiropractic runners join the team with no prior running experience. “Our Chicago Marathon team consists of people who are passionate about the chiropractic profession and how chiropractic healthcare has helped them personally, and how chiropractic can literally change the lives of others. Whether our runners are working as a Chiropractic Doctor, receiving life-changing care as a patient, or are passionate chiropractic students, they step up to meet the challenge and in doing so they have an experience of a life-time. In contrast, we also have avid runners on our team who are training hard to set a Personal Record in Chicago to qualify for the Boston Marathon. As Team NPCO runners spend many months training and finally arrive in Chicago in October, they will be running the race to represent Chiropractic Healthcare and will be touching and changing lives, one mile at a time,” explains NPCO President Doctor Joshua Heines.
Registration for the Chicago Marathon opened in February to the general public but sold-out in a record 31 days. As an Associate Charity with the Chicago Marathon charity program, NPCO has limited entries available to the sold-out race that are currently being awarded to any interested runners. Doctors, patients, and supporters of Chiropractic are encouraged to apply and request an entry from NPCO as soon as possible, as the limited available entries will fill up fast. NPCO has created one of the best charity running programs for the Chicago Marathon for 2011.
Doctor Marc from Illinois has caught the “running bug” and will be running as a member of Team NPCO for the third time. Well-known to NPCO alumni runners for his outgoing personality, Dr. Marc inspires and encourages runners on race-day but also in the months leading up to the marathon. “I enjoy sharing my story with fellow Doctors and runners who are on the fence about signing up for a 26.2 mile marathon. There is no excuse to not sign up for something that will challenge you, inspire you, get your body healthier and ultimately represent our chiropractic profession as you run amongst 45,000 runners and over a million spectators! I was a member of the inaugural 2009 Chicago Marathon team and finished the race – slowly, but proudly! I am continuing to challenge myself with increased running challenges that include a short 8k in downtown Chicago, 3 Half Marathons, 3 Full Marathons and the 204.1 mile Ragnar Relay in June. In total my training will log close to 2,700 miles through this season. That is more than 6 times the length of the State of Illinois (395 miles) and over 12 times the width of the state (210 miles)! I hope that my fellow Chiropractors will join me this October at the Chicago Marathon!”
NPCO is an official 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing chiropractic healthcare to individuals, families and communities living within the harsh realities of poverty around the world. More information on the Chicago Marathon and applying for a sold-out entry can be found at www.NPCO.org or by emailing [email protected].
Mexican University Dedicates New Library Honoring Parker’s Dr. Fabrizio Mancini
Ecatepec, Mexico, April 8, 2011 – A public university near Mexico City, the Universidad Estatal Del Valle de Ecatepec (UNEVE), the first institution in the world to offer a Spanish-taught chiropractic program, r
ecently dedicated its new campus library to Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, president of Parker College of Chiropractic. The new building is the official library for the entire university and supports the education of five distinctive careers including acupuncture, chiropractic, gerontology, humanities, and multimedia communication.
UNEVE’s rector, Jose Angel Fernandez Garcia, along with the university’s board, students, faculty, and staff recognized Dr. Mancini for his generous contributions to the university.
“We are pleased to name our library after Dr. Mancini—someone who has been extremely devoted to extending opportunities for our students,” said Garcia. “This is the first time in Mexico’s history, which we’re aware of, that a building has been dedicated to a non-national person or person while living. This new library is crucial for our students’ learning and will be a significant part of our campus,” said Garcia.
In 2009, Dr. Mancini donated more than 1,200 books from his personal library to the university, saying, “books are meant to be shared, not stored.”
“I’ve always been an avid reader, and for more than 20 years I’ve saved the books that have impacted me most,” said Dr. Mancini. “When I saw that UNEVE did not have many books, I felt inspired to share all this wisdom with their students for generations to come.”
During the ceremony, Dr. Mancini and Parker executives presented UNEVE with more than 10 donated computers, scanners, and other computer accessories, which will be housed in the library for students’ use.
Dr. Mancini, a native of Colombia, has assisted in the growth of chiropractic in underserved countries in Latin America. He was also instrumental in helping establish UNEVE’s chiropractic program—the first institution in the world to offer a Spanish-taught chiropractic program. Today, more than 180 doctors of chiropractic have graduated from the program since its inception in 2001.
Parker College is also active within the UNEVE community through a student exchange program that gives Parker students hands-on clinical experience in addition to Spanish classes and a total immersion experience in Mexican culture. In turn, UNEVE students who participate in the exchange program receive hands-on experience at Parker College.
Palmer College Teaches Students with Multi Radiance Medical Laser Therapy Devices
(Solon, OH) – Multi Radiance Medical, an international laser therapy company, is pleased to announce that Palmer College of Chiropractic will instruct their students with MR4 super pulsed lasers. Steve Querio, D.C., a 1993 alumnus, had the honor of presenting the new equipment to Larry L. Swank, D.C., Clinic Systems Administrator at Palmer College.
The new MR4 devices will be used at Palmer’s Davenport, Iowa, and Port Orange, Florida, campuses in both the academic and clinical settings. Students will now have the ability to learn about and use the state-of-the-art super pulsed laser technology from Multi Radiance Medical in addition to the chiropractic care that they provide to many patients.
Dr. Swank is pleased that Multi Radiance Medical’s MR4 laser therapy units have become an additional intervention for patient care as well as an addition to student intern instruction at Palmer. “In our clinics, faculty clinicians and interns will identify patients who could benefit from laser therapy as part of overall treatment intervention,” he explained. “In the academic setting, students will be introduced to laser therapy concepts in a pre-clinical structural learning setting. This will include actual practice during practical classroom sessions. We are excited to see the potential that the MR4 laser therapy brings to the care of patients in our clinical settings and the opportunity for student interns to witness firsthand the therapeutic benefits of this treatment option.”
Max Kanarsky, President of Multi Radiance Medical, states, “We are excited to be able to provide our laser therapy equipment for use by the faculty and students at Palmer College. We look forward to an ongoing relationship with Palmer College to help advance their students training and skills.”
Palmer College of Chiropractic has its main campus location in Davenport, Iowa, with branch campus locations in Florida and California.
Multi Radiance Medical develops and manufactures FDA-cleared therapeutic super pulsed laser devices, which are used throughout the world to treat acute/chronic pain, bursitis, back pain, carpal tunnel, arthritis pain, tennis elbow, muscle strain, tendonitis, and other conditions.
Multi Radiance Medical is an international corporation with a presence in over 30 countries and has been servicing customers for 20 years.
Record Breaking Attendance at ACC/RAC 2011 Conference
Las Vegas, Nevada – March 17-19. ACC/RAC combines the ACC’s annual business meeting and working group sessions along with the educational and research or RAC’s (Research Agenda Conference’s) focus on scientific knowledge – a powerful combination intended to cultivate an increasingly intimate relationship between chiropractic scholarship and education. Chiropractic research, fittingly held to serve as the backbone for chiropractic’s successful progression, is appropriately highlighted at the conference known to attract high caliber educators and scientists. The theme this year was “Integration: Chiropractic Education and Practice in Integrative Healthcare.”
“Outstanding speakers and this year’s theme – Integration – propelled us forward to our largest turnout ever for an ACC/RAC conference which was a huge success due to the timeliness of and interest in the topics covered,” said David O’Bryon, executive director of the ACC. “Integrated healthcare is the future and full of opportunities for chiropractic.”
Through plenary sessions, platform presentations, workshops and poster sessions, the conference participants explored the topic of Integration in its clinical, basic science, educational research aspects featuring well attended discussions that included a plenary session panel discussion on “Successful Integration of Chiropractic Services: Examples in the Field.” Conference presentations included workshops by members of the ACC Strategic Task Forces on Primary Care and Clinical Residencies.
Special guest retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Rebecca S. Halstead, opened the Research Agenda Conference with a well-received keynote presentation, “Working as a team – The importance of the integration of chiropractic services into VA and DoD healthcare facilities.” The General also conducted a workshop on leadership identifying attributes common to successful managers to a standing-room-only crowd. A closing plenary session included a keynote presentation provided by Stephen C. Shannon, DO, MPH, president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, that addressed “The Future of Integrative Healthcare: Benefits and Obstacles of Integration.” A panel discussion followed Dr. Shannon’s talk, headed by Ian D. Coulter, PhD, of Rand Corporation on the same theme.
During its regular meeting, the ACC Task Force on Enrollment formed in July 2010 as a result of the Board’s Strategic Planning imperative to address the issue of enrollment in chiropractic programs, presented their findings to the larger Board. The Task Force’s efforts provided a sense of the current chiropractic enrollment landscape. This was followed by formal presentations from several high level enrollment and marketing research firms. The Board made key decisions moving forward to improve the profession’s understanding of the chiropractic education market place. The annual meeting culminated in the election of ACC new officers to serve two-year terms. Richard G. Brassard, DC, president of Texas Chiropractic College, was elected as president; Mark Zeigler, DC, president of Northwestern Health Sciences University, will serve as vice president, and the new secretary-treasurer will be Brian J. McAulay, DC, PhD, provost of Life University. Frank J. Nicchi, DC, MS, president of NYCC and outgoing ACC president will continue to serve on the executive committee.
As in previous years, ACC working groups met to discuss common challenges facing all institutions and included chief academic officers, chief financial officers, and administrators in clinics/health centers, enrollment management/admissions, institutional assessment, institutional advancement/development, research, librarians, and institutional technology.
Distinguished service awards were presented to Charles C. DuBois, president and CEO of Standard Process, Inc. for his commitment to excellence in chiropractic education and research through his support of the ACC/RAC, and to Gerard W. Clum, DC, (a past president and board member) for his leadership and outstanding service to the association, and to Frank J. Nicchi, DC, MS, for his leadership and outstanding service as president from 2009 to 2011. Presidential Service Citations were awarded to Brian J. McAulay, DC, PhD, for his work as chair of the ACC Task Force on Enrollment, and to Ms. Robyn Patkus for her admirable efforts as ACC membership and conference coordinator.
Next year’s conference themed “Diversity” will be held March 15, 16 and 17, 2012 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. For more information please visit www.chirocolleges.org.
Protecting Chiropractors Ability to Utilize Therapeutic Laser Technology
Franklin, TN (PRWEB) March 10, 2011
State Medical and Chiropractic Boards are writing new rules regulating the use of laser technology; K-LaserUSA is a proactive participant in the process; Ensuring DC’s access to advanced technology to help their patients with safe and drug-free therapy laser treatments.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates medical devices to be sure they are safe and effective, and are honestly, accurately and informatively represented to the public. Therapeutic lasers apply a low dosage of red or infrared laser light to deliver pain management, reduce inflammation and enhance tissue healing. Photobiomodulation is the term embraced by the North American Association for Laser Therapy for this process.
Chiropractic is a health care discipline and profession that emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Doctors of Chiropractic primarily use manual therapy, including manipulation of the spine, other joints, and soft tissues; but treatment may also include application of therapeutic modalities, exercises and health and lifestyle counseling.
Lasers are classified by the FDA according to their power output. Class 3a lasers have less five milliwatts of power, Class 3b are between 5 and 500 milliwatts (or half a Watt), and Class 4 lasers are more than 500 milliwatts. Class 4 lasers are utilized in therapy, surgery, hair removal and even industrial applications. The wavelength (or color) and the power density (or concentration) determines the outcome of the laser-tissue interaction. Class 4 is the highest on the classification scheme, and since 2002 the FDA has cleared therapy lasers in Classes 3a, 3b and 4.
For the past nine years, Chiropractors have been using lasers to enhance patient clinical outcomes. State Boards of Chiropractic have begun to rewrite scope of practice rules to address the utilization of therapeutic lasers. Since Class 4 lasers encompass a wide array of devices, there has been some confusion whether chiropractors could use FDA-cleared Class 4 therapy lasers.
K-LaserUSA has been a proactive participant in the process. Dr. Phil Harrington, Manager of Education and Clinical Support has supplied written testimony to the states of Maryland and Ohio, and has given personal testimony in Texas, Iowa, Washington and California.
The Washington Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission (QAC) held a meeting August 12, 2010 to discuss whether Class 4 therapy lasers should be on the list of devices approved for use by Washington Chiropractors. Dr. Harrington of K-LaserUSA was the only laser industry representative present at that meeting. At the February 24, 2011 Scope of Practice Subcommittee Meeting in Sacramento, California Dr. Harrington was one of two laser industry representatives present, and after the meeting was asked by Subcommittee Chair Dr. Hugh Lubkin to be on call as an industry expert.
K-LaserUSA will continue to be a proactive participant ensuring Doctors of Chiropractic access to therapeutic laser technology to help their patients with safe and drug-free therapy laser treatments.
If you’d like more information on therapeutic laser technology, or to arrange an interview with Dr. Harrington, contact him at 866-595-7749 or pharrington(at)k-laserusa(dot)com.
Douglas Laboratories® Introduces EZ Swallow Coating Technology
2011 412.471.0840, [email protected]
DOUGLAS LABORATORIES® INTRODUCES
EZ SWALLOW COATING TECHNOLOGY
PITTSBURGH, PA – Douglas Laboratories, known for its legacy of innovation, is proud to introduce yet another industry first in its already best-in-class multivitamin product line: Ultra Preventive® EZ. Now, its most comprehensive multivitamin and mineral supplement to date utilizes an exclusive easy (EZ) swallow coating technology.
Like Douglas Laboratories’ trusted 5-Star Gold-Rated Ultra Preventive® X, Ultra Preventive EZ has been created with a special green food base and includes a variety of organic fruits and vegetables, as well as
carefully formulated vitamins, minerals, trace elements and nutrients, vitamin D and Metafolin®, the body’s preferred form of readily
bioavailable folate.
The difference is Ultra Preventive EZ’s unique easy-to-swallow form, available only from Douglas Laboratories. It is smaller in size and
contains a naturally vanilla-flavored coating, making swallowing this packed multivitamin easy and pleasant.
“We are extremely excited to bring Ultra Preventive EZ to market.
I believe patients will love and actually request this multivitamin
and mineral supplement because it provides them with the same
best-in-class benefits they’ve come to expect from Douglas products,
but now in an easy-to-swallow pill,” said Doug Lioon, Executive
Chairman. “Healthcare practitioners can confidently recommend
it to more of their patients, especially those who typically have
difficulty swallowing larger pills—proving that once again, you
can trust Douglas Laboratories to be an integral part of your
patients’ total health care approach.”
Ultra Preventive EZ is now available to healthcare practitioners
exclusively through Douglas Laboratories. For more information
on Ultra Preventive EZ, visit www.douglaslabs.com.
Metafolin® is a registered trademark of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
ABOUT DOUGLAS LABORATORIES
Subsidiary of Atrium Innovations Inc. [TSX: ATB], Douglas Laboratories, the trusted choice of thousands of healthcare professionals
for more than 50 years, is at the forefront of the nutritional health industry, proudly researching, developing and manufacturing
superior quality, science-based supplements that help people improve their health. Recognized throughout the industry for its
uncompromising operational practices at its state-of-the-art, GMP-compliant manufacturing facilities, Douglas Laboratories continues
to provide the added insurance of multiple domestic and international GMP certifications, including ISO-9001 certification and ISO-17025 accreditation for in-house laboratories, as well as NSF International Registration. Douglas Laboratories currently offers
more than 600 branded products, introducing new products on a continuous basis. Working with an experienced research staff
of PhDs and a prestigious medical advisory board, Douglas Laboratories is committed to bringing innovative, science-based
products to the marketplace. Douglas Laboratories distributes worldwide, with its headquarters located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. For additional information, visit www.douglaslabs.com.
ABOUT ATRIUM INNOVATIONS (TSX: ATB)
Atrium Innovations Inc. is a globally recognized leader in the innovation, formulation, production and commercialization of science-based and professionally endorsed products for the health & nutrition industry. The company focuses primarily on growing segments
of the health and nutrition markets, which are benefiting from the trends towards healthy living and the aging of the population.
Atrium markets a broad portfolio of finished products through its highly specialized sales and marketing network in more than 35 countries, primarily in North America and Europe. Atrium has more than 925 employees and operates seven manufacturing facilities. Additional information about Atrium is available on its website at www.atrium-innovations.com.
Super Bowl MVP is “Well-Adjusted”
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Professional athletes recognize the value of chiropractic care
CARMICHAEL, Calif. – March 15, 2011 — From his son’s first “stingers” to various neck, back and other injuries resulting from playing football, Dr. Ed Rodgers – Dad of championship Green Bay Packers’ winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers — was always there to make an adjustment. It was the care he received following a college football injury that led the Super Bowl MVP’s father to pursue a chiropractic career.
“The structure of the human body, especially the spine, and its relationship to function can be impacted by the physical nature of accidents, falls, poor posture and injuries,” says Dr. Rodgers. “That’s why chiropractic care is so valuable for many acute and chronic health problems.”
While providing chiropractic care for his three sons who played multiple sports during their school years, as well as his patients in Chico, California, Dr. Ed finds the natural hands-on methods of chiropractic care to be of great value. He points out that every NFL football team and the majority of college and high school athletic programs have a doctor of chiropractic available to treat their players. Athletes from all sports credit chiropractic care for their ability to recover from neck, back and other joint injuries, and play the game at a high level. Reflecting this expertise, 2010 marked the first time that chiropractors occupied the two top positions for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) medical team.
Jack Dolbin DC, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was the starting wide receiver for the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII. His father and grandfather were chiropractors, as is his daughter.
“Patients of all ages are learning to appreciate the clinical skills of a chiropractor for conditions including headaches, neck and back pain and other health issues that are related to the spine and influenced by injuries and posture,” says Dr. Dolbin.
Jerry Rice was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2010 and was recently chosen as the “greatest” pro football player of all time by a blue ribbon panel at the NFL Network. As a spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, Rice says this about his legendary 20-year pro career: “I did a lot of things to stay in the game but regular visits to my chiropractor were among the most important.”
About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress aims to inform and educate the general public about the many benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation, please visit us on the web at www.yes2chiropractic.com.
Legislation to Expand Patient Access to Chiropractic Care Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) today announced that their work with key congressional supporters has resulted in two important pieces of pro-chiropractic legislation being introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. These bills, if enacted into law, would increase patient access to vital health care—which includes chiropractic care—and benefit chiropractic physicians and students.
One of the legislative initiatives, the Access to Frontline Health Care Act (H.R. 531), would establish a new program that would help chiropractic physicians and other select health care providers repay their student loans if, in exchange, the providers establish and maintain practices in medically underserved areas. The legislation, introduced Feb. 8 in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) would designate certain types of health care providers as “frontline” providers. ACA and ACC worked closely with the sponsor of the bill to ensure that chiropractic physicians are specified in the bill as qualifying for this status.
I wanted to add comment here. I think this is a great initiative by Rep. Braley but it falls short. Placing ONE Chiropractor in a large VA Health Care Center is a disservice. The staff doctor will be overwhelmed and patients will be waiting for months. If you are a Vet or DC, I would encourage you to contact these legislators and inform them of the understaffing issue inherent in the bill.
Follow the link below for the rest of the article.
“Many regions of our nation, particularly the rural parts of America, simply do not have sufficient numbers of qualified health care professionals to meet the needs of the local population,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “This legislation would provide vital health care to underserved patients across the country, and it would also help newly graduated chiropractic physicians establish practices and repay their student loans.”
The second piece of legislation, the Chiropractic Membership in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Act of 2011 (H.R. 664), introduced by Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) on Feb. 11, would also benefit the public and the profession by requiring the inclusion of chiropractic physicians in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps.
The Commissioned Corps is an elite team of more than 6,000 well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the nation’s public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science. Officers in the Corps provide health care services in a variety of locations and venues, including care to members of the U.S. Coast Guard and at community health centers.
“Both of these pieces of legislation are critical to the integration of chiropractic care in every federal health care program,” said Frank J. Nicchi, DC, president of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. “Chiropractic students and alumni will benefit immensely from the opportunity to provide care to citizens in medically underserved areas and to participate in the Commissioned Corps. We applaud Reps. Braley and Green for their leadership and support for the inclusion of chiropractic care in these important national health care initiatives.”
The introduction of both pieces of legislation fairly early in the First Session of the current 112th Congress was intentional by ACA, ACC and the bill’s supporters. “Early introduction allows for the time necessary to build critical momentum for these pro-chiropractic initiatives,” said John Falardeau, ACA’s vice president of government relations. “Having that momentum increases the likelihood of these bills successfully advancing through the legislative process.”
To view the full text of HR 531, click here.
To see the full text of HR 664, click here.
ACA and ACC request that chiropractic physicians contact their congressional representatives and urge them to cosponsor both of these bills.
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.
The Association of Chiropractic Colleges represents accredited chiropractic colleges in North America and seeks to advance chiropractic education, research and service.