Category: Yellow Pages

 

 

Springdale Chiropractor Frazetta

Wants to Give Back

PENNSYLVANIA: When his father died in March, Sebastian Frazetta searched for a way to honor his memory. Frazetta’s father, Michael Frazetta, was a World War II veteran. Over the last few years, as Michael Frazetta required more care for dementia, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs covered his health care needs.

Frazetta is a chiropractor with a practice in Springdale. He decided he would honor his father while saying “thank you” to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Any veteran who returns from Iraq or Afghanistan can receive one month of free chiropractic care at Frazetta Family Chiropractic.

“I want to give back to the veterans because they took care of my dad,” said Frazetta.

The idea came to him while he was going through his father’s medals, pictures and journals from the war. Michael Frazetta wrote letters to his mother that detailed how great it was where he was stationed and his mother wrote similar letters about home. In reality, Michael Frazetta was in heavy combat in Germany and Italy throughout the war and his mother was very sick at home.

“It got me thinking that there are probably soldiers today doing the same thing,” said Frazetta. “It made me wonder what I could do. Then I thought that, in this economy, it will be tough for returning veterans and I didn’t want them to sacrifice their health because of costs.”

Michael Frazetta was proud of his military experience—he was a staff sergeant in the Army who served overseas from April 1943 to January 1946.

The program will never expire. Any veteran who returns from Iraq or Afghanistan, regardless of when it happens, can take advantage of the free month of care, Sebastian Frazetta said. “It could be five years from now. The important thing is that it will be one month of free care for each soldier. It’s open to anyone who can physically get to my office.”

There are no obligations tied to the program. A veteran can come in as many times as he wants during the month.

“My dad would want me to do this,” said Frazetta.

Pittsburgh Tribune

 

Multidisciplinary DC And His Calling

FORT WAYNE, IN: Dr. Peter Jakacki is the true personification of combining chiropractic and allopathic medicine. First trained as a chiropractor and working in the field for 6 1/2 years, Jakacki then went to IU School of Medicine. He and another chiropractor admitted the same year were the first chiropractors the school had ever admitted. Four years later, Jakacki graduated first in the class, the other chiropractor second.

Both areas of medical practice were God’s leading, he said, maintaining, “God didn’t lead me to do this to shed one for the other.” At age 47 he’s doing what he loves: delivering babies; treating ear infections; counseling patients on diet and nutrition; and doing chiropractic adjustments to pregnant women, factory laborers and growing children. Between stitching cuts and well-baby checks, “I still adjust 10 to 15 people a day,” he said.

He may do an adjustment on a hospital patient who has been in bed for days. The standard treatment is to “medicate them with pain meds, or to ignore it. It’s nice to be able to adjust or work on someone’s back, work out the knots, work out the neck and face, to alleviate their headache manually when otherwise you wouldn’t be able to.” he said. Pregnant women get out of alignment due to the growing baby and hormonal changes on muscles and ligaments. A day after a woman delivers, he usually adjusts the mother.

Chiropractic has its place – and its limits, he said, noting, “I’ve had cases in which if I wasn’t able to intervene using the right medicine, the right medical intervention, the baby would have died. I’m thankful every day I have those medical tools available.”

Jakacki says, “There is a … move and education of the public to push toward natural and holistic health care. The move toward integrative medicine will have to originate with the people. If it’s not demanded by the people, medicine will not do it”.

Source: Fortwayne.com

 

Judge Reserves Decision On Chiropractic Lawsuit

EDMONTON, CANADA: A judge has reserved decision on a motion by the Alberta government to be dropped as a defendant in a proposed class-action lawsuit over chiropractic care.

A government spokesman says the lawsuit offers no reason why Alberta has been included as a defendant, so lawyers argued that there is no reason to continue against the province. The claim by Sandra Nette also names chiropractor Gregory John Stiles and the Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors.

The lawsuit alleges that adjustments to Nette’s upper neck ruptured arteries, which in turn disrupted blood flow to her brain and caused several paralyzing strokes. Her lawyer, Philip Tinkler, says the government can’t just wash its hands of the matter.

He suggests the province should actually be speaking out against the type of chiropractic treatment that he claims left Nette paralysed.

Source The Canadian Press/Edmonton/iNews880.com.  

Federal Lawsuit Regarding Alleged False Claims Dismissed against Axiom and All Defendants!

FLORIDA: On May 20, 2009, United States District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington dismissed, with prejudice, the lawsuit styled United States of America ex rel., Greg Westfall and Suzanne Westfall vs. Axiom Worldwide, Inc.; Axiom Worldwide, LLC; James J. Gibson, Jr.; Nicholas Exarhos; Timothy Exarhos; Peer Review Network, Inc.; Case No. 8:06–CV–571–T–33TBM. The lawsuit, filed by Greg and Suzanne Westfall on behalf of the United States under the federal False Claims Act, had been pending in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, since 2006.

Lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act are commonly referred to as “qui tam” suits.

Greg Westfall is a former independent sales representative for Axiom Worldwide, and Suzanne Westfall, his wife, served as his assistant. In their complaint, the Westfalls alleged that Axiom’s DRX devices are mechanical traction devices, and that Axiom and others devised a sales scheme to promote the sale of the Axiom products by knowingly, falsely, and fraudulently using misleading representations to physicians, which they knew would cause physicians to submit false and fraudulent claims for payment to Medicare and other federal healthcare programs for services rendered with Axiom’s devices.

The Westfalls filed their original sealed complaint on April 5, 2006. A search warrant was executed upon Axiom’s corporate headquarters on March 8, 2007, and the case was subsequently unsealed. Later that year, on August 3, 2007, the United States declined to intervene in the lawsuit. As a result, Axiom Worldwide filed a motion on February 19, 2008, to dismiss the complaint with prejudice. The very next day, the Westfalls and their attorneys filed a motion to amend their original complaint, which was granted. On March 31, 2008, the Westfalls filed their first amended complaint with the Court. In response to the content of the Westfall’s amended complaint, Axiom again filed a motion to dismiss on June 10, 2008.

On March 20, 2009, the court dismissed the first amended complaint without prejudice, noting, “Reading the first amended complaint carefully, this court was not able to connect with any certainty the numerous allegations with the individual defendants.” On April 6, 2009, the Westfalls filed a second amended complaint containing nineteen counts against the defendants. Once again, and in response to the content of the Westfalls’ second amended complaint, Axiom filed a motion to dismiss, and on May 20, 2009, the Court granted Axiom’s motion to dismiss with prejudice. A dismissal with prejudice closes the case, unless the Court’s decision is appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal and the decision is reversed.

In its conclusion, the Court wrote, “[t]his court roundly refuses to open the door to discovery and litigation when, after three attempts, Relators failed to file a complaint in compliance with Rule 9(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Thus, upon due consideration, this Court dismisses this case with prejudice.” To view the Court’s order in its entirety, visit www.AxiomWorldwide.com.

Axiom Worldwide

 

U.S. House of Representatives Approves Expanded Armed Forces Access to Chiropractic, Overseas Demonstration Project

VIRGINIA: The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a directive that orders the Pentagon to make chiropractic care a standard benefit for all active duty military personnel. The legislation is contained in HR 2647, a bill authorizing defense programs in fiscal year 2010, and is based in part on recommendations from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC).

The bill—passed by the full House on June 25—also contains language allowing for chiropractic demonstration projects at overseas military locations and clarifies that chiropractic care at U.S. military facilities is to be performed only by a doctor of chiropractic.

“When signed into law, this legislation will pave the way for expanded access within the military health care system to the critical services offered by doctors of chiropractic—both stateside and overseas,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “ACA leaders are dedicated to this effort and will settle for nothing less than full access to chiropractic.”

In 2008, the House passed similar language in the form of HR 5658; however, that provision was not included in the Senate version of the bill.

To date, there is a doctor of chiropractic at 49 military bases around the country; however, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office report, only 54 percent of servicemen and women eligible for chiropractic care can reasonably access the benefit.

This latest development comes on the heels of an announcement by TRICARE that, beginning this fall, 11 additional military hospitals and clinics will provide access to chiropractic services for active duty military members, including facilities in Germany and Okinawa, Japan.

ACA members and other doctors of chiropractic with questions should e-mail [email protected].

American Chiropractic Association

CANADA: The Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors (ACAC) has refused Randall Pickett’s application for annual renewal of his practice permit. Mr. Pickett is no longer entitled to practice chiropractic in Alberta.

The Redcliffe, Alberta, chiropractor’s application was refused following his conviction on four charges of sexual assault associated with his practice of chiropractic. “The decision to not renew Mr. Pickett’s practice permit was based on our mandate of protection of the public,” said ACAC registrar, Dr. Brian Gushaty.

The ACAC regulates the chiropractic profession in Alberta under the Health Professions Act and is committed to protecting the public, ensuring accountability and improving Albertans’ health and well-being.

Alberta College and Association of Chiropractors

 

CALIFORNIA: On August 8, an Anaheim chiropractor was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting four female patients who were injured in car accidents. Chi Van Pham, 43, of Yorba Linda didn’t react as he was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Patrick H. Donahue, who rejected his bid for a probation-only sentence because Pham abused a position of trust. The judge also noted that most of the victims—all who came to Pham’s office between 2003 and 2005—were “very emotional and disturbed.” In June, a jury convicted Pham of four counts of sexual battery by fraud and two misdemeanor counts of battery regarding his treatment of four women. One victim was 13 when Pham inappropriately touched and kissed her, authorities said.

The Orange County Register

 

WASHINGTON: Fun fact: The most amusing roadside signs are usually at churches, car washes and chiropractic offices. Here’s a case in point, a simple pledge from Martha Lake Chiropractic near Mill Creek: “The Wizard’s of ‘Ahhhhhs.’”

HeraldNet

 

NEW JERSEY: A Dominican national charged with staging fake car crashes returned to the United States thinking eight years was long enough to make Hudson County forget him, but he was arrested after landing at Kennedy Airport in New York, officials said. “I would say he is surprised,” said Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Zevits of Francisco Madera, 34, formerly of Park Avenue in Union City, who was arraigned in late July.

In 2000, Madera was charged in four separate indictments with offenses including health care claim fraud, conspiracy, theft by deception, attempted theft, and unsworn falsification, Zevits said.

“He got wind of the indictments and fled to the Dominican Republic when he knew it was getting too hot (here),” Zevits said.

Madera flew from the Dominican Republic to Kennedy Airport on July 10 and when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials checked his green card they found the four open warrants from Hudson County.

In a complex scam, Madera is charged with recruiting people to participate in the car crashes, Zevits said. He gave them instruction on a city and intersection where to collide, Zevits said, adding that the participants would go to the emergency room by ambulance after the crash, complaining of neck, shoulder, back or other injuries.

The fake victims would also agree to go to a chiropractor for 12 to 20 visits afterward, Zevits said, adding that insurance companies would pay for the visits and the chiropractor would give a cut to Madera. The crash participants would be paid $200 to $500 for their roles, Zevits said.

The Jersey Journal

 

DELAWARE: A Marion chiropractor has been sentenced to federal prison time in a multimillion-dollar marijuana smuggling ring that used a Delaware building as a waypoint. And another chiropractor has pleaded to his role and is awaiting sentencing. Federal authorities said the group moved thousands of pounds of high-grade “B.C. Bud” marijuana from Canada to Chicago where it was sold or continued on to the East Coast.

In July, Marion chiropractor Jeff Kopp, 53, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison followed by another five years of supervised release. He had been facing more than ten years behind bars.

His acquaintance, Michael Breneman, 55, of Maquoketa, also pleaded and is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 8.

Records obtained by The Courier indicate the Iowa and Chicago operation was a hub of a larger ring based in Canada and Washington state with links to the Hells Angels motorcycle club.

Documents detail a sophisticated operation that brought pot across the northern border hidden in semi trucks equipped with secret compartments, in hollowed out logs and even in a propane tanker.

The group employed couriers to move drugs and bundles of cash around the country and workers to count money. There was even an insurance plan in case authorities intercepted a shipment of contraband.

During a three-year investigation, federal agents arrested 38 people and seized 7,000 pounds of marijuana, 1,300 pounds of cocaine and more than $3.5 million in cash connected with the group.

Both Kopp and Breneman had been chiropractors in Washington state before returning to Iowa.

The Courier

Palmer Announces Dismissal of Lawsuit

IOWA: Palmer College of Chiropractic officials announced on June 30, 2008, the positive outcome of the lawsuit filed against the former Palmer alumni association and the members of its executive committee. This defamation of character lawsuit was based on untrue statements and character attacks made in 2004 against members of the Palmer Board of Trustees, the College and the administration. On Thursday, June 26, an agreement was reached with the seven members of the former alumni association. The settlement agreement allowed the College to dismiss its defamation of character lawsuit against those individuals.

“All we’ve ever asked is that these individuals issue an apology to members of the Palmer Board of Trustees as well as the College administration, and we would dismiss the lawsuit,” said Palmer Board of Trustees Chairman Trevor Ireland, D.C. “The Board’s intention in filing the lawsuit was to have the record set straight. As a Board, we held fast on our position that we would dismiss the lawsuit as soon as these individuals issued a public apology and admitted that their comments pertaining to the Palmer Board of Trustees, its members and the College administration were not true. We are very pleased with this outcome.”

On June 26, the alumni—John Willis, D.C., David Reopelle, D.C., Ted Conger, D.C., Kirk Lee, D.C., Marc Leuenberg, D.C., Frank Bemis, D.C., and Scott Harris, D.C.—issued a collective public apology to the Board, the College and the administration. The Board accepted the apology and retraction, and the lawsuit was then dismissed.

The apology and retraction from the named alumni is as follows:

“We acknowledge that this situation has developed into something entirely different from anything we desire. We certainly do not now, nor have ever, wanted to harm Vickie Palmer or Palmer College or impugn their reputation in any manner. We apologize for any comments or actions which Vickie Palmer or Palmer College may have deemed offensive to them. We acknowledge that Vickie Anne Palmer has received nothing from Palmer College except for expense reimbursements in connection with her services as a trustee and chairperson of the board of trustees.

“In addition, we fully understand the governing structure of Palmer College of Chiropractic. The board of trustees makes and has always made the substantive policy decisions. Such decisions are not made by administrative personnel.

“We believed we exercised our First Amendment Rights. If we exceeded our Constitutional rights, we apologize.

“We apologize for the inconvenience and injured feelings Ms. Palmer and the trustees may have undergone.”

 

“I am very pleased that Palmer was able to dismiss the lawsuit against these individuals,” said Palmer Chancellor Larry Patten. “I am extremely proud of the Palmer Board of Trustees for its firm position relating to those who may choose to wrongfully denounce our people and our purpose. We appreciate the public apology. We are happy to have this matter behind us so that we can devote all of our energies and attention to moving the College forward.”

Press release submitted by Palmer College of Chiropractic

 

On-Line License Renewal Is Eco-Friendly

OKLAHOMA: Renewing licenses is often a cumbersome paper intensive process and in its second year of online license renewals, the Oklahoma Board of Chiropractic Examiners (OBCE) reminds chiropractors that renewing online saves time, money, and consumption of paper. In fact, more than 300 sheets of paper, 300 envelopes, and 300 stamps have been spared in the first year of service, saving the board $4,000 and 120 employee hours. Chiropractic physicians can access the online renewal service at http://www.chirorenewal.ok.gov. “Instead of having our Chiropractic professionals mail in their renewal forms, we take pride in providing them with the option of renewing online,” said Beth Carter, Ex-renewal Executive Director of OBCE. “We would like to encourage all Chiropractic professionals to renew online, because it is easy, secure and fast.”

The online renewal service enables licensees to pay online with Visa, MasterCard and electronic check payments utilizing OK gov’s secure payment engine. Upon completing the renewal process and approval from the board, licensees can print their certificates, thus reducing mailing and printing costs for the state.

Many other states offer online renewal. For more information, go to http://www.healthguideusa.org/chiropractor_license_lookup.htm.

 

Leechburg Woman Pleads Guilty in Chiropractor Fraud

PENNSYLVANIA: An Armstrong County woman has pleaded guilty to participating in a chiropractor’s insurance fraud scheme. Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh say 55-year-old Susie Horning of Leechburg accepted kickbacks from Westmoreland County chiropractor Douglas Henderson, who submitted fraudulent claims for treatment under Horning’s insurance policy.

Henderson of Lower Burrell has already pleaded guilty to defrauding Highmark out of more than $7 million by submitting false claims or having patients do it for him.

Horning pleaded guilty in late July to health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 24.

Two other women were sentenced in January to probation and ordered to pay more than $450,000 in restitution for their involvement in the scheme.

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

 

Chiropractor Suspended for Ads—Again

KANSAS: Wichita chiropractor Todd Eck will lose his license for 30 days, beginning July 1 and pay a $10,000 fine because he failed to specify in two advertisements that he was a chiropractor.

Ryan Hodge, Eck’s attorney said Eck’s patients would be cared for by others during the suspension.

The discipline was ordered by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts, which reduced the staff-recommended 90-day license suspension after hearing from Eck at the board’s June 21 meeting, board president Betty McBride said. State law requires those governed by the board to specify in advertising which branch of medicine they’re licensed in.

Eck inadvertently left the designation off the ads, Hodge said, and didn’t catch the omission on draft forms of them. Those answering the phone said, “Eck Chiropractic,” Hodge said, “so there was never an issue of anybody being deceived by the ads.”

McBride said the suspension and fine were ordered because it’s not the first time Eck has faced the board over advertising practices. “That’s why the board felt it was very important that action be taken, to protect the public.”

In April 2004, Eck paid a $2,500 fine for failing to identify what kind of doctor he was in an advertisement in The Newton Kansan.

The new case involves two December 2005 ads, one in The Newton Kansan and one a direct-mail ad. The disciplinary petition was filed in October 2007. Each ad identified “Dr. Todd Eck, a local doctor” and “Eck Clinic” but failed to say what kind of doctor he was.

“When there’s a repeat offense, that triggers some additional sanctions,” said Larry Buening, whose last day as executive director of the board was June 30.

The Wichita Eagle

 

 

Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Tax Evasion

MAINE: A chiropractor who used to practice in Damariscotta pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and three counts of tax evasion in U.S. District Court on Friday, June 27. Steven P. Amato, 52, faces a maximum jail term of ten years for the fraud count and a maximum of five years for each of the tax counts. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

Amato, currently of Yorkville, Calif., practiced in Damariscotta from 2000 to 2004.

Amato was accused of submitting fraudulent claims to insurance companies for services he did not provide to patients. The losses to health insurance companies were estimated to be more than $100,000.

He was also accused of filing false federal income tax returns from 2001 to 2003. It’s estimated that he underreported his income by nearly $650,000 and evaded taxes of $249,637.

Mainetoday.com

 

 

Appeals Court Upholds Conviction of Nebraska Chiropractor

NEBRASKA: A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of a Lincoln chiropractor and his wife for tax evasion. Mark Gustafson and his wife, Salwa Gustafson, were each sentenced last September to 30 months in prison.

In its ruling, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Gustafsons’ arguments that a lower court erred in excluding some exhibits and in its instructions to the jury.

Federal authorities had said the couple failed to file tax returns from 1998 to 2000. Prosecutors said they also used sham business trusts and offshore accounts to conceal their income.

Mark Gustafson is currently serving his sentence in a South Dakota federal prison. His wife is set to begin her term after her husband’s release to allow for one parent to be with their child.

http://www.ca8.uscourts.gov/index.html

 

 

U.S. Sen. Harkin: Announces Nearly $150,000 for the Palmer College of Chiropractic

WASHINGTON, D.C: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently announced that the Palmer College of Chiropractic received a $148,435 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for medical research. The university will use these funds to establish a research program at the Developmental Center for Clinical and Translational Science in Chiropractic. “The Palmer College of Chiropractic continues to impress the medical community with its advanced findings and this funding will help support their work,” Harkin said. “The results of such research will add to our scientific understanding and will improve the quality of life for people in Iowa and across the country.”

Harkin has been a long-time supporter of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal agency responsible for medical research. As Chairman and formerly ranking member of the subcommittee that funds health and education, Harkin led the effort to double NIH funding over five years. President Bush has proposed freezing funding for the NIH at $29.3 billion.

Iowapolitics.com

Warwick DC Scales Everest on Second Try

RHODE ISLAND: The second time is the charm for Warwick chiropractor Timothy Warren, who is believed to be the only Rhode Islander to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.

Warren reached the top of Mount Everest on Friday, May 21, according to a news release from A Wish Come True, the Warwick-based organization that grants wishes to children ages 3 through 18 who suffer from life-threatening illnesses.

In a post on his Web site, Warren said he is tired but pleased that he reached the summit on his second try at climbing Everest. In 2007, Warren made it to 24,000 feet on the mountain but was forced to abort his quest for the tallest peak in the world when he came down with a throat infection.

Warren called his efforts to scale Mount Everest the “Klimb for Kids” because he uses his mountain-climbing to raise money for the A Wish Come True group.

He managed to raise about $15,000 for the group with his first effort. This year’s expedition hopes to raise $50,000 for this Rhode Island organization

At 29,035 feet above sea level, Mount Everest is the world’s tallest peak. Almost 200 climbers have died trying to make it to the top.

Warren is a veteran climber who has climbed Mount McKinley in Alaska, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Mount Aconcagua in South America. He endured an extensive training program before making his climbing attempts.

The Providence Journal

 

 

 

NIH to Study Activator Method’s TMJ Treatment

ARIZONA: Dr. Arlan Fuhr, co-founder and CEO of Activator Methods International, announced recently that his Activator Method to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders will be included in research funded by the National Institutes of Health. He said $400,000 was earmarked to study his method, which uses a hand-held tool to adjust the spine and joints without using force.

Fuhr said he won’t lead the pilot study. Instead, Dr. James DeVocht, associate professor of the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research in Iowa, will be the principal investigator, along with Clark Stanford, a dentist and associate dean for research at the University of Iowa.

The study will recruit 80 participants with TMJ disorders. One-third of the group will receive the Activator treatment, while another third will receive dental treatment, and the remaining third will be the placebo group.

Of the 65,000 chiropractors in the United States, about 35,000 have been trained in the technique. Of those, 2,100 are proficiency rated using the Activator, Fuhr said.

Fuhr said when he first began treating patients complaining of TMJ problems, one patient’s condition was so severe that for many years she could only open her mouth 3 or 4 millimeters. She drank all her nourishment through a straw.

“We adjusted her,” he said. “Her mouth opened for the first time in many years and she could eat again.”

Two years ago, he published research papers showing his findings and recently finished a new textbook. Fuhr said that helped build a stronger case for the NIH funding.

“I worked 15 years raising money from our own profession—$200 a doctor,” he said. “It took me 15 years to raise $600,000. Here, we get a grant for $400,000 in one shot. Doing this study in concert with the dental profession at a major university and having a really well designed study gives credibility to the whole project.”

Phoenix Business Journal

 

 

GEORGIA: A one-year-old boy will not have to appear in a Harrisonburg, Virginia, court to answer charges that he failed to pay a chiropractor bill now that the plaintiff has dropped the lawsuit. A subpoena was delivered to the home of Richard White and in that subpoena White’s one-year-old son was named in a lawsuit claiming that the toddler had failed to pay a $391 bill.

White said he had taken his son, Jacy, to a chiropractor shortly after he was born but he never received a bill. According to White his insurance wouldn’t cover the charge and it wasn’t until recently that he received a bill, about the same time he was forwarded a subpoena that had been sent to his old residence.

Jacy was scheduled to appear in Rockingham County General District Court in May but the lawsuit has been dropped.

TransWorldNews