Practical Chiro

American Chiropractic Association Assails Proposed Medicare Payment Cut as Threat to Seniors, Disabled

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is calling on Congress to halt proposed reductions in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2007, that could seriously jeopardize access to care for millions of elderly and disabled patients.

  ACA says that changes recently proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of a congressionally mandated five-year review undermine Congress' goals of preserving patient access and achieving greater quality of care. The association is pressing for a one-year delay in implementation of the cuts to provide CMS more time to assess the negative impact of the changes. ACA is also urging CMS to explore alternatives to the "inequitable" formulas used to determine physician reimbursement.

  This action comes on the heels of two proposed notices released by CMS that outline its plan to revise the way it calculates "relative value units" (RVUs)— or the costs associated with various health care services under the Medicare physician fee schedule. CMS is proposing to offset an increase in payments to physicians who use higher-level evaluation and management (E/M) services or consultation and "face time" with patients by applying a budget neutrality adjuster across work RVUs for all health care services by 10 percent. The cuts under the proposed notice would come in addition to a projected 5.1 percent reduction in payments based on the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) — a formula used to control the growth in Medicare spending.

  While some physicians will benefit from the increase in payments for higher-level E/M services, many health care providers will experience a dramatic overall decrease in reimbursements, particularly those providers who cannot bill for or do not frequently use higher-level E/M codes when submitting Medicare claims. In fact, certain health care professionals could experience payment cuts of as much as 15 percent by 2010.

  "Congress should delay the proposed changes so that CMS can explore ways to value 'face time' without reducing patient access to care by providers who would be forced to limit services due to such severe reimbursement cuts," said Richard Brassard, DC, president of the American Chiropractic Association. "Preventing these cuts will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to valuable health care services, including doctors of chiropractic."

  In addition to seeking immediate congressional action to delay the proposed rule, ACA is pressing for a fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. It plans to advocate not only for addressing next year's 5.1 percent payment cut, but also to create a long-term policy solution that would lead to more accurate physician reimbursement.

The American Chiropractic Association is urging its members and patients to lobby Congress on this issue before a final rule is unveiled by CMS later this year.

For more information, visit ACA's Web site at http://www.acatoday.org/feeschedule.

The Palmer House in Davenport

The Palmer House in Davenport, a treasure trove of priceless, unique and unusual collections, recently reopened to the public after being closed two years for renovation.
 
  The mansion at 1000 Brady St., just south of the Palmer College of Chiropractic skywalk, was built in 1874. B.J. and Mabel Palmer bought it in 1912 for $25,000 and remained there until their deaths, Ms. Palmer in 1949 and Mr. Palmer in 1961.
 
Mr. Palmer, the professed "developer" of chiropractic (his father, D.D. Palmer, was known as the "founder"), quickly began to fill the house with collectibles, including countless pieces of ivory, Ming vases, an ancient Chinese war gong, Navajo rugs, silk tapestries, a 1,000-pipe organ, and thousands of other items…

To read the entire article and see some beautiful photos, please go to: http://qconline.com/archives/qco/sections.cgi?prcss=display&id=306291

Practical Chiro Staff on Vacation

The staff of the Practical Chiro Weblog will be on vacation for the next two weeks. Please come back and visit us to read new posts after October 2nd.

Former Health Minister of British Columbia to Help B.C. Chiropractic

  Prominent broadcaster, writer, lawyer and former Health Minister of British Columbia, Rafe Mair, has been appointed as a consultant to the education committee of the British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA).    

The appointment was announced by BCCA president Dr. Jim Cooper of Penticton who said, "Rafe's work in law, government and media has given him a unique insight that should prove of immeasurable value as our profession seeks to expand the education resources available within this province."    

He added that B.C. students who wish to become medical doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists and a long list of health-related technical specialties can be educated here at home, but those who wish to become Doctors of Chiropractic must travel to Toronto, the United States or Australia for their education.     Rafe Mair's activities will include assisting the BCCA in the identification of the opportunities in chiropractic research and education within the province's post-secondary institutions.    

There are just two chiropractic colleges in Canada. Each year about 450 candidates apply for just 160 first year positions at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, the only English-language program. Admittance to the University of Quebec in Trois Rivières is an even greater challenge with, typically, 900 applicants competing for 45 positions. More than 800 Canadian students a year are forced to leave the country to attend chiropractic colleges in the United States. The cost to Canadian families supporting them abroad may represent a negative economic impact of $50 million a year or more, the equivalent of an 800-student chiropractic campus in this country.    

More than 800 chiropractic doctors in B.C. treat more than 500,000 individual patients each year. Back injuries and problems related to the spine constitute the second most frequent cause of workers' compensation claims (about 25 per cent of all claims costs), impacting employees, employers and the economy in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Published studies repeatedly confirm that chiropractic care for spine and related conditions results in superior outcomes, more rapid pain relief and recovery, and a quicker return to productive lives.

For further information: www.bcchiro.com

American Chiropractic Clinic Opened in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The American Chiropractic Clinic, the first facility of its kind in HCM City, officially opened yesterday after receiving its business and medical licenses last month.

Clinic director and chiropractor Wade Brackenbury said that "response from patients, both Vietnamese and foreign, had been tremendous so far."

He said that the century-old chiropractic therapy focuses on diagnosing, treating and preventing mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and their effects on the nervous system and on general health.

Brackenbury said the clinic would provide $12,000 worth of free treatment, twice weekly for four months, for 10 children aged between six and 12 suffering from cerebral palsy.

The HCM City Sponsorship Association for Poor Patients will select the children.

Brackenbury said cerebral palsy patients he had treated in other countries had reduced pain and increased mobility after chiropractic therapy.
He has practiced chiropractic therapy for 11 years in more than10 countries and territories, including the US, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.

Here’s another report on the opening:

 

VietNamNet Bridge—The American Chiropractic Clinic, the first of its kind in Ho Chi Minh City, was inaugurated at 8 Truong Dinh Street, District 3 on September 15.
   
    Dr. chiropractor Wade Brackenbury will directly diagnose and treat patients.
   
    Without drug or operation, all kinds of patients will be treated with machines; for instance, hernia patients’ backbones are set and stretched by machines.
   
    To patients with backache, doctors will provide them with a special sole of shoe to correct dislocated bone.

Treatment Option for Scoliosis Ignored

  Dear Editor,
 
  In a recent article, "Middle Schoolers Being Screened for Scoliosis," (Sept. 1) a very important treatment option for scoliosis was not mentioned in the publication. Chiropractic adjustments are a natural, noninvasive treatment for spinal subluxations, misalignments in the spine, which can cause a sideways "S" curve of the spine (scoliosis).

 
  Scoliosis can lead to conditions such as back pain and stiffness, disc complications, pinched nerves and weak or tight muscles. Spinal adjustments can improve these conditions whether the scoliosis is discovered early or later in life. If left untreated, symptoms can become severe.
 
  Chiropractic is a proactive choice, since early detection can prevent a scoliosis from worsening over time. Why wait until your child has a severe case of scoliosis when chiropractic care can provide gentle correction to the spine without the use of drugs or surgery? In addition to school screenings, a chiropractic evaluation can confirm the presence of scoliosis and further assist your child's spinal needs.


 
  A consultation with your chiropractor may be offered at no additional charge to discuss yours or your family's condition. Your chiropractor may recommend additional types of treatment such as therapy, traction and exercises in conjunction with your chiropractic adjustments. He or she may consult with other medical specialists about your (your child's) condition and can refer to an orthopedist or surgeon if necessary.


 
  There are a handful of doctors of chiropractic to choose from right here in Camden County that work with individuals of all age groups that have scoliosis. Knowing that this natural method of healthcare is available in our community will make a positive change in your life and our children's future.


 
  Dr. Angela Evagash
  Kingsland
 

Texas Physicians Ask Court to Ban Chiropractors from Certain Procedures

September 15, 2006

  A chiropractor is not a medical doctor, and a state agency has no legal authority to blur the line between them, the nation’s largest state medical society said today in a lawsuit challenging recent decisions by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
 
  To see the lawsuit, please go here.

“To protect public safety, the Texas Constitution and state law sharply distinguish the practice of medicine from the activities of chiropractors and other limited-license practitioners,” said Ladon W. Homer, MD, president of the Texas Medical Association. “The scope of practice of allied health professionals should not exceed what is safely permitted by their education, training, and skills.”
 
  The lawsuit filed today specifically asks a Travis County district court to invalidate the Chiropractic Board’s rules that would permit chiropractors to perform clinical needle electromyography (EMG) and spinal manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) because both procedures constitute the clinical and legal practice of medicine. Both procedures can cause serious injuries to patients if they are not performed by properly trained physicians.  MUA is a surgical procedure, and EMG is a diagnostic procedure. Texas law prohibits chiropractors from performing surgery or from diagnosing physical diseases, disorders, deformities, or injuries.
 
  “Chiropractors have no legal right to engage in the practice of medicine, and allowing them to do so undermines the purposes of the Texas Medical Practice Act; which are, in part, to set requirements for those who wish to practice medicine, thereby safeguarding patients who receive medical care,” the lawsuit states. “[A] chiropractor’s license does not entitle that person to practice medicine, and any law that permits him or her to do so is unconstitutional.”
 
  EMG is an invasive diagnostic procedure during which the physician inserts an electrode into a patient’s muscles to diagnose the cause of neuromuscular disease ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
 
  “The results of needle EMG are used to make critical medical decisions regarding the need for surgery, further testing such as MRI, medications, and the determination of disability,” the TMA lawsuit states. “Misdiagnosis can mean delayed or inappropriate treatment (including unnecessary surgery) and diminished quality of life for patients.”
 
  MUA is a surgical technique chiropractors employ supposedly to alleviate acute and chronic neck and back pain. Texas’ chiropractic law specifically prohibits chiropractors from performing any type of surgical procedure.
 
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 41,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.

Celebrate Vertebrates

by Dr. Benjamin Ryan

   Chiropractic's famous first adjustment is recognized each year on Founder's Day, commemorating Sept. 18, 1895, when Dr. Daniel David Palmer administered his initial specific chiropractic adjustment on Harvey Lillard in Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Palmer delivered the first chiropractic adjustment with the specific intent of realigning a malpositioned vertebra, restoring its normal position, in an attempt to restore a hearing defect. That attempt, as the world now knows, was successful.

    A new health science and practice just a little over 100 years old, chiropractic is predicated on the understanding that the human body is a self-healing, self-regulating organism. And, most auspiciously, chiropractic recognizes that the body requires no intervention in the healing process but rather, needs no interference with its innate abilities of self-comprehension and repair. What in 1895 was considered an attack on the orthodox medical industry of the era is now a concept so credible that to many, chiropractic care is considered part of the mainstream heath care system.

The American Chiropractic Association states that, "due to years of criticism—and even an illegal boycott by the American Medical Association —chiropractic training was sometimes called into question . . .

To read the complete article, please go here.

Senior Gets Fit Exercising in Bed, Winds Up Earning Karate Black Belt

Developed Program for Others With Leading Sports Chiropractor

  In his 60's, Ted Kavanau was so out of shape that he starting exercising in bed and wound up winning a karate black belt. With nationally known chiropractor Dr. Genie Tartell, they have introduced this exercise program for others.

Kavanau, Founder of CNN Headline News, and Tartell have combined elements of yoga, Pilates, karate and stretching. They explain the program in their new book Get Fit in Bed (New Harbinger Publications), which is available online, including on http://www.GetFitInBed.com and in bookstores.

"Our program starts with smaller movements to build tone, strength, and flexibility for later broader movements," said Tartell. Kavanau adds, "It's a complete exercise system in which the flow of movements has a certain physical logic."

  Kavanau, who also discovered Katie Couric by making her co-anchor with him in his television program "Real Pictures" on CNN, says these exercises helped him at age 73 to still do karate sparring and go rounds in boxing competitions.

  Kavanau says he was surprised at how far he got by exercising in bed from when he began his make-shift exercises to the point of refining them into a program with Tartell. According to Tartell, with regular practice you can expect improvement of muscle tone, flexibility and even sleep quality. It can even help those with mobility problems, arthritis or fibromyalgia.

  A Doctor of Chiropractic, and Sports Chiropractic, Tartell is a Registered Nurse, was a Public Health Nurse, and Cardiac Critical Care nurse at The University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Natural Arthritis Pain Relief Alternatives are Still Plentiful for Those that Continue to Suffer

Linda Howard of Yaphank, New York, is a 45 years old back pain sufferer for most of her life. Stated Howard, "I have degenerative disc disease as well as disc injuries from a car accident. I have been working with my Chiropractor; Dr. Carmnie DeSanto, for several years now and he had spoken to me about the benefits of Glucosamine and Chondroitin. I tried tablets for several months without any relief, eventually I stopped taking it altogether. An orthopedist suggested that I start taking Vioxx(tm). I was thrilled at the fact that I had little of no pain and stiffness. When they took Vioxx(tm) off the market the pain and the stiffness returned. I thought that this was the way I was going to have to live my life."



Without the help of her prescription and not realizing that many glucosamine tablets/products don't dissolve fully to offer any joint relief benefits, Howard continued her search.



"That’s when I realized that maybe I needed to try another brand. After searching the web, I found and took Flex Easy for 4 weeks and noticed that I had no more pain or stiffness. I was so thrilled that I told my Chiropractor about your product. He even noticed the difference," said Howard.



"I never knew a couple years ago I would be having a product like this created," states FlexEasy creator, Dr. Brad Krueger, a Cedar Rapids, IA, chiropractor. "My shoulder joints popped more than my patients' joints when I was adjusting their spine and extremities and I couldn't find a way to get better. I was taking Glucosamine and other Sulfate compound tablets like crazy but not getting any results trying to stimulate my ligaments and cartilage to heal."



"I finally read an excerpt by James Dillard, MD, in Natural Health Breakthroughs 2004, Bottom Line Publishing, that suggested to test how well a vitamin dissolves. It stated to mix equal parts water and vinegar in a glass and drop in your pill. Within 40 minutes it should be well on its way to being dissolved (not just flaking off but totally dissolved). I know that glucosamine sometimes takes months to start showing some results in patients. But most aren't willing to wait that long. That is why I had created liquid FlexEasy™, complete with faster acting natural anti-inflammatories and pain blockers as well as glucosamine, etc. for healing. As well as keeping it in a liquid format to provide maximum absorption." states Krueger.



For more Information, please go to   
www.flexeasy.com