April 2004

CAM insurer rewards evidence-based chiropractic

Chiropractors who demonstrate clinically efficient, evidence-based chiropractic care may get a break from a complementary and alternative healthcare network.

American Specialty Health Networks (ASH Networks) announced a new initiative to identify and recognize providers who demonstrate clinically efficient, evidence-based chiropractic care. The program reduces or eliminates the requirement for participating chiropractors to submit treatment plans for chiropractic services.

The treatment form waiver program integrates both transactional clinical review-based utilization management program components with clinical provider quality performance components. This affords an appropriate level of clinical review oversight on a provider-specific basis. Providers qualify for various levels of review (one of six different tiers) based upon quality management indices and compliance with ASH standards and administrative protocols. For some qualifying chiropractors, the treatment form submission process will be waived entirely.

"Our treatment form waiver program is a result of four years of evaluation and pilot programs. Early utilization review programs need to evolve into quality and patient care systems that reward and recognize exceptional performance by contracted providers," said George DeVries, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of ASH. "We hope to initiate similar programs with other provider groups in the near future."

Source: American Specialty Health Networks, www.ashcompanies.com

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: