October 2005

FCLB urges scrutiny of chiropractic network practices

The Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) has joined ACA in its efforts to curb the abuses of chiropractic managed care organizations (MCOs) by urging member boards to scrutinize MCO “participation policies” that interfere with the doctor-patient relationship and “pose a threat to safe, quality patient care.”

In a Sept. 29 letter, FCLB President N. Edwin Weathersby, DC, reminded Federation member boards that it is their responsibility to “protect the health, welfare and safety of the public as it relates to the practice of chiropractic.”

Weathersby pointed out that several boards have “already taken action to remind MCOs that the doctor-patient relationship is overseen by the regulatory boards, not the insurance industry” and encouraged others to do the same.

Specifically, FCLB is urging member boards to:

• Adopt procedures to identify inappropriate managed care criteria and processes that interfere with the doctor-patient relationship or restrict necessary patient care;

• Report such activities to the appropriate state regulatory authority for further investigation; and

• Report cases involving managed care interference with the doctor-patient relationship and the board’s response to the Federation’s executive offices.

In his letter, Weathersby also noted that New York Chiropractic College recently reviewed one MCO’s performance criteria and concluded that its standards of care are lower than those currently taught in chiropractic colleges and would negatively affect patient care. “Obviously, this conclusion is of serious concern to regulation,” he added, and “... corrective action should be undertaken.”

More information is available from the Chiropractic Network Action Center (CNAC), www.acatoday.com/networks. A full copy of the FCLB letter is available at http://www.acatoday.com/networks/docs/FCLBLetter.pdf.

Source: Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards,www.fclb.org

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