April 2006

Two states take steps toward unity

Chiropractors in two states — Colorado and Virginia — are taking small steps toward unifying their associations under one organization.

In Virginia, board members of the Virginia Chiropractic Association (VCA) and the Virginia Chiropractic Society (VCS) completed a short questionnaire designed to help their organizations obtain objective, updated insights into the perspectives of the other organization.

The two boards had a preliminary meeting the weekend of April 22-23 to do fact finding and gain a greater understanding of:

The VCA, which represents 285 members, and VCS, which has between 50 and 75 members, have a history of working together. In January 2006, they worked together to fight some prospective physical therapy legislation, and they have scheduled a joint Medicare/documentation training seminar to address the documentation problem facing chiropractors.

Unity is the focus for a symposium for Colorado chiropractors, scheduled for May 6-7. The symposium is being put on by the newly-formed Colorado Chiropractic Unity committee, consisting of representatives from the Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA), the Colorado Chiropractic Society (CCS), and the Colorado Chiropractic Wellness Alliance (CCWA).

The symposium will feature a number of speakers, including Drs. Terry Yochum, Reed Phillips, Dennis Nikitow, Daryl Wills, and Rob Jackson. Other speakers include Kent Greenawalt, president and CEO of Foot Levelers, and Don Mielke, CCA attorney and lobbyist Don Mielke.

Gene Veno, executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and president of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, will speak and facilitate a panel discussion. Veno also facilitated at the Virginia meeting.

Veno was instrumental in unifying groups in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Sources: Colorado Unity Symposium, Virginia Chiropractic Association