August 2007

CA certification to be required in Iowa

Chiropractic assistants (CAs) in Iowa who perform rehabilitation services will need to be certified by Sept. 30 for reimbursement from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to occur.

According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in 2006 Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield implemented a policy limiting the provider types who could perform physical medicine and rehabilitation services (PM&R). At that time, Wellmark determined that for an interim period the company would allow CAs to perform PM&R if supervised by an onsite doctor of chiropractic.

Over the past 18 months, Wellmark has worked with the Iowa Chiropractic Society and Palmer Chiropractic College to develop minimum standards for CA certification. Beginning Sept. 30, Wellmark will require CAs to have completed a formal training program that meets certain criteria. 

Although Wellmark allows individuals to choose the program they would like to take, it has also recommended the chiropractic technician program at Palmer Chiropractic College. An online version of this program became available on July 1. It can be accessed at www.dconline.cc/.

The ACA is addressing the certification issue with the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA), and the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) to discuss the profession’s position and possible courses of action to address this issue.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.com

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