May 2007

ACA moves to halt MCO abuse

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is urging chiropractors nationwide to take immediate action to provide documentation pertaining to the discriminatory practices of chiropractic networks.

According to ACA, the investigation of these matters is becoming of national interest.

“Doctors across the country have the information that regulatory authorities need to address the serious problems posed by managed care organizations,” announced ACA President Richard Brassard, DC.  “Many doctors have assisted us over the past two years in this long battle, but now more than ever, it is time for all doctors of chiropractic to take a stand to protect our patients and our profession. We have a real opportunity, one that we may not have again, to address the problems of these networks — and we cannot do it without help.”

ACA has been in communication with several state Departments of Insurance and Attorneys General regarding tactics by managed care networks that, in ACA’s view, limit reasonable and necessary treatment, placing effective patient care at risk.

The association used this preliminary evidence to petition these state regulatory agencies to investigate these practices.

In a conference call to members of the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA), ACA General Counsel Tom Daley said, “Based on conversations with state insurance agencies, it is time we provide additional information to them that will move the process forward. We have the attention of the agencies.”

“The only way that state authorities will act is if they have the ‘ammunition’ to take on the powerful and wealthy managed care companies,” said Brassard in a press release. “That ammunition is your patients’ records, which contain hard evidence on how managed care decisions have limited access to medically necessary chiropractic care that is provided for under plan descriptions and/or state law.”

ACA is encouraging doctors to participate in this investigation and submit information no later than June 15. Instructions on how to submit information is available on the ACA Web site at www.acatoday.org/datacollection.

For additional information, doctors can call 703-276-8800 or e-mail insinfo@acatoday.org.

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: