NBCE Donates $75,000 to ACA's Suit Against HCFA

The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners has made a donation of $75,000 in support of the American Chiropractic Association's lawsuit against the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

Dr. Peter D. Ferguson, president of the NBCE, says his group supports the ACA's efforts to ensure that chiropractic services offered through Medicare be provided exclusively by doctors of chiropractic. "It's unthinkable that any licensed provider might be able to perform spinal manipulations to correct a subluxation, even though that provider has not received the extensive and specific training of licensed doctors of chiropractic," Ferguson said. "Successful litigation against HCFA and the federal government will benefit the entire chiropractic profession -- and endeavor which the NBCE is proud to support."

The crux of the HCFA lawsuit is that the proposed HCFA regulations would allow managed-care companies to use medical doctors and others to provide specific chiropractic benefits in Medicare Part C. In addition, the policy could have more far-reach effects, because many states use the Medicare model for private-sector managed-care plans, ACA officials said.

For more information about the HCFA suit or ACA's suit against Trigon Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the national Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, call 800-986-4636 or visit www.acatoday.com.

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