ACA launches fellowship to prepare future health policy experts

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has launched a Health Policy Fellowship to educate doctors of chiropractic about health policy, coding and other complex issues and to prepare them to advocate on behalf of the chiropractic profession in the future, notes an ACA press release.

ACA members selected to participate in the fellowship’s first cohort are: Cynthia Chapman, DC, MPH, of Occoquan, Va., Della M. Schmid, DC, MS, of Newtown, Conn., and Morgan Price, DC, of Seattle, Wash.

“This is an opportunity for members to develop knowledge and skills that will expand ACA’s capacity to influence policymaking at the national level,” said ACA President Leo Bronston, DC, MAppSc, who has been active in health policy and coding initiatives at ACA for more than 10 years and was recently appointed to the American Medical Association’s CPT® Editorial Panel.

The one-year fellowship will begin with an orientation period, after which participants will gain first-hand experience in AMA’s procedures for developing and valuing physical medicine codes by regularly attending CPT meetings and observing the process and related discussions. Fellows will also learn about areas such as coding guidance, payer engagement and payment reform.

Over time, ACA hopes to build a cadre of experts who will be equipped to contribute to the policymaking process in a variety of contexts, from submitting comments to federal agencies to representing ACA and the chiropractic profession within external healthcare organizations, coalitions and other initiatives pertaining to national health policy.

About the American Chiropractic Association

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in the United States. ACA attracts the most principled and accomplished chiropractors, who understand that it takes more to be called an ACA chiropractor. We are leading our profession in the most constructive and far-reaching ways—by working hand in hand with other health care professionals, by lobbying for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, by supporting meaningful research and by using that research to inform our treatment practices. We also provide professional and educational opportunities for all our members and are committed to being a positive and unifying force for the practice of modern chiropractic. To learn more, visit acatoday.org.