Sen. Tom Harkin to headline NCLC 2011

January 7, 2011 — The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) today announced that Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, a key architect of the health reform law and a long-time chiropractic champion, will deliver the keynote address at the 2011 National Chiropractic Legislative Conference (NCLC) with the Chiropractic Summit Feb. 14-15 in Washington, D.C.

Additional speakers include Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and Ret. Brig. Gen. Becky Halstead, spokesperson for the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP).

The theme of this year’s event, “Health Care Reform: The Road to Implementation,” will focus on the new challenges awaiting the chiropractic profession as the enactment of the healthcare reform law — including the nondiscrimination provision — gets underway.

NCLC is the chiropractic profession’s most important public policy and educational event. For more than 30 years, hundreds of doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic students from across the country have gathered in Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress to discuss the issues that matter most to DCs and their patients.

In addition to the advocacy on Capitol Hill, NCLC offers DCs information on new opportunities in Medicare, military and veteran’s health care, national healthcare reform and other federal initiatives.

ACA, known as one of the most effective healthcare lobbying organizations in America, is working together with the Chiropractic Summit — a group of more than 40 chiropractic organizations — on critical issues affecting the profession. Leaders from ACA, ACC, COCSA, ICA and other Summit partner organizations will come together for NCLC and then hold the twelfth Chiropractic Summit meeting on Feb. 16, the day after NCLC.

“Right now, our nation’s lawmakers are laying out the details of the healthcare reform law, so attending this year’s NCLC with the Chiropractic Summit is particularly important,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “A strong display of unity from the chiropractic profession will ensure that we have the greatest possible impact on Congress. Come to Washington, D.C. for the event, and be a part of that one voice for the profession and our patients.”

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.org