Humana Backs Down Following ACA Pressure
Insurer Humana, Inc., has notified the American Chiropractic Association that it will remove an article published online in April 2011 that, according to the ACA, listed "common indicators of fraud, waste and abuse that were inaccurate and reflected poorly on chiropractic care. Among those examples were 'Billing E/M codes with a manipulation code' and 'Billing E/M codes in place of manipulation codes.'" Humana contacted ACA Senior Vice President of Insurance Relations, Laurie Douglass-Wilson, on Jan. 30, 2012, and informed her that it would remove the article from public viewing and refrain from future use of such language.
Upon learning of the article's publication last year, the ACA and the Colorado Chiropractic Association each submitted letters to Humana, demanding that the insurer retract the statements. When Humana did not do so, the ACA Insurance Relations Department sent two additional letters that included "practice-neutral examples of fraudulent misrepresentation," and reiterating the request that Humana cease using the chiropractic-specific language.
Sherman Reaffirmed by CCE
On Jan. 24, Sherman College of Chiropractic received word from the Council on Chiropractic Education that the college's doctor of chiropractic degree program had been reaffirmed through 2019.
"Reaffirmation is the result of much hard work and dedication by the employees, students, trustees and many supporters of Sherman College," said Accreditation Liaison and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Robert L. Irwin, DC. "We have created a more comprehensive chiropractic education; made our program and our clinic more patient-centered to address the needs of healthcare consumers today; and improved teaching and learning, enhancing our ability to graduate skilled, compassionate and successful doctors of chiropractic to serve the public. We are happy to see our efforts acknowledged through the reaffirmation of accreditation."
New President of Foot Levelers
Effective Feb. 14, 2012, Dwayne Bennett has been promoted to the position of president at Foot Levelers, Inc. Kent Greenawalt, owner and chief executive officer of Foot Levelers., who had served as company president since 1989, made the announcement, stating the following:
"Foot Levelers is a merit-based company, and Dwayne has demonstrated throughout his tenure his loyalty, tenacity, and ability to get things done," said Greenawalt. "[He] will do a fine job of steering the success and growth of Foot Levelers into the future."
Bennett has worked in various capacities for the company over the past 25 years, most recently serving as executive vice president. According to the company, he will oversee all operational aspects of the company while Greenawalt focuses on strategic planning.
The Fraternity of Chiropractic
Dr. Terry Yochum is a recipient of the "Significant Sig" award, given by the Sigma Chi fraternity in recognition of outstanding contributions to mankind. Dr. Yochum is one of only 1,600 Sigma Chi brothers to receive the award and the first chiropractor in history to be so honored. Other notable Sigma Chi alumn to receive the "Significant Sig" include John Wayne, Tom Selleck, Mike Ditka and David Letterman.
Many relevant diagnostic signs are not performed deliberately by the examiner or by the patient at the examiner’s direction. They are observed as the patient reacts to their condition. Fortin’s finger sign, Minor’s sign, and Vanzetti’s sign are three examples of this principle.
On Feb. 1, 2024, two more legislators – John R. Carter (R-Texas) and Robert “Bob” Good (R-Va.) – co-sponsored the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023, bringing the co-sponsor total to 155, two more than the total achieved over the entire two-year congressional cycle in which identical legislation last appeared (2021-22).
While working at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M., one of the primary care physicians stated that imaging every patient prior to receiving chiropractic was not medically necessary. It was at that point I reconsidered the need for the imaging of every patient to avoid malpractice.
