Upset About How Chiropractors were Treated in California’s Work Comp Bill?

California Division of Workers’ Compensation is Holding a Public Hearing

by: DrTirpak posted: August 27, 2013

Last year the California Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 863  with the support of the governor and big business. The California Chiropractic Association lobbied heavily against the gut wrenching changes that limited chiropractors to 24 visits, disqualifying them after 24 visits as the treating physician, reducing reimbursements and restricting certification options. CE Cruncher covered the breaking news last year in: Changes Coming to Chiropractors in California's Work Comp.

Soon the California Division of Workers’ Compensation is holding a public hearing on the Predesignation of Personal Physicians and Reporting Duties of the Primary Treating Physician Rulemaking regulations. The meeting will take place on October 7 at 10:00am, in the auditorium of the San Francisco State Office Building at 455 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102-3688.

Chiropractors will have the opportunity to discuss the new forms for employees that predesignate a physician in case of a work related injury. Doctors of Chiropractic will also be interested in the discussion about language to define “chiropractic visit” regardless whether an adjustment was preformed or not.  

According to the California Division of Workers’ Compensation press release: Camera usage will be allowed in only one area of the hearing room. To provide everyone a chance to speak, public testimony will be limited to 10 minutes per speaker and should be specific to the proposed regulations. Testimony exceeding 10 minutes may be submitted in writing.

Can’t make it ? Chiropractors can submit written comment on the regulations until 5 p.m. October 7 2013. Comments can be faxed, emailed or mailed.

Written comments should be addressed or faxed to:

Maureen Gray, regulations coordinator
Department of Industrial Relations
Division of Workers' Compensation
1515 Clay Street, 18th floor
Oakland, CA 94162
address to Maureen Gray at (510) 286-0687

Chiropractors Back in Medi-Cal in California Possibly Soon

by: DrTirpak posted: July 12, 2013

According to a the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision California State lawmakers improperly stopped Medi-Cal’s funding of Chiropractic treatment and other medical services for the rural poor and other underserved areas. During the 2009 budget crisis in California the legislature allowed the Department of Health Care Services to discontinue funding of services provided by Chiropractors, Dentists, Optometrist, Podiatrists and Speech Therapists at “federally qualified health centers”. Medical Care coverage was not impacted.

The State of California contended that covering Chiropractic and the other specialties were not mandatory under the federal Medicaid Act. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed.

California’s Mediacaid program California Medical Assistance Program or Medi-Cal is jointly administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Federal Government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It provides health coverage for low income people.

A spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) sent an email stating "DHCS is examining this ruling and considering its potential next steps."

The state has four options: seek reconsideration by the appeals panel, a hearing before an enlarged panel of the 9th Circuit, or a review by the U.S. Supreme Court, or it can live with Friday's opinion.

Hurricane Sandy Alert - Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Closed Today

by: DrTirpak posted: October 30, 2012

According to Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College's website:  due to a power outage related to inclement weather, CMCC will be closed on Tuesday, October 30. We apologize for any inconvenience and anticipate we will reopen on Wednesday, October 31.

SB 863 Signed into Law - Work Comp will Change for California Chiropractors

by: MickeyM619 posted: September 20, 2012

As expected Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 863 into law Tuesday Sept 18, 2012. The new law will increase payments to permanently disabled workers, cheaper insurance rates for employers, and reduce benefits and limiting access to treatment for injured workers.

Chiropractors will face a limit on treatment and would not be able to serve as a worker's primary care doctor after hitting a cap of 24 visits a year. Doctors of Chiropractic will most likely see a reduction in reimbursements, medical necessity reviews, and higher priced liens.

A more detailed discussion of the bill can be found at:
SB 863 Passed- Changes Coming to Chiropractors in California's Work Comp
California Bill Could Push Chiropractors out of Workers' Compensation

SB 863 Passed- Changes Coming to Chiropractors in California's Work Comp

by: DrTirpak posted: September 06, 2012

In the final hours of the legislative session on Friday August 31 2012 the California’s Congress passed SB 863 the “Gut and Amend” workers compensation bill. The 170-page bill passed the Assembly 68-4 and hours later the Senate 34-4. Now the secretive bill complied by large employers and labor unions will pass on to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown for the final signature for the bill’s approval. Considering the Governor’s calls to legislators Thursday and a statement from his office on Friday to support the bill, it will just be a matter of time before it becomes law, scheduled for Jan 1 2013.

The California Chiropractic Association, CCA, worked feverishly for the preceding two weeks after limited information about the bill was published, drastically reducing the role of Doctors of Chiropractic in the workers compensation program. The CCA Governmental Affairs Committee, headed by Dr. Kassie Donoghue, and their lobbying firm worked to combat the legislation and organized Chiropractors resulting in hundreds of calls and letters.

In a press release from the California Chiropractic Association dated Sept 4 2012 stated, ”CCA, the California Applicants Attorneys Association and other groups argued that it was not at all certain that injured workers would benefit from the changes and that reforming a complex, multi billion dollar system should be done in a thoughtful, transparent manner with all the stakeholders at the table.”

Changes impacting chiropractors include:

• Chiropractors that have treated a patient for 24 visits cannot serve as the treating primary physician

• Only one pathway for Chiropractors to qualifying to sit for the QME examination

• Establishes Independent Medical Review panels for to address utilization review

• Reimbursements currently under Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) will be replaced by lower paying Medicare RBRVS

• Creates Independent Bill Review (IBR) panels

• A new lien filing fee of $150.00 as well as a $100 lien activation fee on liens filed before January 1, 2013

 Earlier Story: California Bill Could Push Chiropractors out of Workers' Compensation

California Bill Could Push Chiropractors out of Workers' Compensation

by: DrTirpak posted: August 27, 2012

California’s Workers compensation program is about to face an overhaul bill in the last days of the legislative session. The SB 863 bill, still unavailable for public viewing, is the mastermind of a small group of labor unions and large employers including grocery store chain including Safeway Inc. and the Walt Disney Co. The top of the list for attack - Injured Workers  and Chiroprators.

Since spring big busineess and labor unioiins have been working on language for bills that would cut the costs of the $16-billion-a-year workers' compensation system. The proposed changes would increase benefits for disabled workers by about $700 million, save employers twice that amount, while cutting benefits for Chiropractors and medical treatment.

Attorneys, Doctors and Injured Workers groups have not been allowed in on the discussion of the overhaul. The only published information about SB 863 includes 45 points of proposed amendments. The most striking to chiropractors includes eliminating the Qualified Medical Examination (QME) Evaluators exam for Chiropractors, requiring DCs to pass the medical QME exam. Currently besides the exam California Chiropractors are required to have 300 hours of post grad education to even qualify. Chiropractors that have treated a patient for 24 visits cannot serve as the treating primary physician. It will establish a Independent Medical Review system for resolving health insurance disputes, and eliminate the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board authority over those claims. Reimbursements currently under Official Medical Fee Schedule (OMFS) will be replaced by lower paying Medicare RBRVS.

The California Chiropractic Association, CCA, in a press release dated August 21, 2012: Doctors of Chiropractic provide effective cost- efficient care without the use of drugs or invasive surgeries and should be in any health care system focused on prevention and wellness. Some patients, such as firefighters and police officers need ongoing chiropractic care to stay on the job, but the cost for those visits is among the lowest charged by most health care providers. In fact, data from recent Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) economic reports show cost increases in California’s workers’ compensation system actually stem from increased diagnostic testing and use of prescription drugs and addictive pain killers; which are not, in any way, part of the doctor of chiropractic scope of practice.

To be heard and take a stand for Injured Workers and their right to access Chiropractic treatment write a email or make a call provided by the CCA.

Ban on Allergy Treatments by Chiropractors Bill Dropped in California

by: DrTirpak posted: June 21, 2012

California Sen. Bob Huff,  a Republican serving Diamond Bar, dropped legislation that would ban chiropractors from using lasers to treat allergies. Senate Bill 352 was introduced two months ago as a reaction to one of his staffers taking her child to a chiropractor for allergies. It had passed the state Senate and was pending in the state Assembly.

"It sounds a lot like 21st century snake oil," said Senator Bob Huff

On May 14 in response the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners passed regulations limiting the use of lasers by Chiropractors to only FDA approved or cleared uses. The regulation also limits the use to a Chiropractor’s scope of practice and includes, but is not limited to, laser ablation or surgical procedures, and laser treatment of allergies. The board stated the rules will be effective as of July 14.

The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners has never received consumer complaints about use of laser therapies for allergies. They stated that the regulation is part of an ongoing effort to bring regulations up to speed with new technologies.

Chiropractor Robert Rainey Brutally Murdered in His LA Office

by: DrTirpak posted: June 01, 2012

Los Angeles Chiropractor Robert Rainey was found brutally beaten in his office near Sony Studios Thursday morning around 8 am by a patient.

"Around 8 a.m. one of his patients showed up for their regularly scheduled appointment, walked into the office and found Dr. Rainey lying on the floor. That patient immediately dialed 911," said LAPD Officer Bruce Borihanh.

Dr. Rainey was transported to a hospital by the L.A. Fire Department where he was pronounced dead form his injuries a short time later. The police reported he had a broken jaw and his teeth had been kicked in.

"Detectives have no motive and no suspects. The investigation is ongoing, but they are treating this as a homicide," said Borihanh.

Although Rainey's death "is not believed to be gang-related," he said, "it is being investigated as a homicide."

Dr. Robert Rainey 54 practiced in Culvert City CA for 19 years. A LA native he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Humboldt State University and a Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1991. According to his website he was a marathon and ultra marathon runner. He was the brother of L.A. Times Media Critic James Rainey and son of character actor Ford Rainey.

A personal quote from  the Rainey Chiropractic website  "I appreciate every day I spend, helping other people feel better so they can also live rich, full, and pain free lives."

CA Governor Brown announced California Board of Chiropractic Examiners Appointment

by: DrTirpak posted: May 24, 2012

CA Governor Brown announced California Board of Chiropractic Examiners Appointment

Sergio Azzolino, 42, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Azzolino has been the director at Azzolino Chiropractic Inc. since 1995 and executive director at the Brain Balance Center of San Francisco since 2011. He served as faculty at Life Chiropractic College West from 1996 to 1999. Azzolino earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West. He is a diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board and holds board certification status in pain management through the American Academy of Pain Management. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Azzolino is a Democrat.

Source: Imperial Valley News