2018 DC Action Needed:

IF YOU ARE CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE DATA, PLEASE ACT IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY TO THE NEXT LEGAL STEP.

Statement of fact: There is a 10-visit manipulation benefit for adult Medicaid recipients-who can only see an osteopath or naturopath for manipulative services.

WSCA Action: For the 5th year the WSCA has worked to include chiropractors in the list of providers who can deliver these benefits. The under-served communities deserve to have access to drugless services too, and it will save the entire Medicaid system money if it is YOU they see first. I understand that Medicaid doesn’t pay well, but it isn’t right that CHIROPRACTORS are not in the list of providers to deliver spinal manipulation. YOU are the BEST at delivering the service, you are in 36 of 39 counties, and you should be the first provider seen for any musculoskeletal condition. The WSCA has bi-partisan support in both chambers and the cost is less than $1 million to the State General Fund.

DC Action Needed:

MEET WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS AND EDUCATE THEM ON YOUR EDUCATION AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE. USE STUDIES TO SHOW YOUR EFFECTIVENESS.

Statement of fact: American Specialty Health has contracted with Cigna to manage their chiropractic and physical medicine and rehabilitation benefits.

WSCA Action: WSCA has been meeting with ASH to educate them about laws in Washington State that are unique to any other state. The WSCA has shared with ASH concerns with the provider agreement to attempt to encourage a better agreement for chiropractors who choose to contract with ASH.

DC Action Needed:

READ YOUR PROVIDER AGREEMENTS CAREFULLY. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SIGNING! REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND ASK QUESTIONS! WHEN THE WSCA HAS A LEGAL REVIEW, WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU, WE WILL.

DO NOT BOYCOTT AGREEMENTS. DO NOT DISCUSS BOYCOTTING AGREEMENTS.

DO NOT DISCUSS PRICING AND FEES WITH PROVIDERS NOT WITHIN YOUR TAX ID!

Are you seeing a theme? We need you. Legislation passes when you are totally engaged. We cannot pass a fair pay bill with only 30 people attending a once-a-year legislative day. WE NEED YOU and your colleagues to meet with legislators (and more than once) to educate them, remind them how important it is to you and your patients, and to be the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. PLEASE take the time to talk to your legislators in district, in Olympia, and in Town Hall meetings to educate them about these issues. Ask your patients who are in health plans with a prior-authorization requirement to call their legislators and complain!

Legislative Agenda

1. Fair Payment for spinal manipulation services.

2. Remove barriers to access care by allowing 12 visits of services to a chiropractor or physical medicine provider without prior authorization requirements; and

a. Require benefits managers to register with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner; and

b. Require the contracts between insurers and their benefit managing companies be made public through the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

3. We will seek sponsors for adding chiropractors to the list of providers who are PCPs which will automatically lower the chiropractic copay to that of a PCP.

4. WSCA will ask legislators to include chiropractors in the list of providers who can deliver CMT to adult Medicaid recipients.

5. WSCA will ask the legitslature to remove the sunset provision on the independent pilot for the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission making the independent status permanent.

LEGISLATIVE DAY IS THURSDAY,

JANUARY 25, 2018

WSCA is working with the governor and Health Care Authority on a pilot project that would direct Medicaid patients to drugless options for pain management.

Plexus

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