Arizona Chiropractic Society Newsletter
Chiropractic Copayment and Deductible Legislation March 6, 2008
In This Issue
Chiropractic Copay/Deductible Legislation
Chiropractic Copayment and Deductible
Legislation 
 
In the 2008 Arizona Legislative session, Sen. Linda Gray and 45 cosponsors introduced SB 1152 to reduce copayments and deductibles for chiropractic care from specialist to primary care physician levels. This is needed so that patients can afford to receive the care they need to properly address their healthcare problems. The bill stalled in the Senate but will soon be revived in the House. All those interested in providing patients an alternative to narcotic addictive pain drugs should support this legislation.

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Contact Your Legislators
 
You are represented by one senator and two representatives at the state Capitol in Phoenix. Find the names of these three individuals by going to www.azleg.gov. On the left column, click on how do I find my legislators and follow the instructions. Then, send them a personalized email explaining why you need chiropractic care, and why drugs just don't do the job. Ask your legislators to support the chiropractic copayment and deductible legislation when it comes up for a vote.
 
Chiropractors are "specialists"? You've got to be joking . . . 
 
That was the reaction of patients and doctors alike when Blue Cross Blue Shield and others reclassified chiropractors as specialists two years ago. "You've got to be joking" was heard widely. Just a few years ago, chiropractors were criticized when they compared themselves to general practioner MDs. Now, insurance company are lumping DCs in with specialists, all of whom have at least 3-7 more years of education than a chiropractor. Chiropractors are not even legally allowed to call themselves "specialists" by the Arizona Chiropractic Board or disciplinary actiion will be taken against their licenses.
 
Chiropractors are, by law, "portal of entry" health care providers. This means that DCs see patients of all types and must diagnose them to determine what is wrong, and if they need chiropractic or medical care. If they need medical care, the DC must refer them to an MD. Therefore, DCs are most like primary care physicians, not specialists. "PCP" in fact, also means "primary contact practitioner." That fits a DC perfectly. DCs do not treat all conditions, but neither do general practitioner MDs who are considered PCPs. DCs diagnose and refer many patients to MDs as needed.