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ISSUE 1  March 14, 2012 

 

 

In This Issue
Protecting The Public
ICA Calls for CCE Reform
Keeping Chiropractic Drug Free
Saving The Subluxation
NACIQI Releases Hearing Transcript
E-mails to the Editor
Quick Links
Greetings!

Welcome to the first edition of the "ICA In Action" newsletter.  Every two to three  weeks  I will attempt to inform, educate and assure you that the ICA is working on your behalf to "Advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science and art."  As the ICA continues to increase its involvement in state, national and international events I hope to keep you informed as to the "what, where and whys" behind the ICA actions.

Dr. Steve Welsh 
Secretary/Treasurer
ICA
 
Protecting the Public 
 
Prescription drug rights has become a significant issue that threatens the long term viability of the chiropractic profession.  ICA state representatives are constantly monitoring local legislative initiatives in order to insure that changes in scope, laws or rules are identified and subject to appropriate review, discussion and debate. 
 
The ICA has recently filed suit in New Mexico and halted the implementation of new rules considered by many to be in violation of the state statutes.  Contrary to claims that the issues are related to "Philosophy", a three judge panel of the New Mexico Court of Appeals granted a stay based upon the legal merits of the case. Click here if you would like to contribute to this legal action and help keep our profession "Drug Free".
 ICA Calls for Reform:  Delivers Paper and Releases Full Text of Comments & Exhibits
On February 14 the ICA responded to an invitation to participate on the CCE Presidential Search Committee.  In its response the ICA emphasized that while it supports the vision and mission of the CCE it "...continues to strongly object to the existing CCE governance structure, ... and the ICA participation in the CCE Search Committee cannot be used by CCE to attempt to imply acceptance by the ICA of CCE's standards, policies, procedures and past decisions."  Click here to review ICA's conditions of participation.

On February 24 the ICA accepted the invitation to participate in a Stakeholders meeting with CCE to be held on March 16 and provided CCE with  An Initial Report of the International Chiropractors Association's Ad-Hoc Committee On the Standards, Policies, By-Laws and Practices Of the Council on Chiropractic Education.  The paper was updated on March 9 after receipt of comments from other stakeholders.  Click here to read that paper.

In addition to that report the ICA referred the CCE to its extensive comments filed with the Department of Education.  Those comments along with all 56 exhibits are now available for public review.  Click here to access the documents.

 


      Keeping Chiropractic Drug Free

 Acting on behalf of concerned members in New Mexico and out of concern for the integrity and credibility of the chiropractic profession at large, on November 14, 2011, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) filed a notice of appeal with the New Mexico State Court of Appeals directed at specific questionable actions of the New Mexico Chiropractic Board. On December 21, 2011 the ICA next filed an extensive memorandum in support of a motion to stay ( click here to read the ICA filing ) what is being held to be illegal actions on the part of that state's Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Click here for additional details.   On February 15, 2012 the Court of Appeals granted the Stay requested by the ICA.  The legal effect of the Stay of the proceedings means that the disputed 2011 Chiropractic regulations are not in effect or to be utilized by any New Mexico Licensed Chiropractor subject to a final Court Order.

    Saving The Subluxation
Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at about 11 AM, on a day that will be long remembered in chiropractic history, the CCE faced the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) seeking renewal of their recognition by the Department of Education.  In an environment where no other agency had ANY third party presenters scheduled, and most agencies were reviewed in less than 30 minutes, 19 different individuals, including representatives of the ICA, were scheduled to present 3 minutes of testimony.  The session finally ended at about 4 PM when NACIQI passed a resolution which included a special statement that, in effect, will require the CCE to make substantial changes in order to demonstrate compliance in the next 12 months. ( Click here to read my testimony )

 

The NACIQI committee decided to not give the CCE the "standard" recommendation and added  a statement to address their concerns.  The resolution adopted was: 

"... that the NACIQI recommend that the CCE's recognition be continued to permit the agency an opportunity, within a 12 month period, to bring itself into compliance with the criteria cited in the staff report and that it submit for review within 30 days a compliance report demonstrating compliance with the cited criteria and their effective application. In addition to the numerous issues identified in the staff report, NACIQI asks the agency to demonstrate compliance with Section 602.13 dealing with wide acceptance of its standards, policies, procedures, and decisions, and to address how its standards advance quality in chiropractic education."

 

The CCE now faces two critical questions:

 

1. What standards, what policies, what procedures and what decisions are they willing to change in order to gain wide acceptance from the profession?

2. How will they demonstrate that the new standards, objected to by so many, will advance quality in "chiropractic" education.

 

The NACIQI members seemed to express the desire for CCE to somehow embrace the views of a broader cross-section of the profession and to take the necessary steps to recognize their responsibility to serve all of the profession's stakeholders. 

 

The final report from the NACIQI is now available and can be accessed by clicking here

 

The only remaining question is:  How will the CCE respond?  I am cautiously optimistic that our profession will grow and become much stronger and united as a result of that meeting.  I am also certain that the ICA will play a pivotal role in securing the necessary reforms at CCE.  It should be an interesting 12 months.

 

On Friday, March 16 the CCE is holding a meeting with selected stakeholders in Las Vegas.  Declaring the process to be transparent, the CCE has denied open access to observers.  Hopefully it won't just be business as usual.  Stay tuned for additional reports.   


NACIQI Releases Transcript of December Hearing
 
The NACIQI has released the 355 page transcript of the hearing held on December 14, 2011. The record of the CCE review begins on page 107 and continues to page 300.  For those who are interested in reviewing what was actually presented and how the committee members reacted to the presentations ...   Click here to access the transcript.
 

 

                     E-mails to the Editor

The ICA is directly dealing with issues that have the potential of transforming our profession for years to come.  The ICA has been actively engaged with the Chiropractic Summit, the World Federation of Chiropractic, the FCLB, NBCE and the CCE and will continue to press forward in accomplishing its mission. Please contact me with your comments or questions at icainaction@mindspring.com .  I will select the most interesting questions and print them along with my answers. The future of our profession is dependent on an informed and active membership willing to do what it takes to "Advance chiropractic throughout the world." I look forward to hearing from you.
 
The ICA continues to strive to advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated on its unique philosophy, art and science on a daily basis.  I sincerely hope that the "ICA In Action" newsletter will assist you in combating the mis-information campaigns that have begun to proliferate as the ICA continues to increase its efforts to defend chiropractic. 
 
 
Sincerely,

 
Stephen P. Welsh, DC, FICA
International Chiropractors Association