We have previously reported that the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has filed a class action lawsuit against CIGNA and ASHN and that we are planning to duplicate this class action lawsuit with litigation in Arizona against BCBS and ASHN. In order to proceed, we need the following information from you:
1. All of the mechanisms that ASHN uses to discourage treatment including but not limited to the onerous paperwork required to request additional treatment, the tiering system which discourages you from overtreating and rewards you for undertreating, threatening letters when ASHN believes you have overtreated or performed x-rays on too many patients, etc., and any other examples you can think of.
2. A list of any services that you know of which BCBS covers when performed by an MD or a DO but which are denied when performed by a DC for the same diagnosis, but are within the chiropractic scope of practice.
3. A list of any services that you know of which BCBS covers when performed by a PT but which are denied but when performed by a DC for the same diagnosis.
4. The overall impact of ASHN on your practice.
5. Special emphasis on Flagstaff: If you practice in Flagstaff, please make an extra effort to respond to these questions. This is because almost all major employers in Flagstaff are insured by BCBS and so our litigation may begin in that area. We need copies of health insurance policies (called "Summary Plan Descriptions") for the major employers in Flagstaff including NAU, Flagstaff Medical Center, W.L. Gore, Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff.
6. Special emphasis on Health Saving Accounts (HSA) Plans: If your patient has paid for part of their care using an HSA, please provide all documentation to ACS since we suspect there has been manipulation of numbers that would leave BCBS vulnerable to litigation in this area as well.
The sooner we receive all of the required documentation, the sooner we will be able to file our class action lawsuit and end ASHN tyranny in this state. Please get busy today! If you have any questions, call Dr. Immerman at 602-368-9496.
