The 2002 World Chiropractic Alliance
Report to Members

Submitted January 2003
The World Chiropractic Alliance
2950 N. Dobson Rd., Suite 1
Chandler , AZ 85224 — USA

Intra-professional relations

One of the major goals of the World Chiropractic Alliance during 2002 was to strengthen our ties or establish new relationships with other organizations that share the WCA vision of worldwide wellness through subluxation correction. While we may hold slightly different views on various issues and approach problems in different ways, our similarities make it possible for us to work together in the best interests of the profession and public.

To this end, we joined and participated in the National Chiropractic Leadership Forum, which was convened by the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations and comprised of representatives from the American Chiropractic Association, Association of Chiropractic Colleges, The Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters, Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards, Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, International Chiropractors Association, National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. A few individuals were also permitted to join, among them Mr. Don Petersen, publisher of Dynamic Chiropractic.

The NCLF endorsed a code of conduct known as The St. Louis Principles, by which all NCLF representatives pledged to:

The NCLF also adopted as its founding principle, the ACC Paradigm, which includes both the "Chiropractic Paradigm" and the "Chiropractic Scope of Practice." A key provision of the ACC document notes:

Chiropractic is Concerned with the preservation and restoration of health, and focuses particular attention on the subluxation.

A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.

A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed, and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the best available rational and empirical evidence.

The NCLF representatives also agreed to mutually support and promote a number of chiropractic projects, including the campaign for a chiropractic postage stamp, a library program, Boy/Girl Scout merit badge, an aggressive national press release campaign, and the compilation of a list of mutually agreed chiropractic terms and definitions. The group also agreed to raise $2.5 million annually to support chiropractic's research infrastructure.

By the middle of 2002, it was clear that the fundamental disparity in philosophy between the groups was making progress difficult. Disputes arose between the WCA and the ACA and its associated groups. Several members, including the ACA and Don Petersen, acted in a manner which the WCA felt was in violation of the St. Louis Principles. Specifically, they publicly attacked the WCA and failed to respect the inherent professional differences that exist in chiropractic. Most serious was the ACA's attempt to erode the independence of the WCA by demanding that we disregard and/or overturn a resolution passed by the WCA International Board of Governors during the 2002 Summit, namely, that the WCA reserves the right to "Intervene in state legislative issues when it feels it would be in the best interests of subluxation-based chiropractic to do so (even if it means opposing the position of a state organization)."

The World Chiropractic Alliance remains committed to seeking peaceful resolution to intra-professional disputes and to minimizing the counterproductive in-fighting which has for so long divided our profession. However, our leadership and members have made it clear that the organization will not sacrifice or compromise its principles in order to gain acceptance by groups that we feel are not acting in the best interest of chiropractic.

For more information on this issue, see:

Chiropractic unity is still a possibility – for those who want it by Dr. Terry A. Rondberg

VA Committee issue causes rift

Chiropractic leaders continue the quest

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On a more positive note, toward the end of 2002, the World Chiropractic Alliance became one of three founding members of a new action-oriented group called the Chiropractic Coalition.

The impetus for the Coalition -- founded by the WCA, ICA and FSCO in November 2002 -- was the recognition that several regulatory agencies have become to exert undue influence over the profession. The initial announcement about the group cautioned that "several rogue groups are trying to position chiropractors as quasi-medical doctors, unnecessarily and irresponsibly blurring the boundary lines between the professions and confusing the public."

The Coalition hopes to tackle other important projects, including:

The Coalition's primary concern is to ensure that consumers of all ages will continue to have access to subluxation care at the hands of the best trained and qualified professionals, doctors of chiropractic.

The World Chiropractic Alliance is very excited about the new Coalition and is confident that it will grow into a powerful group that draws its strength from many organizations!

For more information, see: New coalition organized to defend chiropractic independence

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Legislative and Government Affairs

Early in 2002, the WCA celebrated passage of the VA bill, which included specific language about correction of subluxation. This was an important "first" for chiropractic and will help pave the way for similar legislation in the future. The WCA was instrumental in making sure the bill did not pass in its original version, which would have limited chiropractors to "neuro-musculoskeletal conditions." Such as restriction would have pigeon-holed chiropractors and made them redundant, since medical doctors would have argued they also treat such conditions. Since D.C.s are the only licensed health care professional trained and licensed to correct subluxations, their unique role is protected by the legislation.

The World Chiropractic Alliance also showed its growing influence in the government arena by having a number of its members chosen for important positions around the world:

Ø      Leona Marie Fischer, D.C., a member of the WCA International Board of Governors (IBG), was selected to serve on the Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Advisory Committee. The panel of health care experts will advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on protocols governing referral to doctors of chiropractic, direct access to chiropractic care, scope of chiropractic and other issues.

Ø      Kristina M. Collins, D.C., a Board of Governors member, was one of six members appointed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) to its National Advisory Council on Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Ø      Matt Flanagan, D.C., a Board of Governors member, was elected to serve on the General Chiropractic Council in the United Kingdom .

In addition, the World Chiropractic Alliance continued working with Alternative Link and The Foundation for Integrative Healthcare to support and promote a set of "ABC" codes, which are similar to CPT and HCPCS Level II codes, but better describe chiropractic, alternative health care, nursing and other integrative healthcare practices. The codes devised by the American Medical Association, working with the American Chiropractic Association, are totally medical in scope are not appropriate for chiropractic care. The ABC code set gives chiropractors parity to conventional physicians in billing insurance companies and government programs for delivered care. It also support research and management functions.

The efforts on this issue paid off! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has authorized a test of the new codes, which will be tested by WCA members and other D.C.s around the country. For more information on the ABC codes, see: http://www.alternativelink.com/ali/home/

For more background on the issue of CPT codes for the chiropractic profession, see:

"Memos reveal ACA, AMA share CPT code goals," The Chiropractic Journal, August 1996 -- www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/1996/aug/aug1996a.htm

"ACA makes code deal with AMA; ICA president says chiropractic was 'sold out to medics'," The Chiropractic Journal, December 1996 
www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/1996/dec/dec1996a.htm

"CPT codes and the Trojan horse" by Dr. Jeffrey Shay, The Chiropractic Journal, August 2002
www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2002/aug/aug2002shay.htm

We continue to work with members of the U.S. Congress, as well as government leaders around the world, to monitor legislation affecting chiropractic.

Member activities

World Chiropractic Alliance members are among the most committed, action-oriented doctors in the profession. Whether serving in high-profile public offices, or quietly behind the scenes, they help influence policy, mold public opinion, and get things done!

Among the WCA members who distinguished themselves in 2002 were:

Dr. Jay Holder, a member of the WCA Board of Governors and chair of the WCA Council on Addictionology, whose drug rehabilitation program, which incorporates subluxation-based chiropractic, was the subject of a documentary on The Discovery Health Network -- a sister station to the popular Discovery Channel.

Drs. Brian Stenzler and Dan Matzner, who coordinated the Chiropractic Postage Stamp campaign. Although the proposal for the stamp honoring B.J. Palmer and chiropractic was turned down in 2002 by the Stamp Advisory Committee, we are hopeful that the groundswell of support for the idea will continue and will eventually lead to this much-deserved recognition.

Madeline Behrendt, D.C., a WCA Board of Governors member and chair of the WCA Council on Women's Health, accepted a position as an associate editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. Behrendt's advocacy of women's health issues has gained her a widespread reputation as a dedicated and outspoken chiropractic researcher.

Timothy Feuling, a member of the WCA Board of Directors, took over as President of Chiropractic Benefit Services.

Student Outreach

Throughout the U.S. and Canada , students are showing an increasing interest in chiropractic philosophy and the work of the WCA. To reach out to these students, the WCA formed the first of what is destined to become an international network of Student World Chiropractic Alliance (SWCA) chapters was founded at Parker College of Chiropractic, followed by chapters at Palmer, Life and Sherman colleges. To help organize the chapters, the WCA appointed field advisors for each school and developed a detailed SWCA manual to guide in the founding and running of a chapter.

On some campuses, however, college administrators have all made it difficult for the WCA -- or any subluxation-based group -- to have a presence. In response, the WCA has prepared a provocative white paper on academic freedom, which is being studied by the International Board of Governors for possible distribution in the future.

Media responses and public relations

Throughout the year, the World Chiropractic Alliance was called upon to respond to negative coverage of chiropractic in magazines, newspapers and the broadcast media. In particular, reporters focused on the supposed link between chiropractic and stroke, which the WCA aggressively countered with overwhelming medical and scientific evidence.

In addition, the WCA arranged for Paul "The Ultimate" Vaden -- former boxing champion -- to be an official spokesperson for WCA and chiropractic. Vaden, a former IBF World Jr. Middleweight Champion, USBA Champion, U.S. Olympic Festival Gold Medalist and U.S. Amateur Champion, is now a personal trainer and has publicly stated that he would not have won the championship if it had not been for chiropractic.

The WCA has produced a "celebrity endorsement" video which includes a powerful testimony to chiropractic, as well as basic information on the effects of subluxation and the need for regular chiropractic. The video is being distributed as near cost to doctors. In addition, arrangements have been made for doctors to produce their own video with Vaden, at a professional film studio in California .

Vaden's celebrity status will also be used to publicize the profession and the WCA in press releases, articles, and other public information material.

Policies and Structure

In 2002, the WCA developed position papers on:

These position papers are statements of our stands on various issues, and are valuable tools doctors can use to help defend themselves against unjust board complaints, provide evidence in malpractice cases, or as patient and public education materials. For more information, see:

WCA position papers a tool to help all doctors

During this year, the WCA also formed the Chiropractic Advocacy Council to provide information, resources, and support to doctors of chiropractic on a variety of issues. Its main function is to allow doctors to compile important documents, background information, and other material that can be used to help them defend against unjust accusations in a court of law or by a licensing board; counter negative media coverage of chiropractic; inform patients, legislators, reporters and others about chiropractic issues; combat discrimination by regulatory agencies, HMOs, insurance companies, state chiropractic organizations, and other groups; and resolve professional disputes requiring documentary evidence. Heading the Council is Matthew McCoy, D.C., editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research.

International Affairs

The World Chiropractic Alliance met in Geneva with officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the development of several documents that will address international guidelines for chiropractic. For more information, see the 2002 Report to the United Nations filed by Christopher Kent, D.C., FCCI, World Chiropractic Alliance NGO representative to the United Nations Department of Public Information.