Arizona passes landmark
chiropractic legislation
All HMO enrollees in Arizona will have chiropractic coverage beginning January
1, 2001, thanks to a landmark HMO reform/chiropractic bill which became law on Mar. 24.
Arizona doctors were particularly jubilant over the bill since, just days before
the its passage, it was discovered that Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of Arizona -- the largest
health plan in the state -- had slipped in a repeal of a key existing insurance equality
law. The provision was removed at the last minute.
Passage of the law was not expected in Arizona, a state controlled by
conservative Republicans who usually align themselves with insurance companies and big
business.
However, since its formation more than a decade ago, the Arizona Chiropractic
Alliance (AzCA), has developed many close relationships with leading state Republicans
while working on various licensing issues.
AzCA was founded by Alan Immerman, D.C., and Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., now
president of the World Chiropractic Alliance.
In 1990 and 1991, AzCA successfully lobbied for two major insurance equality
laws for PPO and indemnity plans. HMOs were to be addressed at a later date.
In 1994, the first shots were fired in the Arizona HMO-chiropractic wars. Dr.
Immerman drafted HMO insurance equality legislation for six years before he and his
organization of chiropractors, Independent Chiropractic Physicians (ICP), were finally
victorious.
During the seven-year lobbying period, Immerman was relentlessly attacked by HMO
lobbyists at the Arizona Legislature.
That came as no surprise to State Representative Debra Brimhall, chairperson of
the House Banking and Insurance Committee and prime sponsor of all chiropractic
legislation for four years.
In a letter to the profession dated in February, she noted, "The insurers
recognize that Dr. Immerman is the primary force behind the effort to require HMOs to
cover chiropractic. They are trying to stop him by eliminating his base of supporters in
the profession."
The entire text of the new HMO reform law
is available online.
For more information about this legislation, contact the ICP at 480/991-7131.
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