May 2006
NY chiropractic groups march on Albany
Chiropractors from
across New York gathered in Albany to present a unified lobbying effort,
organized by a legislative task force comprised of members of The New York
Chiropractic Council and The New York State Chiropractic Association. This
is the second consecutive year that the two groups have come together to
hold the event at the state capitol.
This year, the groups
focused on two main legislative issues:
The Insurance
Equality Law of 1998: In 1998,
Gov. George Pataki passed a law in New York that entitled patients to a
minimum of 15 insured chiropractic visits. This provided chiropractors and
their patients at least 15 visits before the carrier could request
documentation supporting medical/clinical necessity.
However, the insurance
companies have found ways to circumvent the intention of the bill. In fact,
according to the two New York state chiropractic groups, it is not uncommon
for an insurance company to require a patient to make a co‑payment that
exceeds the allowed fee for that service.
After concerns about
these practices were brought up to New York Attorney General, Elliot
Spitzer, a proposal has been introduced to make technical corrections to the
original law to remove loopholes used by insurer. This hew bill is in the
insurance committee currently and has generated widespread interest in the
legislature.
The Workers'
Compensation Equality bill: New
York chiropractors are currently paid one global fee ‑‑ normally about $30
‑‑ for Evaluation and Management service (code 99213). A patient who chooses
chiropractic care may receive a chiropractic adjustment, rehabilitation
procedures, activity‑of‑daily‑living counseling or a number of other
services. Yet, regardless of the care provided, one fee is paid.
Other health care
providers in the Workers' Compensation System are reimbursed based on the
type of services they perform, and are also reimbursed at a higher fee
schedule even when they perform some of the same services performed by
doctors of chiropractic. The Workers Compensation Bill would provide for
parity of payment among all health care professionals.
For more information on
the New York legislation or to become involved in the legislative task
force, call 800‑426‑6922.
