Much has happened recently in the world of chiropractic pediatrics, from withstanding an assault on our right to treat children, to defining our role as specialists within our profession, to expanding options for chiropractic pediatric education. Through it all, the ACA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics has led the effort to protect your rights and expand your knowledge.

 

Many doctors are familiar with United Healthcare’s effort late last year to eliminate coverage of chiropractic care for children; however, an immediate and strong unified response from groups across the chiropractic spectrum resulted in a withdrawal of the proposed policy. To read the Pediatrics Council’s response to UHC, visit http://acapedscouncil.org/acapediatricscoc.html.

 

To underscore its strong support of chiropractic care for children, ACA recently approved an update to its policy on pediatric chiropractic care that “affirms that the evaluation, diagnosis, care and management of the pediatric patient is within the scope of chiropractic care.” To read the full policy, visit www.acatoday.org, click About Us, then click Policies and scroll to Pediatric Chiropractic Care under the fast-find list.

 

For those who have specialty training in chiropractic pediatrics, ACA’s Pediatrics Council spearheaded the effort to create a specialty taxonomy code for the pediatric chiropractor. The new code, a subspecialty of the existing general chiropractic code, became effective April 1. Following is the definition of the new code:

 

 

Chiropractors who specialize in pediatrics should visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/  to log in and update their NPI number to the new specialist code.

 

For those who are interested in becoming specialists in chiropractic pediatrics, there are many options for training. Since the DICCP degree (Diplomate in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics) has been formally recognized by both ACA and ICA as the official specialty degree in chiropractic pediatrics (the first diplomate degree ever to be recognized by both organizations), more schools are creating diplomate programs to meet the increasing demand. To learn more about the DICCP program, including requirements and locations, visit the certifying board’s Web site at www.chiropedscollege.org. 

 

The ACA Pediatrics Council’s annual symposium is shaping up to be an exciting event. The conference will be held Sept. 20-21 at the beautiful Millennium Hotel in Cincinnati. A sampling of topics includes:

·        Adjusting techniques for the pediatric population

·        Topics in pediatric nutrition

·        Detecting and correcting brain imbalances to address ADD, ADHD and autism

 

This year, for the first time, the Pediatrics Council symposium will be held at the same time and location as the ACA House of Delegates meeting, giving attendees the rare opportunity to meet with leaders in the chiropractic profession and see the inner workings of the ACA. For more information, go to http://acapedscouncil.org/events.html. Remember, council members receive a discount on symposium registration fees.

 

Membership in the ACA Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics is open to all ACA members. Learn more at www.acapedscouncil.org.