The American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) House of Delegates (HOD) discussed the possible impact of national health care reform and approved a host of important policies during its 45th annual meeting, Sept. 17-20, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Other key issues included an updated informed consent policy statement and a resolution encouraging the affiliation and collaboration of state chiropractic organizations with the ACA.

Among important association business was the election of officers, presentation of awards, and progress reports from association leaders on ACA programs and initiatives.

“In the year ahead, the country will be under the leadership of a new president and Congress, which will likely bring changes to many aspects of health care. Doctors of Chiropractic can trust ACA to carefully monitor and participate in any discussions surrounding Medicare reform and the possible creation of universal health care,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC, in his remarks to the ACA House of Delegates.

“As a profession, we must stand ready to fight for our right to practice and for our patients’ right to access the chiropractic care they need and deserve. ACA works everyday for this profession and our patients, and the more doctors of chiropractic we have participating in ACA, the more effective we will be,” Dr. Manceaux continued.

In his presentation to association leadership, ACA Chairman John Gentile, DC, addressed five areas in which the chiropractic profession—especially ACA—needs to focus in the year ahead, including scientific research, legal defense, public relations, government policy, and individual doctor profitability.

“It is abundantly clear that the success of our doctors in practice has a great impact on the profession’s ability to survive—and thrive,” said Dr. Gentile. “Doctors in practice today want the same thing as everyone else—to be fairly compensated for their expert services and to provide the best possible care to their patients.”

To assist doctors of chiropractic in meeting the economic challenges they face in today’s marketplace, Dr. Gentile announced the formation of ACA’s Practice Profitability Task Force. “The goal of the task force is to provide ACA members with opportunities to increase their bottom line. To begin, ACA is developing a monthly webinar series through which members can receive expert advice on how to profit in practice.”

In addition to Drs. Manceaux and Gentile, other 2008-2009 officers are:

• Dr. Rick McMichael, vice president of the ACA and third member of the executive committee
• Dr. Keith Overland, Connecticut Delegate, president of the Council of Delegates
• Dr. Anthony Hamm, North Carolina Delegate, vice president of the Council of Delegates
• Dr. William Pfeifer, Governor of District 1
• Dr. F. Dow Bates, Governor of District 2
• Dr. Mario Spoto, Governor of District 3 and representative to the FCER Board of Trustees
• Dr. Robert Mastronardi, Governor of District 4 and ACA treasurer
• Dr. Jerry Gerrard, Governor of District 6
• Dr. Joseph Morelli, Governor of District 7

In addition to Drs. Overland and Hamm, the following doctors hold elected offices within the Council of Delegates:

• Dr. David Herd, Upstate New York Delegate, secretary of the Council of Delegates
• Dr. Michael Simone, Colorado Delegate, Council of Delegates representative to the ACA Finance Committee

Policy Actions
Policies of interest approved by the HOD during the annual meeting included resolutions:

• noting that informed consent is a process, and more than simply obtaining a signed form from the patient that is then kept in their patient health record. Moreover, informed consent is an ongoing process and the discussion should continue throughout the course of patient care;
• extending the benefit of complimentary Chiropractic Assistant membership to all actively practicing doctor members;
• stating it is appropriate to manipulate/adjust a segment(s) that may not be symptomatic and/or located in the same spinal region as the patient’s area of chief complaint.  The policy notes that segments should be identified through objective measures and should have a direct therapeutic effect;
• reminding providers that third-party billing for assessment and treatment of persons of a close personal nature that would by common practice be furnished gratuitously may be unethical; and, 
• encouraging the affiliation and collaboration of state chiropractic organizations with the ACA.

ACA Honors and Awards
Dr. Lewis J. Bazakos, former ACA chairman and current chairman of the Chiropractic Summit, was named the ACA’s “Chiropractor of the Year,” and Ms. Barbara J. Wills, past president of the ACAuxiliary, was named “Humanitarian of the Year” during the meeting.  The two awards are ACA’s highest honors, and are presented annually to those who have demonstrated “exceptional service, achievement and/or leadership to the chiropractic profession for current or past accomplishments.”

As chairman of the Chiropractic Summit steering committee and of the Summit meetings, Dr. Bazakos has coalesced the profession’s major stakeholders in developing a strategy to ensure  broader expansion of chiropractic services within Medicare and the inclusion of chiropractic in any national health care initiative. During his seven years of service on the ACA Board of Governors, Dr. Bazakos served four years as a member of the Executive Committee, two years as Finance Chair, and two years as Chairman of the Board.

ACA recognized Humanitarian of the Year Barbara Wills for her outstanding work to promote and support the chiropractic profession. Wills served as president of the ACAuxiliary for an unprecedented three terms. During her tenure, the ACAuxiliary revived the annual ACA delegate dinner and then used the proceeds to award chiropractic student scholarships.

The ACA recognized several other noteworthy individuals for their professional accomplishments and contributions, including:

• Delegate of the Year: Cynthia S. Vaughn, DC, East Texas Delegate
• George B. McClelland Researcher of the Year: Norman Kettner, DC, professor of Clinical Science and chairman of the Department of Radiology at Logan College of Chiropractic
• Academic of the Year: J. David Cassidy, DC, PhD, DrMedSc
• Drs. John Flynn-Robert Lynch Memorial Award: Kelli K. Pearson, DC, Washington Delegate
• Alternate Delegate of the Year: Kathy Boulet, DC, Alternate Delegate to Maine

The 2009 ACA House of Delegates Meeting will be held Sept. 23-26, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.

The American Chiropractic Association, based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the world representing doctors of chiropractic. The ACA provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession.