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- April 2001
Stormin' the Capitol
by J.C. Smith
Washington DC was taken by storm this March 8-10 by 400+
chiropractors and chiropractic students. Never before has Capitol Hill
been deluged by so many enthusiastic lobbyists for chiropractic, and
never before has one convention left such an indelible mark on
legislators and chiropractors alike. Indeed, this event was not only
monumental, it became historical in the annals of our profession. The
2001 National Chiropractic Legislative Convention was not only an
historically significant event, it became an unforgettable experience
for those who were fortunate to attend as it will certainly go down as
one of the major turning points in our profession’s political history.
The theme of this year’s convention, “Serving Those Who Serve
Us,” featured the success with the DoD bill that includes provision
for DCs for active military personnel. On Wednesday afternoon, the guest
speakers included a few members of the Oversight Advisory Committee,
Drs. Rick McMichael, Richard Beecham, Ron Evans, plus guest speaker and
former B-52 bombardier Dr. Lance Armstrong who gave a stirring talk
about the need for chiropractic care in the military, citing his own
epiphany as an example.
What made this demonstration a success were the remarkable
results of the field docs who, indeed, acted as pioneers who went where
no chiropractor had ever gone before —into the bastions of the last
remnant of medical supremacy— the military health system (MHS).
Although some were met with open arms, others met the expected medical
resistance that quickly turned to friendship as the DCs attain the
success with cases that we all knew were possible. In fact, at bases
where medical gatekeepers were used, referrals actually increased as the
good results became obvious to everyone.
Even the DoD’s Majority Report admitted the higher levels of
patient satisfaction with chiropractic care vs. traditional medical
care, superior outcomes for patients receiving chiropractic care, fewer
hospital stays resulting from chiropractic care, and significant
improvements in military readiness due to chiropractic care because of a
large reduction in lost duty time.
Despite these glowing results, oddly the Majority Report failed
to recommend the inclusion of chiropractic care into the MHS due to a
supposed high-dollar cost estimate for adding chiropractic care as a
benefit for military personnel. Fortunately, the OAC had done its
homework and submitted its own Minority Report that proved to save the
day for us by showing that including chiropractic care would produce a
net dollar savings of $25 million a year for DoD, which persuaded
Congress to accept the Minority Report and to mandate this chiropractic
benefit over DoD’s objection.
The DoD’s plan of inclusion of chiropractic into the active
military is required to Congress no later than March 31st and it’s
implementation is slated for October 31st. Again, the OAC achieved a
broad scope inclusion which includes, “at a minimum, care for neuro-musculoskeletal
conditions.” If the testimonies of the field docs at the 13 sites are
any indication of their huge popularity among troops and medical
personnel, their participation will be anything but “at a minimum.”
On Thursday morning, the NCLC hosted several US Representatives
and Senators who have helped in our political battles on Capitol Hill.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,
which oversees Medicare and HHS, spoke of his involvement with
chiropractic. He “went to the well”on the MHS bill, and spoke of his
“shock by the lack of understanding of chiropractic by colleagues”
although they’ve seen an “increase of realization of benefits.” He
mentioned the need for Medicare legislation to modernize a 1965 system
that “put everyone in the hospital” whereas today the goal is to
“keep patients out of the hospitals.” He also spoke of the $11
billion wasted in medical abuse and fraud last year, down from $23
billion ten years ago.
Perhaps one of the most ardent supporters of chiropractic is Rep.
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services
Subcommittee on Personnel. He told us this is his 51st year as a
chiropractic patient, joking that he is “either very loyal, or
something isn’t working.” He had severe scoliosis as a child and was
put in a brace and told by his ortho that he would eventually be
crippled. Instead, his father took him to a chiropractor and he later
played high school sports, including football.
Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), Chairman of the Senate Armed
Services Subcommittee on Personnel, mentioned that he is now “carrying
the flag for chiropractic in place of Sen. Strom Thurmond” who is now
98 years old. He intends to attend Strom’s 100th birthday and when he
asked Strom how he does it, he was told to “eat right, exercise daily,
and go to a chiropractor.” By the way, Thurmond’s chief of staff,
Duke Short, is a former chiropractor himself. Indeed, when Strom leaves
the Senate, chiropractic will lose a friend in more ways than one.
Dr. Kerwin Winkler introduced Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) and said
Daschle “has never swerved from helping chiropractic.” As the
ranking Senate Democratic leader, Daschle gave high praise for the
ACA’s lobbyists and leaders, saying they were a “first-rate
operation” and did a “great job everyday.” He said that
chiropractors “not only adjusted backs, but filled voids” in our
healthcare system. “In South Dakota, 25% of citizens used DCs as
PCPs,” according to this leading Democrat. He spoke of a “real
Patient Bill of Rights that doesn’t allow HMOs to discriminate by
licenses; to appeal denial of care to independent boards; and to allow
providers of their choice” because without these, there would be “no
real patient bill of rights.” He supports the McCain/ Kennedy/Edwards
bill that includes all these measures. As he mentioned, the ACA has
“done the work and provided the studies to prove chiropractic
works.” Lastly, he urged everyone to “hang in there” and “to
keep your tenacity to make these changes into law.”
The next speaker is among our greatest allies Ñ Rep. Cliff
Stearns (R-FL), a member of the House VA Committee. He authored the
Millennium Health Care bill allowing DCs in MHS, and convened the
hearing to “hold the VA’s feet to the fire.” He spoke about
“choice should be an integral part of health care,” and noted the
present system is equivalent to the old story about
“Hobson’s choice,” an analogy where you could rent any
horse at the livery stable, as long as it was the closest one to the
door Ñ in effect, you had no choice in the matter and which aptly
describes most HMOs.
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), member of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee told us “Chiropractic has been
long overlooked and under-valued.” He also said America needs a “new
paradigm focusing on prevention” before a crisis point that requires
surgery. He noted that Medicare has “no focus on prevention” and, in
their mind, “real docs put you in the hospital and took your appendix
out.” He concluded the
need to change this “upside-down effort” and to
“re-focus approach to prevention,” and that chiropractors are on the
“cutting edge” of this effort.
Perhaps the most enthusiastic speaker was Rep. Shelly Berkley
(D-NV), member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, who firmly
stated, “Chiropractic is the best thing since sliced bread.”
Apparently she was in an auto accident and her chiropractor put her back
together again, plus she credits him with introducing her to her new
husband. She also mentioned that Las Vegas is the fastest growing
district in America with vets and Nellis AFB, and the fact that the vets
“want chiropractic and they’re entitled to it.” She supports the
Patients’ Bill of Rights and opposes the HMOs. As she said, “Only
two groups cannot be sued Ñ foreign diplomats and HMOs. The HMOs may
think they’re God, but they’re not foreign diplomats.” She also
urged us all to “make relationships with each Representative and
educate your Senators.” Her energy was infectious, and her love of
chiropractic was obvious. Even though I don’t live in Lost Wages,
I’d vote for her in a heartbeat because she was so supportive,
humorous and enthusiastic.
The last speaker was Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), member of the
Senate Appropriations Committee, and our long-time advocate. He admitted
he held a “special place in my heart and back” for his chiropractor,
Dr. Dow Bates, and said, “all Americans should have access to
chiropractic care.” Sen. Harkin was responsible for the creation of
the OAM, Office of Alternative Medicine, but admitted that initially
there were no grants for DCs because of MD peer review. From an initial
$2 million budget, the OAM now has a $100 million budget and two DCs on
the peer review for grants.
Senator Harkin also supports the Patients’ Bill of Rights and
mentioned his 4 point plan for chiropractic: 1) Get chiropractic into
the MHS by “holding the DoD’s feet to the fire” and expand
coverage to vets, 2) In the Patients’ Bill of Rights, he adamantly
stated “to end discrimination to providers as non-negotiable,” 3) To
end outdated regulations to services in Medicare Part B and to support
the Watkins bill to allow payment in Medicare for all DC services
allowed under state laws, and 4) to allow DCs into the National Health
Services Corps program which allows DCs to exchange their work in rural
areas for student loan repayment.
After the politicians finished, the OAC introduced Dr. William
Morgan, the Capitol Hill chiropractor in the OAP, Office of Attending
Physicians. This self-effacing chiropractor spoke of his acceptance at
both the Capitol and at Bethesda where he also practices. He noted that
according to the Admiral in charge of the OAP, chiropractic care is the
most popular. His patients include not only members of Congress, but
staff at the Supreme Court, Air Force I and II, Bethesda, NIH, and flag
officers who later become the captains of industry upon retirement from
the military. And Dr. Morgan’s philosophy was as refreshing as his
welcome by the military brass and Congressmen: “Do what is best for
the patient, then chiropractic will succeed.”
Thursday afternoon was spent lobbying on Capitol Hill. Without
question, the biggest surprise of the convention came the next day on
Saturday when Sec. Tommy Thompson of HHS came to speak to the HOD. As
Governor of Wisconsin, he passed the first insurance equality bill that
gave coverage for chiropractic, and when he left office to assume duties
at HHS, he had a 78% approval rating. His personal relationship with
chiropractic goes back 34 years as a friend of Dr. Ken Ludke, and
further than that as a child when he recalled it was a chiropractor that
put his father back to work after an auto accident. Sec. Thompson
(“call me Tommy”) began his remarks by saying, “I support you
enthusiastically. You have a friend at HHS.” After 8 years battling
Donna Shalala, his remarks were music to our ears, to say the least. He
concluded his 20-minute talk by saying “I appreciate your
profession” and remarked about this convention as a good example of
“grass roots politics in action.” The standing ovation Tommy
received as he walked down the aisle to exit was slowed by the many
well-wishers’ thunderous applause and hand shaking as if he were the
President concluding his State of the Union address.
Back to CBP® OnLine
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