The following are important excerpts from the American Chiropractic Association’s latest update on Health Care Reform, issued today. Remember to stay alert and make your patients aware of their opportunity to influence health care reform legislation by enrolling at www.chirovoice.org.
Ross Letter in Support of Provider Non-Discrimination Garners Additional Support in U.S. House
Speaker Pelosi Unveils Merged House Bill – Ross Amendment and Public Plan with Negotiated Rates Included -- House Floor Action Predicted by Mid-November
House Bill also Includes Insurance Industry Anti-Trust Reform
Bill Introduced in the House to Address Medicare Payment System
Harkin Provider Non-Discrimination Provision to be Preserved in Blended Senate Bill
Support for CHIROVOICE and CHAMP Needed
Become a Chiropractic CHAMPion
Watch Health Reform Updates on Your Computer via YouTube
The Florida Chiropractic Association has retained class counsel to pursue litigation in the Illinois class action suit vs. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The FCA joins with three other state associations – the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association, New York Chiropractic Council and the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors – to challenge the Defendants’ abusive practices in using post-payment audits and reviews, and improper repayment demands, to pressure providers to repay substantial sums that have previously properly been paid as health insurance benefits for services provided to BCBS subscribers. Below is a news release provided by class counsel – Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP – to initially announce the litigation on September 10, 2009 (“Health Care Providers and Associations Sue Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and 22 Related BCBS Entities”).
(From an ACA Legislative Alert dated October 14, 2009 at 4:36pm) Please be advised that Representative Mike Ross (D-Arkansas) prominent leader of the House “Blue Dog” Coalition of centrist Democrats, is sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urging that the final version of national health reform legislation to be brought to the floor of the U.S. House for a vote, retain an amendment agreed to in the House Energy & Commerce Committee that seeks to preserve the applicability of state enacted provider non-discrimination laws favorable to chiropractic and other non-MD providers.
The Florida Chiropractic Association is considering joining a class action against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida and other BCBS entities to challenge the manner in which it has conducted post-payment audits and imposed withholds after demanding repayments. As part of this effort, we are investigating how our members have been adversely affected by these practices. Please contact the FCA Assistant General Counsel if:
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