The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress applauds clinical trial results highlighting an underappreciated goal of pain management

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Nov. 1, 2022 – The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the value of chiropractic care, applauds recent study results demonstrating the greater quality-of-life improvements U.S. military service-member patients reported after receiving chiropractic care for their low back pain compared to patients who received only usual medical care.

The study, “Health-Related Quality of Life Among United States Service Members with Low Back Pain Receiving Usual Care Plus Chiropractic Care Plus Usual Care vs Usual Care Alone: Secondary Outcomes of a Pragmatic Clinical Trial,” was published in 2022 in the peer-reviewed journal, Pain.

All Americans are heartbroken at the devastation people are feeling in the aftermath of hurricane Ian. Conditions remain challenging, including offices without power, internet, and ruined medical records from water damage. We think of the patients who may face increased stress, depression, and pain from the ordeal. During this time, we also empathize with offices walloped by the COVID pandemic, who now take another punch from Ian.

In the clean-up efforts from Hurricane Ian, physicians are faced with the question of what to do with medical records that have been damaged or destroyed by water and wind. Even though areas of Florida are a disaster, it is essential to salvage your life, your family, and your practice to benefit those patients who put their care in your hands.

The Lincoln Chair of Chiropractic & Biomechanics Research, a funded-research position by the Florida Chiropractic Association, resides within the Department of Neurosurgery & Brain Repair at the University of South Florida. In April 2022 during departmental Grand Rounds, Dr. Nathan Schilaty presented his recent research accomplishments since onboarding in November 2021 and also his ongoing research projects. The presentation was well attended and many of the attendees of the department, especially the spine neurosurgeons were very interested in the directives and opportunities available with Dr. Schilaty’s research. In fact, during the presentation, Dr. Schilaty presented his objective to design and implement a state-of-the-art cadaveric spinal simulator that will be used for a diversity of spinal biomechanics.

The spine surgeons have great interest in pursuing collaborative research on this simulator, especially in regard to the sacroiliac joint, a heavily understudied joint of the body. In addition, many in the department are excited for the 3D motion capture system that will be shortly be acquired and be a collaborative tool to monitor human movement for innovative research on disease and injury prevention and improved rehabilitation. His presentation has expanded the awareness of departmental members of Dr. Schilaty’s expertise in neuroscience, biomechanics, and motor control. In fact, from the Grand Rounds presentation, three additional collaborations have been established beyond the four intradepartmental collaborations already established. As chiropractors continue to integrate within academia and with skilled physicians and scientists, the science of chiropractic and the reach of our profession will expand.

The Latest from the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine

Orlando – During its regular meeting yesterday, the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine (FBOCM) unanimously reversed its prior 4-to-3 decision to move forward with a restrictive and expensive CE model in exchange for the complete opposite – a wholly unrestrictive and watered-down CE Rule. The common denominator? Both proposals are pushed by a single private CE vendor, Dr. Rick Warner of GoLearn Network whose originally onerous and expensive CE policing and testing requirements would be replaced with his new proposed language which still fails to protect the public health. The good news: The policing and surveillance requirements appear to be in the past. The bad news: Is this new proposed language good for the profession?

The latest rambling CE rule changes being pushed by 4 of the 7 members of the Florida BOCM and two CE vendors has sweeping ramifications for every Florida-licensed DC.

The Board of Chiropractic Medicine made it official in August of last year that all forty hours of chiropractic license renewal CE’s can now be earned on demand, virtually or at live events from now on. With a split 4-3 vote, the BOCM removed the language that previously allowed 25% of online CE hours to make it a 100% online option. Life went on with plenty of great CE options for Florida DC’s who can choose from a plethora of in-person, live synchronous and online CE’s.

Why then is the chiropractic CE rule back in the news in 2022 after three years of working on the technicalities of taking online courses? One on-demand CE vendor decided that opening the door to 100% online CE’s wasn’t enough. He petitioned the BOCM at its very next meeting to again amend the CE rules and add more layers of regulation that will financially cripple live event producers and force them to police attendees in ways never before seen with any other sector of healthcare, business or education. Dr. Rick Warner of GoLearn Network filed his petition last November and based on public testimony, has been joined in this quest by the FCPA. Despite 10-1 testimony and written comments against the petition by CE provider stakeholders from the FCA, FCS, FCLB and numerous chiropractic colleges and licensees in a subsequent January rules workshop and the Board’s February 24th meeting, and in spite of expressed concerns from Fla. Dept. of Health officials and counsel that the proposed rule changes were unnecessary and would be difficult to defend if challenged, the same 4-3 vote was made at the Board’s February meeting to move forward with rulemaking to adopt these onerous changes. Your member bulletin of February 25th carried the FCA’s post-meeting report.

So, if you missed our earlier reports, you might ask: What is the big deal? What would these petitioned rule changes do? Here are just a few of the highlights directly affecting you:

Health care providers and suppliers have their own new requirements for COVID-19 vaccinations. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule to require many types of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to establish COVID-19 vaccination requirements for their staff. Under the interim final rule, providers must implement policies and procedures to ensure that all staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, to provide medical and religious exemptions and related accommodations, and to track and document staff COVID-19 vaccinations. CMS also released guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The following are excerpts from the FAQs issued with the interim final rule.  As you will see, the regulation does not apply to physician’s offices because they are not subject to CMS health and safety regulations.  Please read further to confirm your office is not captured under the interim final rule.

(From the ACA Action Alert of 9/30/2021)  Starting today, October 1, ACA and chiropractors nationwide will celebrate National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) with the theme, “Keep Moving!” The campaign toolkit is now open at www.acatoday.org/NCHM. Visit soon and make plans with your staff to help spread this year’s message regarding the important benefits of movement and physical activity to both our physical and mental health. 

The Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine also held one of their quarterly meetings in conjunction with the FCA’s event. The BOCM met for nearly eight hours, taking on a number of disciplinary proceedings and new license applications presented for review. The Board heard a Petition to Initiate Rulemaking to move the needle for online CEs from 25% to 100%. In a split vote, the Board voted to initiate the Rulemaking process for 100% online or in-person CEs. The Rulemaking process takes approximately 90-100 days.

As can’t be avoided once you turn on your radio or television, mask mandates (and now the issue surrounding vaccine mandates) have created polarizing positions in our communities. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an Executive Order on May 3, 2021, invalidating all local Executive Orders mandating mask wearing, citing the new law passed in the 2021 Legislative Session,the Parents’ Bill of Rights, allowing parents to make this decision.  Since then,

On September 29, 2021, health care providers, including chiropractic physicians, will be able to apply for $25.5 billion in relief funds, including $8.5 billion in American Rescue Plan (ARP) resources for providers who serve rural patients and $17 billion for Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Phase 4 for providers who can document revenue loss and expenses associated with the pandemic.  Providers will be able to apply for new funding starting September 29, 2021.