PCA MEMBERS WEBSITE NOTICE
AS OF JANUARY 27, 2012
The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association's website is undergoing major changes in organization, content, and member features that will improve the quality and user-friendliness for you, the member of PCA.
Today, you received an email notice to explain how to access the MEMBERS' ONLY section of this website. Remember to check your JUNK MAIL if you do not see the email notice.
Thank you for your understanding and patience regarding these improvements.
We think you will be very pleased.
To visit the MEMBERS' ONLY section, click here and enter the password.
The MEMBERS' ONLY pages include What's New?, Insurance, Regulations, Issues-News, and Helpful Resources.
_______________________________________________________________
Court Permits Licensed Chiropractors to Delegate Certain Adjunctive Procedures to Unlicensed Support Personnel
By Jason B. Martin, Esquire
The Martin Law Firm, P.C.
__________________________________________________________________
Fair Health Care Provider Contracting Act Hearing Slated for November 29 in Harrisburg
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Insurance Committee announced a 1pm hearing on November 29 for House Bill 1763 (Printer’s Number 2257), the Fair Health Care Provider Contracting Act, sponsored by Representative Nick Miccarelli (R- Delaware) and others (Barrar, Costa, Creighton, Cutler, Davidson, et al).
PCA was a long-time supporter of the legislation that preceded HB1763 (HB1759), which contains many measures that would level the playing field between the provider community and insurance industry. PCA was extremely dismayed to see that only "physicians" and their organizations were included in the bill, which is a reversal of the prior legislation. On its own or in collaboration with other "non-physician" associations, PCA will aggressively argue for the inclusion of Chiropractors in HB1763 through written testimony that will be submitted to the House Insurance Committee.
HB 1763 - (PLS Summary)
(PN 2257) The Fair Health Care Provider Contracting Act provides for physician contracts with health insurers. The bill outlines criteria that shall apply to the availability of fee schedules and scheduled payment dates. A health insurer shall develop and implement a plan to reasonably permit its participating physician, participating physician group or participating physician organization to view on a confidential basis, complete fee information showing the applicable fee schedule amounts for the participating physician, participating physician group or participating physician organization pursuant to that participating physician's, participating physician group's or participating physician organization's direct written agreement with the health insurer. Each health insurer shall post to its provider website those services or supplies for which precertification is routinely required for its products, and shall update the posting to the extent the services or supplies for which precertification is routinely required changes. Notice of 90 days is required for any material adverse changes in the terms of its contracts, participating physician groups or participating physician organizations. The bill provides for disclosure of and commitments concerning claims payment practices and outlines a dispute resolution process for physician billing disputes.
HB 1763
Primary Sponsor: Miccarelli
Caption: Act providing for physician contracts with health insurers.
State Title: Providing for physician contracts with health insurers. (FIL)
Co-Sponsors: Barrar, Costa, D, Creighton, Cutler, Davidson, Haluska, Harhart, Harkins, Hornaman, Miccarelli, Murphy, Murt, O'Neill, Rock, Swanger, Youngblood
___________________________________________________
Is Your Practice Prepared for the 1/1/12
New Electronic Claims Format??
PCA Insurance & Coding Consultant David Klein, CPC, CHC
In preparation for the transition to ICD-10, all entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that submit transactions electronically are required to upgrade from Version 4010/4010.A1 to Version 5010 transaction standards by Sunday, January 1, 2012.
The PCA stresses that it is important to remember that the upcoming Version 5010 transition is not only mandatory, but is also an integral step toward a successful ICD-10 transition. This change does NOT affect paper claims.
What should you do to prepare?
If you or your EHR system has not yet begun external testing, the PCA advises that you should take the following steps to ensure a smooth transition:
•
Communicate with your software vendor and/or clearinghouse. If they already haven’t, encourage them to take action now and establish a communication plan.
Communicate with your software vendor and/or clearinghouse. If they already haven’t, encourage them to take action now and establish a communication plan.•Take advantage of available resources. There are many different resources offering valuable information to organizations looking to streamline their Version 5010 transition. Additionally, CMS offers several tools to help you plan and execute your transitions to Version 5010 and ICD-10. Visit their website: https://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com
Take advantage of available resources. There are many different resources offering valuable information to organizations looking to streamline their Version 5010 transition. Additionally, CMS offers several tools to help you plan and execute your transitions to Version 5010 and ICD-10. Visit their website: https://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com _____________________________________________________
CALL TO ACTION
Fairness in Co-payment Act
PCA’s legislative language regulating patient co-payments, currently in draft form in the PA Senate, is seeking co-sponsors for the bill. Do you know of a state senator who is pro-patient and pro-Chiropractor? Please ask her/ him to actively co-sponsor and support the patient co-pay legislative language by co-sponsoring the legislation that is being circulated by Senator McIlhinney. For further information, contact the PCA’s lobbyists at The Winter Group, 717-909-9560 and tell them your name and the state senator you have confirmed as a co-sponsor. THANK YOU!
________________________________________________________
CALL TO ACTION!
Open Letter to PCA Members about Insurance Complaints
on Behalf of the PCA Board of Directors
The PCA makes every effort to document provider complaints and take necessary action to help PCA members. In this case, PCA took your concerns to the PA Insurance Department Commissioner. Click here to read more!
______________________________________________________________
PCA’s November 12 Coding Institute a Sell-out Hit with Members
If there’s one complaint worth reading from Pennsylvania’s doctors, it’s “I want more…” With apologies to 80s disco vocalist Andrea True, “more, more, more” is exactly what PCA received in the form of feedback from the 232+ registrants of the re-launched PCA Coding Institute. In fact, other than a thirst for more programming like that presented at the November 12 event, the doctors were unanimously raving about the program’s quality content and high-level faculty. Read more. . .
- Insurance Companies that Discriminate Against Doctors of Chiropractic
- Third Party Discount Programs
- Unnecessary Retroactive-Reviews that are Costly to Doctors
- Professional DC Reviewers who Deny Care Without Supporting Documents and for no Good Reasons
- Unnecessary Utilization Reviews
- Limiting X-Rays
- Limited Care
- Unnecessary Paperwork
- Chiropractic Riders
- The Hassle-Factor: Restrictive Rules and Regulations that Inhibit Sound Clinical Care, Resulting in Problems for Patients and Doctors
- A Unified Chiropractic Profession
- ALL Philosophies of Chiropractice Care
- YOUR Patients
- Fair & Equitable Reimbursements
- Access to ALL Insurance Plans; No Closed Panels
- Access to Hospitals
- Quality Continuing Education Programs
- Legislative Protection of Act 188: Chiropractic Licensure Act
- Chiropractic Wellness
- Accurate Coding & Documentation
- ONE Place for ALL of Your Professional Needs
- YOUR Legal Rights
- YOU!
PCA Fights For: PCA Fights Against:
Top Ten Reasons Why PCA Makes Good Business Sense for YOU!
Phone calls…do we ever get phone calls. One of my favorite calls to field is from former members or “never-been-affiliated” members, asking the same question (or a variation on the same theme): why should I belong to PCA?
I thought I’d share my response with you. I hope that one or more of the points resonates with each of you. Feel free to add to or cut from your list and pass it along to a non-member of PCA when you get the opportunity. Here we go:
President John E. McCarrin, DC
PCA Executive Vice President
Edward L. Nielsen
PCA Strategic
Business Partners
Click logos to support & learn about our sponsors
PCA Meeting
Calendar for 2012
PCA Board Meetings:
1/21; 3/3; 6/23-24; 9/15
Annual Convention:
6/22-24
Lancaster Marriott,
Penn Square
District 1
(Phillips/ Piasecki):
2/9; 6/9; 9/8; 12/1
District 2 (Aukerman): 2/23; 4/19; 6/28; 10/25
District 3 (Rizzo):
2/21; 5/22; 8/14; 11/27
District 4 (Osterberg):
1/26; 4/26; 7/26; 10/25
District 6 (Karakasis)
3/8; 5/10; 9/13; 11/15
District 7 (Cianci):
3/8; 5/31; 8/30; 11/29
District 8 (Kavanaugh): 1/26; 3/8; 6/28; 9/20
District 9:
1/12; 4/12; 8/16; 12/6
District 10 (Benedetto): 1/26; 3/15; 5/17; 7/19;
9/20; 11/15
District 12 (Tokach)
2/11; 3/24; 6/28; 9/22
ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION
The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association (PCA) is an IRS 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation that is Pennsylvania's professional membership association for Chiropractors in the Commonwealth. With a long history of successful advocacy, PCA remains solely dedicated to the advancement of Chiropractic as a viable and cost-effective health care choice in Pennsylvania and throughout the USA. PCA is deeply committed to maintaining scope of practice through legislative and regulatory action on Capitol Hill. To that end, PCA retains lobbying and legal services to insure that all pertinent issues are properly, and where appropriate, aggressively addressed in the best interest of Pennsylvania's Chiropractors and their patients.
PCA boasts nearly 1,000 professional members and corporate partners across Pennsylvania. Through your PCA membership, you will have ready access to your colleagues, as well as timely, useful resources and meaningful information that will assist you and your practice in maximizing both patient well-being and bottom-line success.
PCA’s Mission Statement
- Promote the highest quality of Chiropractic care.
- Eliminate barriers to patient access so that our members can compete effectively in the healthcare delivery system.
- Promote the art, science and philosophy of Chiropractic and to assure that only qualified Doctors of Chiropractic offer this service.
- Promote ongoing, state-of-the-art learning opportunities for our members and the public.
- Interact with decision makers so that Chiropractic treatment is widely known and understood by society.
- Function as an organization with the highest level of integrity and commitment to the public and the patients we serve.
WHY WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE?
PCA SPONSORED CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES ARE FILLING UP, QUICKLY!
We offer classroom instruction, online webinars and online classes to fit your schedule.
Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association
(717) 232-5762 Fax (717) 232-8368
Thank you! YOU re-elected me to another term as YOUR President. You honored me by also selecting me to be Pennsylvania’s 2011 Chiropractor of the Year. I am humbled by and deeply appreciate your vote of confidence in me and I look forward to further advancing meaningful change within PCA and on behalf of Chiropractors during this coming year of service. Read more. . .
