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Literature Review Shows Spinal Manipulation Beneficial for Neck Pain

(Arlington, Va.) A new literature review finds evidence that patients with chronic neck pain enrolled in clinical trials reported significant improvement following chiropractic spinal manipulation, according to a March/April 2007 report in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT). According to Howard Vernon, DC, PhD, the review’s chief author, “The results of the literature review confirm the common clinical experience of doctors of chiropractic: neck manipulation is beneficial for patients with certain forms of chronic neck pain.” As part of the literature review, Dr. Vernon and his colleagues reviewed nine previously published trials and found “high-quality evidence” that patients with chronic neck pain showed significant pain-level improvements following spinal manipulation. No trial group was reported to remain unchanged, and all groups showed positive changes up to 12 weeks post treatment. No trial reported any serious adverse effects. This literature review did not include studies involving patients with acute neck pain, neck and arm pain, neck pain due to whiplash, or those with headaches. In this review, chronic neck pain was defined as being a minimum of 8 weeks duration. Researchers also found that mobilization therapy was beneficial in improving patients’ pain levels, with many achieving full recovery after six to seven weeks of treatment; however, the current evidence did not support a similar level of benefit from massage therapy. Neck pain is a very common complaint – approximately 15 percent of women and 10 percent of men are estimated to have chronic neck pain at any one time. According to a report issued by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 18 percent of chiropractic patients list neck pain as their chief complaint. Spinal manipulation, also called a chiropractic adjustment, is the main therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic. The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile. Chiropractors practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, headaches and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. In addition, a significant amount of evidence shows that the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective and less costly than traditional medical care. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the premier biomedical publication in the chiropractic profession and the official scientific journal of the American Chiropractic Association, provides the latest information on current research developments, as well as clinically oriented research and practical information for use in clinical settings.

Karen A. Bobak, D.C. to become NYCC’s new Acting Dean of Chiropractic

Seneca Falls, NY: Karen A. Bobak, D.C. was selected to serve as New York Chiropractic College’s Acting Dean of Chiropractic, effective beginning May 1. Acting Dean, Bobak will oversee the day to day operation of the Doctor of Chiropractic program, including academic planning, curriculum development, faculty hiring and associated budgets as they relate to the program. Dr. Bobak’s appointment comes on the heels of a nationwide 15-week search that attracted applications from throughout the country. A search team comprised of faculty, staff and administration made recommendations to Michael Mestan, D.C., Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, who thereafter conducted interviews with qualified prospects. Dr. Bobak received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York in 1982, and the Bachelor of Science degree from National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois, in 1984. Awarded a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from National in 1986, Karen was licensed in New York, and has since managed a private practice in the Rochester. Affiliated with NYCC since 1994 as an adjunct professor, Bobak joined NYCC’s full time faculty in 1999 and was promoted to assistant professor in 2003, teaching coursework in technique and has also served as Technique Team Leader in the Chiropractic Clinical Sciences department. She remains active in a variety of academic and search committees, and her scholarly activity includes participation in NYCC’s 2006 Research Symposium, and involvement in numerous research and faculty development consortia. Executive Vice President Mestan is pleased at Dr. Bobak’s steady growth and development throughout her employment at the College, and he feels confident she will continue to “demonstrate outstanding leadership” in her new position.

NCMIC Presents $100,000 to Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

The NCMIC Group, Inc. has contributed $100,000 to the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress to support the national initiative to educate the general public about the benefits of chiropractic care. This most recent donation makes a total of $400,000 committed by the NCMIC. About NCMIC Group, Inc. For more than 60 years, NCMIC has served as the nation’s largest provider of chiropractic malpractice insurance, insuring more than 36,500 doctors. Their core business consists not only of malpractice coverage, but also includes financial products and other affiliated insurance products. "A public relations campaign to raise the awareness of the benefits of chiropractic, supported by the profession, can have a huge impact on the profession both today and in the future,” said Dr. Louis Sportelli, NCMIC President. "Whether doctor or vendor we all have a direct interest in the success of this public relations campaign. The profession must make contributions and view this program as a long-term investment in the future." About the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress A non-profit corporation, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress exists to increase the number of people who seek chiropractic treatment and to educate consumers about this conservative, effective form of treatment. “The Foundation challenges the profession to match the commitment level of NCMIC,” said Kent Greenawalt, Foundation Chairman. “We need every doctor to contribute the equivalent of just one adjustment a month to ensure success.” Every dollar received from vendors and doctors will go directly to the advertising/public relations campaign. We invite you to join the Foundation and build on the positive press of this campaign. If you wish to make a pledge and/or contribution to the Foundation, please visit www.foundation4cp.com. Contributions are also received at P.O. Box 560, Carmichael, California 95609-0560.

New York State Chiropractic Association 2007 Fall Convention

Save the date. NYSCA’s fall convention scheduled for Friday, September 28th. – Sunday, September 30th, 2007 at Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park on beautiful Lake George, New York. Program to include Hospital Protocol Prerequisites with a minimum of 12 credit hours of continuing education. The Lodge room rate is $159.00 per Standard Suite per night (up to 4 people in the suite) which will include admission to the indoor water park. Our attendees will also receive the discounted admission rate of $15.00 per person to the Great Escape Amusement Park located directly across the street from the Lodge. This weekend is October-fest at the Park and there will be exciting special events for everyone. We will be holding a picnic on Saturday at the Park for the group with great food and fun for all. Don’t miss your chance to come to Lake George in the early fall, see the foliage, visit the exhibitor booths, receive your continuing education credits and the kids (both big and small) will just love it! Please visit their website to view the resort and watch your mail for the convention schedule and registration form. Make your Lodge reservations early as this event will sell out quickly! Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park 89 Six Flags Drive, Queensbury, New York 12804 Lodge Reservations: 518-824-6060 (Mention NYS Chiropractic for the Group Rate)

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Long term effects of dietary sodium reduction on cardiovascular disease outcomes: observational follow-up of the trials of hypertension prevention (TOHP)

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the effects of reduction in dietary sodium intake on cardiovascular events using data from two completed randomised trials, TOHP I and TOHP II. Design Long term follow-up assessed 10-15 years after the original trial. Setting 10 clinic sites in 1987-90 (TOHP I) and nine sites in 1990-5 (TOHP II). Central follow-up conducted by post and phone. Participants Adults aged 30-54 years with prehypertension. Intervention Dietary sodium reduction, including comprehensive education and counselling on reducing intake, for 18 months (TOHP I) or 36-48 months (TOHP II). Main outcome measure Cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularisation, or cardiovascular death). Results 744 participants in TOHP I and 2382 in TOHP II were randomised to a sodium reduction intervention or control. Net sodium reductions in the intervention groups were 44 mmol/24 h and 33 mmol/24 h, respectively. Vital status was obtained for all participants and follow-up information on morbidity was obtained from 2415 (77%), with 200 reporting a cardiovascular event. Risk of a cardiovascular event was 25% lower among those in the intervention group (relative risk 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 0.99, P=0.04), adjusted for trial, clinic, age, race, and sex, and 30% lower after further adjustment for baseline sodium excretion and weight (0.70, 0.53 to 0.94), with similar results in each trial. In secondary analyses, 67 participants died (0.80, 0.51 to 1.26, P=0.34). Conclusion Sodium reduction, previously shown to lower blood pressure, may also reduce long term risk of cardiovascular events. Nancy R Cook 1*, Jeffrey A Cutler 2, Eva Obarzanek 2, Julie E Buring 1, Kathryn M Rexrode 1, Shiriki K Kumanyika 3, Lawrence J Appel 4, Paul K Whelton 5 1 Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 2 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD 3 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 4 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 5 Loyola University Health System, Maywood, IL

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SELF Magazine Examines the Alleged Link Between Chiropractic Cervical Manipulation and Vertebral Artery Dissection

Please be advise that an article in the May issue of SELF magazine that examines the purported link between vertebral artery dissection and chiropractic cervical manipulation. The story will not be available on newsstands until next week, but it is already posted online. Read the story by clicking here. While the views of ACA spokesperson Dr. William Lauretti, an expert on the topic of vertebral artery dissection, are included in the article, the piece is overwhelmingly negative and details the stories of several patients -- particularly a 43-year-old mother of four who believes her stroke was caused by a chiropractic adjustment. In its official response issued this morning, ACA explains to the editors of SELF magazine that the article needlessly alarms current and potential chiropractic patients about a safe, effective and appropriate treatment for those with common forms of neck pain and headache. Moreover, there is no definitive evidence that chiropractic manipulation is the cause of vertebral artery dissections. To read ACA’s full response, clicking here. Patient Communications Patients, staff and colleagues may ask you about this article. To help combat any negative publicity that might occur in your community as a result of this article, ACA is offering the following information: Chiropractic &; Stroke: Key Messages What are the Risks of Chiropractic Neck Adjustments? By William J. Lauretti, DC Chiropractic Manipulation & Cervical Artery Dissection. A JACA article by Michael T. Haneline, DC, MPH, and Gary Lewkovich, DC NCMIC’s CVA Monograph Executive Summary & Warning Signs Poster Patient Education Page: Chiropractic &; Headaches Research Excerpts that Show the Positive Benefits of Chiropractic Care ACA is also asking doctors of chiropractic to monitor SELF’s blog where readers can discuss the story. Doctors and chiropractic patients are encouraged to post positive messages about the benefits of manipulation. To visit the blog, click here.

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SENATE CONFIRMS DINALLO AS INSURANCE SUPERINTENDENT

The New York State Senate today confirmed Governor Eliot Spitzer’s nomination of Eric R. Dinallo as the 39th Superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department. Superintendent Dinallo has been serving as Acting Superintendent since January 2007. “I am honored to have been confirmed as Superintendent of the Insurance Department. I thank Governor Spitzer for nominating me and the Senate for its unanimous vote. I am proud to join the excellent staff of the premier state insurance regulator,” Superintendent Dinallo said. “I pledge to the people of New York State that the Insurance Department will strive to ensure that consumers, both individuals and businesses, are fully informed, have access to the insurance products they need at reasonable prices and are treated fairly in the claims process. The Department will work equally hard to ensure there is a favorable climate in New York for the insurance industry to prosper and grow, including a level playing field. Finally, the Department will strive to regulate in innovative and efficient ways that provide all of the above,” said Superintendent Dinallo. Superintendent Dinallo joined the Department from Willis Group Holdings. Since 2006, he had been General Counsel for the company, the world’s third largest insurance broker. A member of the Partners Group, the company’s global executive management committee, he was the primary legal advisor on value creation matters. His responsibilities included supervising General Counsels, Global Compliance and the Internal Audit Department, as well as implementing corporate strategies, policies and procedures to ensure the effective management of regulatory and litigation matters. From 2003 to 2006, Superintendent Dinallo was the Managing Director, Global Head of Regulatory Affairs for Morgan Stanley. He designed and led top-to-bottom reviews of conflicts and business practices, achieving a major shift in the firm-wide regulatory strategy. At Morgan Stanley, Superintendent Dinallo chaired the Global Conflicts Committee and was the Managing Director on the Law Department Diversity Committee. He was also a member of the Franchise Committee and the Operational Risk Group. Superintendent Dinallo served at the Office of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer from 1999 to 2003. As Chief of the Securities Bureau, he was charged with combining that bureau with the Real Estate Finance Bureau. The resulting Bureau was named the Investment Protection Bureau to reflect its focus, and Mr. Dinallo was named its first Chief. In that capacity, he led the reinvigorated Bureau’s investigations into the Wall Street Cases – conflicts of interest in the financial services industry, including research analyst cases and the spinning of hot initial public offerings. He produced more than 40 major civil and criminal matters, and led the Bureau through the beginning of the mutual fund industry investigations. Before joining the Attorney General’s office, Superintendent Dinallo served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s office from 1995 to 1999. He had primary responsibility for securities fraud and white collar and insider trading investigations and trial. From 1991 to 1995, Superintendent Dinallo was a Litigation Associate with the Manhattan law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton & Garrison. From 1990 to 1991, the Superintendent clerked with the Honorable David M. Ebel of the United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit in Denver. Superintendent Dinallo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Vassar College in 1985, followed by a Master of Arts degree from Duke University School of Public Policy in 1987. In 1990, he earned his law degree from New York University where he was New York University Law Review and Essay Editor and a member of the Order of the Coif. Superintendent Dinallo lives in Manhattan with his wife, Priscilla Almodovar, and children Robert and Amelia. The Superintendent of Insurance is responsible for the monitoring and regulation of more than 1,000 insurance companies with total assets exceeding $4 trillion. The position also includes oversight responsibility for more than 100,000 brokers, agents and financial intermediaries and the management of more than a thousand Department employees. The Superintendent also acts as Receiver of insolvent insurance companies through the New York Liquidation Bureau.

Sherman College to Raise Entering GPA Requirement

Effective spring quarter 2008, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic will raise its entering grade-point average (GPA) requirement (currently 2.5 on a 4.0 scale) by one-tenth of a point each year, until the entering GPA reaches 3.0 in 2012. The college’s Board of Trustees approved the policy in early March. The proposal to increase the entering GPA requirement initiated from faculty recommendations and from several discussions in meetings of the college’s Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness Committees. The increased admission standards were also discussed extensively with student representatives, academic deans and the Enrollment Services office, and they reflect the rising qualifications needed for students to be academically successful at Sherman. The first incremental increase in spring 2008 will bring the required entering GPA to 2.6. “Our goal in adopting this policy is to attract students who are adequately prepared for the rigor of the academic program at Sherman College,” says Vice President for Academic Affairs Jon Schwartzbauer, D.C. “It is only appropriate that the requirements associated with admission to Sherman College be aligned with the expectations students will encounter when they enter the doctor of chiropractic program,” Schwartzbauer explains. Increasing the entering GPA requirement specifically addresses an objective of the college’s Strategic Plan to “increase student quality in the recruitment process by using indicators of student success to evaluate candidates.” Included in the college’s definition of student success are (1) completing the doctor of chiropractic degree program in 14 quarters and (2) passing all four parts of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ tests before graduation. The Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) currently requires a minimum entrance GPA of 2.5 for students enrolling in all chiropractic colleges. A study of entrance data for Sherman students enrolling between 2004 and 2006 compared entrance GPAs with Sherman College quarterly GPAs, cumulative GPAs and national board scores. Strong correlations were found between entrance requirements and Sherman College GPAs and national board scores, supporting the concept that increasing the entrance requirement would lead to an improvement in student performance in the chiropractic program and on national board exams. College officials believe increasing the entrance requirements will result in better-equipped students who are able to thrive within the chiropractic program. In addition, the change should result in increased retention and graduation rates. Vice President for Enrollment Services Robert Irwin, D.C., doesn’t expect the revised policy to cause any changes in enrollment trends, as most Sherman students exceed a 2.6 entering GPA. By giving a year’s notice to students preparing for admission, the college does not expect the change to be a hardship on any qualified candidates. “We want to ensure the best possible fit between Sherman College and its students,” Irwin says. “Aligning admission requirements with the high academic standards already in place at Sherman just makes sense.” Executive Vice President/Provost Myron Brown, D.C., who serves on the task committee of the CCE that is currently considering a major re-write of its educational standards, agrees. He says that because part of Sherman College’s mission is to train leaders for the profession, raising the entering GPA is appropriate. As a member of the task force, Brown hopes the CCE’s new educational standards will focus on outcomes relative to an institution’s mission and leave the process, including entering GPAs, up to the institutions. Sherman College will continue to monitor the effect of entering GPA on educational outcomes and if necessary, will adjust admission policies accordingly.

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International College of Chiropractic elects new fellow

New York State Metro delegate to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) H. William Wolfson, DC, of Commack, NY, was named a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors (ICC) at the ACA House of Delegates meeting on March 23, 2007, in Washington, D.C. Election to the ICC is touted as one of the highest honors of service in the chiropractic profession. Dr. Wolfson was presented a plaque commemorating the honor from Dr. Lewis Bazakos, ACA Chairman of the Board of Governors

First Phase of Historic Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project Comes to a Close

Chiropractors Must Focus on Improving Documentation Error Rate (Arlington, Va.) The first phase of the historic Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project will come to a close this weekend, ending a two-year program to collect cost and other data related to an expansion of chiropractic services offered in Medicare. It is ACA’s hope that the demonstration project will prove effective in convincing Congress to enact permanent legislation to reimburse doctors of chiropractic within Medicare for common services beyond manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation, such as exams, plain X-rays, therapy services and clinical lab services. The Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project will officially end on March 31, 2007. Under the next phase of the demonstration project, no additional chiropractic services will be provided within Medicare; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will concentrate on collecting and evaluating claims data – a process expected to require an additional two years. CMS will furnish Congress with a formal analysis and report on the findings of the pilot project in spring 2009. “On behalf of all ACA leadership, I wish to expresses my sincerest appreciation to all who were involved in the Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project, especially the individual doctors of chiropractic who elected to participate over the past two years,” said ACA President Richard G. Brassard, DC. “The demonstration project was an unprecedented opportunity for the chiropractic profession to show Medicare officials that the arbitrary limits on chiropractic services are costly to taxpayers and do a great injustice to patients.” At this time, ACA is reminding all doctors of chiropractic to focus on improving the chiropractic documentation error rate within the existing Medicare program. ACA fears that continued high claims error rates will be used as an argument to thwart future efforts to allow chiropractors to provide additional services, even if results from the Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project are favorable. ACA offers a number of valuable Medicare resources on its Web site at www.acatoday.org/medicare. In 2003, the U.S. Congress enacted legislation requiring CMS to conduct a “pilot program” allowing doctors of chiropractic to furnish additional services under Medicare. The pilot project, known as the Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project, was enacted into law as a direct result of an ACA lobbying campaign. The first phase of the demonstration project has been underway in select geographic areas – including Maine, New Mexico, 26 counties in Illinois, 17 counties in Virginia, and one county in Iowa – since April 2005. “Upon completion of the Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project, the chiropractic profession should have solid and reliable data on which to build our case for a permanent expansion within Medicare. If the data are favorable, it will be the pathway to enacting a law that will win us the Medicare coverage we have sought for years,” Dr. Brassard said. Public policy experts agree that changes to the Medicare program routinely roll over into the private sector, where health care plans often model their benefits after Medicare and adopt changes that the government makes to the program. Consequently, any positive results from the chiropractic demonstration that lead to permanent changes in the Medicare program will not only have encouraging implications for senior beneficiaries, they will also have a significant impact on the U.S. health care system for years to come. “The results of the demonstration project could finally mean the end of 30 years of discrimination against millions of patients who have been denied needed chiropractic care for far too long – not only under Medicare, but also under many private insurance plans that use Medicare as a model,” Dr. Brassard noted. For more information about chiropractic in Medicare, including the Medicare Chiropractic Demonstration Project, contact Jaime Mulligan at [email protected] or visit the ACA Web site at:

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Senate OKs Health Ins Mandate Bill

The state senate has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. James L. Seward (R-C-I/Milford) that would create a state panel to review proposed health insurance mandated benefits to analyze their costs and impact on the cost of health insurance. Senate bill 3020 was approved by the senate unanimously. "Almost three million New Yorkers do not have health insurance, and for others, its rapidly escalating cost is putting affordable health coverage out of reach," Seward said. "Over the years the legislature has enacted legislation requiring that health insurance cover more than 30 different services, treatments and providers, and they all come with a cost." The legislation establishes the "health care quality and cost containment commission," the purpose of which is to analyze and report on the impact of proposed health insurance mandates. It would be charged with a) investigating the current practices of health plans; b) evaluating potential premium impact as well as avoided costs; c) analysis of current medical thinking to determine the mandate's affect on health care quality. The 2006-07 state budget includes a $300,000 appropriation for the commission, which would be included in the state insurance department. "Studies have shown that coverage of mandated services has increased premiums by 12 percent," Seward said. "And every one percent jump in insurance premiums means that 30,000 New Yorkers lose their health insurance. The commission will review mandates and advise the legislature on their estimated costs so that the legislature can make an informed decision on a particular mandate bill." The measure is sponsored in the assembly by Alexander "Pete" Grannis. "The best health insurance coverage is of no value if no one is able to afford it," Seward said.

NYCC Fellow Jonathon Egan, DC, Appointed to Seneca County Board of Health

New York Chiropractic College Fellow Jonathon Egan, DC, MPH, (NYCC ’06) was recently approved by the Seneca County Board of Supervisors to become the newest member of the Seneca County Board of Health. Dr. Egan, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Health/Epidemiology, was notified by Public Health Director Vickie Swineheart, RN, of his appointment on March 14, 2007. The Board of Health, consists of three M.D.s, three community members (of which Egan will be one), and one representative from the County Board of Supervisors, and governs the Public Health Department. The Board directs department programming, helps set future program direction, reviews items such as tobacco sales and Clean Air Act compliance, and hires the Public Health Director. Dr. Egan will participate in the Board’s monthly meeting. Wendy Maneri, DC, MS, (NYCC ’99), Chief of Staff of the NYCC Campus Health Center, strongly encouraged Egan to participate. Aside from his duties in the student clinic, Egan is currently working with Paul Dougherty, DC, overseeing student care at the Rochester VA, is involved in several research projects regarding chronic back pain and veteran demographics with Dr. Dougherty, and together with Jason Napuli, DC, MBA, (NYCC ’03) assesses Medicaid patient demographics and patients’ response to chiropractic care. According to Dr. Egan, the NYCC Fellowship had enabled him to work with great students in clinic, and now, provides the opportunity to serve on the Board of Health.

NYCC President, Dr. Frank J. Nicchi Receives Foot Levelers Achievement Award for Chiropractic Education

Dr. Frank Nicchi, President of New York Chiropractic College received the Achievement Award for Chiropractic Education during the annual Parker Seminars international event in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 9th. The sixth annual Foot Levelers’ achievement awards were presented to a group of the chiropractic profession’s most distinguished leaders. Foot Levelers’ President and CEO, Kent S. Greenawalt, presented the awards in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. Dr. Nicchi, a 1978 alumnus and long-time faculty member, was appointed President of NYCC in 2000. Since that time, he has led new initiatives to develop clinical education programs that have solidified the College’s vision and its emphasis on academic excellence and successful integration of chiropractic into diverse healthcare settings. Dr. Nicchi was recognized for his leadership in NYCC’s creation of educational and clinical programs (internships and chiropractic services in the Veteran’s Administration (VA) health systems, private and military hospitals and at state university health centers) that advance and benefit the chiropractic profession. Three additional honors were awarded at the event. Dr. Fabrizio Mancini, President of Parker College of Chiropractic and the Parker Seminars received the Dr. Monte Greenawalt Chiropractic Excellence Award. David Chapman-Smith, Secretary-General for the World Federation of Chiropractic was awarded the Achievement Award for Chiropractic Leadership. The Achievement Award for Chiropractic Philosophy went to Dr. Bob Hoffman, President and CEO of The Masters Circle. “We are privileged to have this opportunity to recognize their achievements and thank them for all they have done,” Kent Greenawalt said of the award recipients. “These four individuals have made a tremendous impact on the profession.”

D’YOUVILLE TO OPEN CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC IN CITY

Buffalo – D’Youville College will open a chiropractic clinic in Buffalo to serve the general public as part of its chiropractic education program. The grand opening of the clinic will be Thursday, February 8, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at 2900 Main Street (Across from Bennett High School) and will be open to treat patients. (Local officials have been invited to the opening ceremony.) It will serve as one of the college’s clinical training sites for chiropractic interns and also provide a variety of clinical health services to the public, according to college officials. “It is the only such chiropractic health center in the City and features full handicap accessibility,” said Dr. Stephen J. Zajac, associate professor and coordinator of clinical services for the chiropractic program at D’Youville. The 6600 square foot clinic houses examination and treatment rooms, a rehabilitation suite, conference room, patient waiting area, x-ray suite, and faculty and administrative offices. There is a lighted parking lot for 35 cars. “ Our certified chiropractic interns will provide services under the direct supervision of our chiropractic faculty who are licensed doctors of chiropractic,” Zajac said. “We will provide consultation, evaluation, diagnosis and digital imaging x-rays, EKG, lab diagnosis, and spirometry along with chiropractic manipulation, physiotherapy, treatment, rehabilitation services and wellness counseling,” he said. “The fees will be affordable and in some cases there will be no cost.” “Office hours will be by appointment and we plan to be open five days a week and eventually on Saturdays,” Zajac said. The clinic has state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment equipment including direct digital radiography that allows a patient’s x-rays to be recorded on a CD for the patient to take to their primary physician or specialist if needed. The college is one of the first standard accredited multi-disciplinary colleges in the State to “mainstream” chiropractic education by offering the Doctor of Chiropractic degree as a part of its curriculum. Introduced in 2004, the seven-year chiropractic program currently enrolls 80 students. D’Youville, a private college based on Buffalo’s West Side, was chartered in 1908 and today has approximately 3000 students.

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New Warning on Pain Medications Should Encourage Patients to Seek Drug-Free Options, Says American Chiropractic Association

Recent guidelines issued by the American Heart Association that recommend medication as a last resort for chronic pain patients at risk for heart disease should encourage doctors and patients to first consider non-drug treatments such as chiropractic care, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). “For years, the American Chiropractic Association has advocated restraint against the use of excessive drugs and unnecessary surgeries, because safer and more effective options exist,” said ACA President Richard Brassard, DC. “With recent studies linking many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, it is more important than ever for patients to have access to conservative treatments such as chiropractic care. Not only is chiropractic care safer than many medical treatments and procedures, it is also more cost effective.” The scientific statement, released by the heart association on Feb. 26, urged doctors to initially focus on “nonpharmacological approaches” to pain management in patients at risk for heart disease in an effort to avoid the possible cardiovascular complications of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – or NSAIDs. Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, headaches and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. In addition, a significant amount of evidence shows that the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective and less costly than traditional medical care. Recent research includes: • A study published in the October 2005 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) found that chiropractic and medical care have comparable costs for treating chronic low-back pain, with chiropractic care producing significantly better outcomes. • A March 2004 study in JMPT found that chiropractic care is more effective than medical care at treating chronic low-back pain in patients' first year of symptoms. • A study published in the July 15, 2003, edition of the medical journal Spine found that manual manipulation provides better short-term relief of chronic spinal pain than does a variety of medications. The American Chiropractic Association is the nation's leading chiropractic organization representing more than 16,000 doctors of chiropractic and their patients. For more information, visit the ACA’s Web site at:

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ACA to Capitol Hill: Military Health Care Severely Flawed

(Arlington, Va.) The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has expressed its outrage to Congress regarding the lack of chiropractic care available to veterans and active-duty military personnel as stories continue to surface about neglect and substandard care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military health facilities nationwide.

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NYCC Receives Over $1 Million in Federal Research Grant Funds

Seneca Falls, NY - New York Chiropractic College was awarded a federal grant of over one million dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services. The funding comes under the auspices of the department’s Health Resources and Services Administration’s Chiropractic Demonstration Project Grant Program. The research project, entirely funded by the federal government, will provide $1,124,244.00 over the next three years to perform this multi-site randomized clinical trial. The research will be conducted in conjunction with the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center and private practices in the Rochester area. Dr. Frank J. Nicchi, president of NYCC, said, “The award will generate important data benefiting the millions of Americans who experience debilitating back pain. We are honored to have been selected to work with the Canandaigua VA to carry out this important project.” The study will compare two different treatment modalities for patients suffering from chronic lower back pain. The treatment modalities which will be utilized are spinal manipulative therapy and active exercise therapy. Dr. Paul Dougherty, NYCC Associate Professor and principal research grant investigator, will be utilizing a “prediction rule” to attempt to identify those patients who best respond to particular treatment modalities. ”The research will help doctors predict patient responsiveness to treatment and help determine who should be referred for spinal manipulation or for active exercise therapy.” The project will be carried out within VA clinics and in several private chiropractic and physical therapy outpatient facilities throughout Rochester. One of the strengths of this project has been the interdisciplinary cooperation with all professions represented in the study design and implementation of the project including chiropractors, physical therapists and medical physicians. Patients for the study will be recruited beginning March 2007. If you are interested in more information regarding this study, please contact Maureen Kuhlman at New York Chiropractic College’s research center at 315-568-3868.

Foundation for Chiropractic Progress Announces 2007 Campaign

To increase the public’s awareness of the benefits of chiropractic care through positive press – this is the mission of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. Since July 2006, the Foundation has advertised in major publications such as Newsweek, Health Magazine, Business Week, New York Times Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, and Sports Illustrated. More than 18 million positive impressions regarding chiropractic have been communicated to the general public through this medium. In addition, a TV commercial produced by the Foundation was recently aired to over 150 million viewers. During the 2007 campaign, we will continue to advertise in national publications with circulations of over 1 million. Realizing that advertising alone will not significantly change public opinion, the Foundation retained a prominent public relations agency, CPR Communications. With more than twenty-five years working with the media, this firm is responsible for generating positive press to complement the advertising campaign for the profession. Their efforts have already shown positive results as they generated cover stories on Sarah Harding in New Living Magazine and Total Health Magazine. In cooperation with the Foundation the agency has developed a comprehensive public relations campaign for 2007. Monthly press release to the general media on topics related to the profession, monthly Public Service Announcements to the print and electronic media, and a quarterly adversarial on topics promoting the profession are just a few positive press highlights for 2007. Also exciting is the addition of a “Health Seekers Calendar” - developed to provide appropriate health tips to consumers who visit the Foundation’s web site (www.foundation4cp.org). Additionally, a Foundation blog will be established for consumers. With this feature, we will also have the ability to monitor the health blogs of prominent publications like the New York Times and The Washington Post for positive stories about chiropractic. The reality is that chiropractic is considered the best-kept secret in health care. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress is working for you to increase the positive press about chiropractic and change that reality. Every dollar received from vendors and doctors will go directly to the advertising/public relations campaign. We invite you to join the Foundation and build on the positive press of this campaign. If you wish to make a pledge and/or contribution to the Foundation, please visit (www.foundation4cp.org). Contributions are also received at P.O. Box 560, Carmichael, California 95609-0560.

Correction -- Urgent Attention Required -- ACN/Aetna Workers’ Compensation Access, LLC Program

ACN/Aetna Workers’ Compensation Access, LLC Program Last month, NYSCA sent out a notice concerning ACN’s mid-December mailing announcing a “new network access program” – the “Aetna Workers’ Compensation Access, LLC Program,” a Workers’ Compensation (WC) Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). Unfortunately, the NYSCA has learned, an ACN staffer gave out the wrong fax number participating providers to use if they were interested in opting-out of the ACN/Aetna program. Since the error was ACN’s, the NYSCA feels that ACN should honor opt-out requests sent and received already albeit to the wrong ACN facsimile number. Nonetheless, to be doubly sure that opt-out information has been properly received, the NYSCA recommends that providers re-fax their opt-out letters again to (763)595-3333, even if you sent an opt-out letter once already. It is the Association’s understanding the correct facsimile number for opting out of this program is (763)595-3333. Remember, this offer on the part of ACN and Aetna is not magnanimous. Everyone, but you and patients injured on the job, may benefit from this program. In theory PPO providers offer their services at a discounted rates with the hope of gaining a larger volume of covered patients attracted by the lower fees which more than offsets the discounts being offered. Although the theory works fine for payers, providers rarely see the boost in practice volume necessary to offset the loss in income from discounting their fees. Keep in mind too, that if you agree to join this Aetna/ACN WC PPO network your fees will be discounted off of the already low NYS WC fee schedule. As NYSCA noted before, one of the most frequent complaints the NYSCA receives questions why the chiropractic WC fees are so low and why they have not increased in more than ten (10) years. Furthermore, it is the NYSCA’s understanding that subsequent to the original ACN/Aetna mailing, ACN/Aetna sent out a revised fee schedule, one that more closely reflects the few services chiropractors can bill for under the NYS WC fee schedule. If you sign onto this program, in effect, you are directing Aetna/ACN to discount your already low WC fees. Caveat Scriptor. Remember too, to beware of fine print with hidden liabilities. By joining the Aetna WC PPO not only will signers discount their fees but they will be subject to other provisions of NYS Law embedded in the WC law. For example, the “Compliance” portion of the Appendix accompanying the ACN/Aetna solicitation references NYS WC Article 10A directing WC PPOs like the ACN/Aetna program to comply with other portions of NYS law, including Article Art 49 of the Public Health Law. Under Art. 49 Aetna/ACN WC PPO are “utilization review agents” required to “determine whether health care services that have been provided, are being provided or are proposed to be provided to a patient . . . are medically necessary.” By signing this agreement you will not only be agreeing to discount your fees but you will be agreeing to whatever treatment parameters Aetna/ACN decide are medically necessary for your injured WC patients. Caveat Scriptor. And as the NYSCA pointed out before, Aetna and ACN are not creating any new lines of business in New York. WC law already requires every employer to cover employee injuries received on-the-job either by self-insuring or through the purchase of WC insurance. Aetna and ACN are not adding any volume of new, untapped patients that you do not have access to already. To the contrary, Aetna and ACN are only creating new lines of business for themselves at your expense. They are offering your services at discounted fee$ to employers with the added prospect that utilization will be controlled as well. This inures to the benefit of Aetna/ACN and employers who contract with their WC PPO.its contracted employers. If you think you deserve le$ or that Aetna/ACN needs more profit at your expense, then . . . Caveat Scriptor. ACN Group has not been telling participating providers that they can opt-out of this program. In order to do so, it is the NYSCA’s understanding that participating providers must affirmatively opt-out by faxing a letter to the ACN Group at (763)595-3333 advising ACN/Aetna them that you “formally withdraw your participation in and from the Aetna Workers’ Compensation Access, LLC Program.” It is also recommended that you make clear your intent to remain in network with any other ACN Group products in which you are currently enrolled, if you choose to do so. Even if you sent an opt-out fax once already to the previous number ACN communicated in error, to be doubly sure your opt-out letter is properly received, the NYSCA recommends that you re-send your opt-out letter to the following number: (763)595-3333. For definitive opt-out information contact ACN Provider Services at 888-676-7768.

Mestan Appointed NYCC Interim EVPAA

With the departure of Dr. Clay McDonald, Dr Michael Mestan has been named New York Chiropractic College’s Interim Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. McDonald now serves as Palmer College of Chiropractic’s new Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer. Mestan arrived in upstate New York in 2002 having previously worked at Parker Chiropractic College chairing the college’s Department of Radiology and directing its Diagnostic Imaging Residency program. Bearing impressive credentials, Mestan came with a Bachelor Degree in Human Anatomy and has earned Diplomate status with the American Chiropractic Board of Radiology and eight years administrative experience. Dr. Mestan says of his work at NYCC, “It is exciting to be able to work at a College with such a rich history as NYCC and serve as part of an administration that provides such a clear and progressive vision.” A national search is being conducted for the Dean of Chiropractic position to oversee academic planning, curriculum development, faculty hiring and associated budgets as they relate to the chiropractic program.

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