Chiropractic News

Association of New Jersey Chiropractors BringsClass Action Suit against Aetna for Post Payment Audit Practices

July 31, 2009, 10:18 am

Branchburg, NJ (July 30, 2009) – The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC), one of the largest chiropractic state associations in the nation, today announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Aetna

seeking nationwide relief on behalf of chiropractors and other healthcare professionals.

The ANJC retained the law firm of Buttaci & Leardi, LLC, in concert with the renowned class action law firm of Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP, to investigate and file the lawsuit, which challenges Aetna’s

improper recoupment demands on chiropractors and other healthcare providers.  The action alleges that Aetna’s post-payment audit process is violative of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”),

and further alleges that Aetna’s post-payment audit process and its pre-payment claim review process violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”).  The action also attacksAetna’s clinical policy bulletins

that are used to deny services retroactively. 

D Henry Leavitt

July 28, 2009, 8:57 am

With deep regret we announce the passing of D Henry Leavitt, ChiroCode Institute President/CEO and founder. He died on July 21, 2009 in Phoenix, due to complications from a stroke.

"Mr. Leavitt" was a friend to all. He spent his entire life helping others. His influence touched thousands of people for good.

We are happy for Henry and for the wonderful life he lived, but sad for us with the hole we feel in our lives. However, his vision of helping others is alive and well. He prepared us all for the time that he would no longer be with us. The ChiroCode Institute will continue to "help doctors get paid."

SDCA Group Disability premium increase begins August 1, 2009

July 28, 2009, 8:54 am

Dear SDCA members,

This letter is to inform you of a rate increase for the SDCA Group Disability premium.  This rate increase will begin August 1st, 2009.  Currently your cost is (regardless of age or sex) $19 per month per $1,000 of monthly benefit.  The increase will bring the $19 to $20.  Example:

International Chiropractors Association National Healthcare Reform Update

July 28, 2009, 8:51 am

Congressional Delays and Division on National Health Care Reform Extend Window of Opportunity for Chiropractic:  The chiropractic profession, working in a cooperative effort through the Chiropractic Summit, has been given additional time to secure the inclusion in health care reform legislation of legislative language that fully protects patients’ rights and secures for all the unhindered choice of providers and care pathways.  A massive effort will be mounted during the August recess to connect and educate both House and Senate Members on what needs to be included in any final health care reform bill, if the rights and personal freedoms of Americans are to be truly protected.

National Health Reform Update Report Issued July 24, 2009:

July 28, 2009, 8:47 am

Background:

Efforts to advance a comprehensive national health reform bill through Congress on the timeline originally set by President Obama and Democrat Congressional leaders, have run into a series of obstacles, including growing concerns by centrist Democrats and others in Congress, that a massive expansion of health care benefits for millions of Americans currently without healthcare coverage would add dramatically to the federal budget deficit and would not be economically sustainable.  Concerns about paying for the expansion have ballooned since release of the draft text of the House Tri-Committee reform bill and passage of reform bill out of the Senate HELP Committee earlier this month.  For these and other reasons, it is now abundantly clear that the Senate will fail to pass a bill prior to the scheduled August congressional recess and House action on a bill by this date looks seriously in doubt, even though President Obama as recently as July 22, addressed the nation on the need to rapidly adopt a national reform bill. Given the growing controversy over the issue, no enactment of a final reform bill into law is expected until the fall of 2009 at the earliest.  As a practical matter, the delays now facing Congress mean the ACA and the chiropractic community as a whole will have additional opportunities, especially during the August recess, to lobby Congress on issues of specific concern to the profession.