Board of Directors

February 7, 2002

Minutes

 

 

The following are informative minutes of the February 7, 2002 meeting of the WCA Board of Directors. Pleas note that these minutes may not cover all of the subjects discussed or motions passed by the board. The portion of the minutes dealing with confidential attorney-client communications, personnel issues, legislative strategies, communications with legislators, communications with government employees, political contribution strategies and specific complaints or information about individual practitioners is considered confidential by the board. WCA members may obtain detailed minutes by contacting the WCA office.

 

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by WCA President Sherry Walker, DC at the WCA building in Madison. All board members present.

 

Minutes of the December 6, 2001 Meeting

 

Moved by McGinnis, seconded by Lyne to approve the minutes of the December 6, 2001 meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Financial Secretary’s Agenda

 

Moved by McMahon, seconded by Henrichs to approve the following:

 

Applicants seeking regular membership:      

 

            Matthew J. Amman, DC                      Cottage Grove

            Jamie L. Blechschmidt, DC                River Falls

            Bradley R. Bosma, DC                       Appleton

Christopher C. Brown, DC                 Portage

John P. Corsi, DC                               Milwaukee

Matthew D. DiPiazza                          Fitchburg

Thomas W. Feldman, DC                  Stoughton

Kimberly A. Francis, DC                     Marinette

Christopher L. Gilge, DC                    Wausau

Cory L. Gosso, DC                             Amery

George J. Hanacik, DC                       Waukesha

Jamie L. Hollis-Heiman, DC               Glencoe, MN

Grant W. Hutchins, DC                       Baldwin

Jason K. Klipsic, DC                           Bloomington, MN

Patrick J. Kolashinski, DC                  Hudson

Jason A. Lang, DC                              Waupaca

Monica E. Maroney, DC                      Milwaukee

Michelle L. McCormack, DC               West Bend

Barbara J. Meldonia, DC                     Oconto

Frederick E. Novak, DC                      Fort Atkinson

Mark G. Oas, DC                                Eau Claire

Treva E. Rademaker, DC                   Waukesha

Corey J. Schneider, DC                      New Holstein

Todd M. Shulfer, DC                           Neenah

Brenda J. White, DC                           Dodgeville

 

Applicants seeking student membership:     

 

            Angela M. Engel                                  Northwestern

            Pamela J. Gehin                                 Palmer

Mozelle L. Stoiber                               Palmer

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

Financial Report

 

The board discussed the deteriorating financial condition of the Minnesota Chiropractic Association and the letter the MCA sent to its members requesting a $300 contribution to help them overcome their current financial difficulties.

 

An announcement was made that the WCA has opened its first website available at www.wisconsinchiropractic.com .The board discussed the year end financial results of the association. There were no unexpected expenses.

 

Moved by Varish, seconded by Lyne to approve the financial report. Motion carried unanimously.

 

City of LaCrosse Chiropractic Coverage Grievance

 

The board discussed the grievance won by City of LaCrosse employees over their chiropractic coverage. The arbitrator stated that “contrary to the City’s claim [the dispute] does not center on the very narrow question of whether individual employees are or are not entitled to chiropractic care because it is “medically necessary” under the current health plan. Instead, the larger issue here turns on whether the City has violated the past practice and the party’s agreements by changing the interpretation and application of the tern “medically necessary”.

 

Future of Chiropractic Article

 

The first item discussed by the board was the results of the Wisconsin Chiropractor survey. With the exception of the proposal surrounding nutritional supplements there was strong support for each of the initiatives. While the board is interested in surveys such as this, the board also recognized that it is there responsibility to make decisions that are in the best long term interests of the profession regardless of survey results.

 

The board focused its attention on the fears chiropractors had regarding a “duty to refer”. Information was brought forward by various board members that a duty to refer was not much more significant that the current “duty to inform” and, that the WCA would begin efforts to introduce chiropractors to medical doctors that respected the work of the chiropractic profession

 

As the discussion progressed to the other topics in the article, it was suggested that the WCA might ask the colleges/universities to develop a clinical specialty in weight management to address this clinical need in chiropractic patients.

 

Moved by Mache, seconded by Henrichs to discuss at district meetings the potential of adding a legislative “duty to refer” for chiropractors in Wisconsin. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Moved by Varish, seconded by Henrichs to discuss all the subjects in the Future of Chiropractic article at district meetings. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Speakers

 

The WCA is still seeking speakers for the 2002 Fall Convention.

 

Moved by Varish, seconded by Davis to offer exercise rehabilitation courses for CAs. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Croft Guidelines

 

Unanimous consent to table the discussion of the Croft Guidelines to the March meeting.

 

Insurance Commissioner

 

The board received a report that the Insurance Commissioner’s Office responded to a complaint from the WCA against WPS and Physicians Plus by stating that theses insurance companies did not violated an insurance law or regulations. In response the board reviewed the avenues the patient has when claims are denied including the use of the new Independent Review  process.

 

Patient Satisfaction Surveys

 

Unanimous consent to table the discussion of patient satisfaction surveys to the March meeting .

 

Medicare ABN’s

 

The board discussed the WCA request of Medicare to allow modifications to the ABN so that a range of treatment dates could be covered with a single signature; or that multiple signatures could be on a single ABN form.

 

Health Care Spending Accounts

 

The board discussed a Wall Street Journal article that described patient spending accounts for health care which appeared to be gathering acceptance around the country. It was noted that these spending accounts were not yet available in Wisconsin to the board’s knowledge.

 

Blue Cross Integration Program

 

The board discussed the settlement reached between the ACA and Blue Cross. The settlement terms would not appear to affect Wisconsin chiropractors.

 

ACA Council Name Change

 

The ACA requested the board’s opinion on a potential name change for the ACA Council on Physiological therapeutics. The board had no opinion.

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:30 p.m.