Board of Directors

August 1, 2002

Minutes

The following are informative minutes of the February 7, 2002 meeting of the WCA Board of Directors. Please 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 8:00 a.m. by WCA President Sherry Walker, DC at the WCA building in Madison. All members present.

Motion Moved by McMahon, seconded by Lyne to approve the minutes of the June 6, 2002 meeting. Motion carried.

Barrett Presentation Congressman Tom Barrett made a presentation to the board regarding his candidacy for Governor. During his presentation he discussed several issues important to the chiropractic profession. These included:

• While there was not much time left in Washington, he committed to trying to achieve Medicare reimbursement for all chiropractic services covered under our scope of practice.
• If elected Governor, Barrett would like to abolish the Insurance Commissioner’s Office and replace it with an agency that is oriented to consumer/patient concerns.
• He indicated a solid working knowledge of the operations of the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council and the importance to have the voice of providers heard as part of that process. He committed to restoring the full participation of providers in the WCAC process.
• Barrett discussed to importance of having a solid working relationship between the Department of Regulation & Licensing and the WCA. He is committed to examining board appointments that reflect his goal of constructive cooperation between DORL and the health care professions they oversee.

Financial Secretary’s Agenda The board acted on requests for membership related activities.

Motion Moved by Douglas, seconded by Varish to hold the 2003 Spring Convention in Green Bay. Motion carried.

Financial Report The outside CPA firm engaged by the WCA to review its 2001 financial statements has completed its review. The WCA received an excellent report by the auditors.

Continuing Education The examining board has issued an opinion that DCs who have a 12-hour training program and CAs that have a 6 hour training program may perform surface electromyography. In addition, the examining board stated that needle electromyography may only be utilized by chiropractors that have a neurology diplomate. The WCA plans to survey its members to determine the amount of interest for an SEMG program.

Spring Convention The WCA will hold a Spring Convention in Green Bay in 2003. Dates and location to be announced.

Medicare ABN Forms CMS has indicated that the new ABN form will be required in October of 2002. When the actual date becomes official, the WCA will re-distribute the form to its members along with a complete explanation of its use.

Soft Tissue Coding The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued new software used by many insurance companies to process claims and corrected an error in the use of the 97140, 97124, and 97112 codes.

Medicare software (known as the NCCI edits) had incorrectly stated that these codes could never be used when an adjustment was performed on the same day of service. Version 8.1 of the NCCI edits allows these codes to be used on the same day as a chiropractic adjustment under limited circumstances. The WCA wrote to its members in June about how to properly use the codes.

Insurance Company Claim Processing Procedures

The WCA is interested in receiving examples of EOBs in which care was turned down by an insurance company before clinical documentation was requested. We would like to review each case to determine if any Wisconsin insurance laws were violated. Please send any examples you may have from January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2002 to the WCA office.

PBS Broadcast

The board noted the response sent by the ICA on the PBS broadcast that was exceedingly negative towards the chiropractic profession. When members called about the broadcast, the WCA requested a copy of the show so that it could issue a detailed response. Unfortunately, a tape could not be obtained. Board members will ask their districts to mail a copy to the WCA office if one is available.

2002 Awards

The Board spent considerable time in discussing the recipients of this years' WCA awards. They will be announced on Friday at the Fall Convention.

Innovative Healthcare Solutions

The board heard a report on Innovative Healthcare Solutions request to place advertising in the Wisconsin Chiropractor. Based on the uncertainly over whether their marketing approach violates Wisconsin laws against fee splitting the board, the executive director requested HIS to obtain a letter from the Department of Regulation & Licensing approving its marketing methods before the advertising would be accepted.

Referral Directory

The 2002 Referral Directory will close on Friday August 9, 2002.

WCRI

The board was given a copy of the Worker’s Compensation Research Institute’s study. It will be discussed at the September board meeting.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:15 p.m.