Consolidation of Agencies

On July 1, 2004, Governor Rod Blagojevich issued Executive Order 2004-6, which consolidated the Department of Professional Regulation, the Department of Insurance, the Department of Financial Institutions and the Office of Banks and Real Estate into the newly created Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR). Fernando Grillo, Director of the former Department of Professional Regulation, has been appointed to serve as the Secretary of the new "super-agency." Some of you may recall that Col. Mills and I met with then-Director Grillo last year to discuss issues of mutual interest, and we have continued to maintain open and constructive communication with the Department. Secretary Grillo has invited us again to participate in a face-to-face meeting with him in October, and we look forward to having the opportunity to express our views and concerns about the licensure and enforcement of the practice of chiropractic medicine. 

One of the results of the consolidation is that the newly-created "super-agency" is responsible for handling both insurance and licensure issues affecting the profession. One such matter that recently has come to ICS’s attention is the marketing of a professional liability insurance policy that offers lower premiums but requires the doctor and patient to agree that the doctor will not "offer diagnosis or treat any disease." I believe that participating in such a policy could create pitfalls for both civil malpractice claims and unprofessional conduct that could lead to licensure discipline.