President’s Message

As I pen my final article as your ICS President, I am taking a moment to reflect what has happened the past few years.

We were successful in creating an alliance with many deeper pocketed healthcare associations in Springfield to enhance our statehouse presence and impact. Come to find out, we have more in common than we argue over.

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We reversed an earlier decision that disallowed Illinois schools from accepting notes from chiropractic physicians for students and teachers alike. This prevents the embarrassment of having the school principal or gym teacher refusing your note and discrediting you as a doctor.

We joined a class action lawsuit (and are looking to sign on to another) to fight unfair insurance company practices. As a Board, we decided this fight needs to be fought. Too many of our doctors are victims of abuse and can’t fight on their own.

We passed legislation on a chiropractor’s right to delegate certain procedures to his/her staff. This has a huge financial impact on nearly every practice.

We passed legislation that allows the chiropractor the right to counsel patients on OTC medications. It was never intended to be a scope expansion maneuver as theorized by some; but simply a clarification of a gray area in the law. This was a WIN for the profession regardless of practice philosophy.

We passed legislation limiting an insurance company’s ability to recoup paid claims to only 18 months. Prior to our legislation, there were no limits in place. Now, only in the case of proven fraud may an insurance company go back beyond 18 months for claims paid in error.

For brevity’s sake, I’m limiting the highlights to the above.

To borrow from Canfield’s equation of E + R = O, we can rarely control the events that unfold in our lives but we do get to control our response and reaction to them. As a result, we have a great deal of influence on how these outcomes affect us. Your ICS Board takes their role seriously and considerately.

Please know, your ICS Board and Staff have worked very hard to enhance and protect your ability to earn a living practicing chiropractic. The Board is comprised of DCs who volunteer their time away from their practices and their families to represent you. My last Presidential request is this: take a moment and drop a thank you card in the mail to the members of your ICS Board and Staff. They need to know that their efforts don’t go unnoticed and are appreciated. It has been my pleasure to serve alongside some wonderful DCs at the ICS and I am confident that going forward, the Board is under very capable leadership with incoming President, Dr. Julie Bird.

I pray that you enjoy a very Happy Holiday Season!