WELCOME TO THE PENNSYLVANIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION!
YOUR PCA is working for you in Harrisburg and on Capitol Hill!
A very thoughtfully-stated comment about our newest national holiday, Juneteenth, courtesy of Dr. Charmaine Herman, ICA.
ICA Recognizes Juneteenth with Dr. Charmain Herman
Click on this link to learn much more about this profoundly meaningful and important date in OUR nation’s history:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth
Best wishes for a meaningful and celebratory Juneteenth to you!
MASKING GUIDANCE INFORMATION
The PCA has consistently relied upon Federal and Pennsylvania mandates, guidance and recommendations for COVID-related matters. As of June 28, 2021, Pennsylvania will remove the masking requirements. The PCA sought clarification directly from the Pennsylvania Department of Health as to whether this lifting of the mask mandate applies to chiropractors and other health care providers. Following is the response to PCA’s “mask guidance” question from Dr. Wendy E. Braund, COVID-19 Response Director for the PA DOH:
“Even though the statewide mask mandate will be lifted on June 28, DOH will continue to strongly recommend that healthcare providers follow CDC guidance, which includes the use of PPE by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings.”
Wendy E. Braund, MD, MPH, MSEd, FACPM
COVID-19 Response Director
Pennsylvania Department of Health
As of today, the CDC guidance for use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, has remained unchanged. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-after-vaccination.html#anchor_1619116662704
To access the CDC recommendations, please click on this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html
###
Pennsylvania's acting Secretary of Health said on Thursday that the state will end its masking requirements on June 28, or earlier if the Commonwealth reaches 70 percent of its adult population fully vaccinated.
Get a POSTER for your office to promote HR2654 for Medicare
There is QR code to have patients click the link and then send a message to their Reps in seconds. WANT FULL MEDICARE ACCESS to exams x-rays therapies and to be able to help your Medicare fixed income patients to not have the out of pocket expenses or have to get their x-ray elsewhere? Well this is how you do it! Sample of 1 of 6 versions of the poster is shown, pick the one that "speaks" to you.
The Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association has always recommended that PA DCs follow the recommendations of the CDC and PA Dept. of Health.
Below is the most recent, up-to-date information from the CDC regarding masking and those who are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
These recommendations can help you make decisions about daily activities after you are fully vaccinated. They are not intended for healthcare settings.
###
How the COVID-19 pandemic created a "perfect storm" for opioid addiction
sent by Keith Miller, PCA Vice-President
Medicare FFS Claims: 2% Payment Adjustment (Sequestration) Suspended Through December
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act suspended the sequestration payment adjustment percentage of 2% applied to all Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) claims from May 1 through December 31, 2020. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, extended the suspension period to March 31, 2021. An Act to Prevent Across-the-Board Direct Spending Cuts, and for Other Purposes, signed into law on April 14, 2021, extends the suspension period to December 31, 2021.
Medicare Administrative Contractors will:
· Release any previously held claims with dates of service on or after April 1
· Reprocess any claims paid with the reduction applied
You don’t need to take any action
https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-educationoutreachffsprovpartprogprovider-partnership-email-archive/2021-04-16-mlnc
– Sent to PCA courtesy of Dr. Victor Rizzo
###
Interested in Getting Involved?
PCA 2021- 2022 PRIORITY LEGISLATION:
House Bill 171 of 2021: An Act limiting restrictive covenants in health care practitioner employment agreements.
House Bill 173 of 2021: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in special provisions relating to particular classes of insurers, providing for nondiscrimination by payers in health care benefit plans.
House Bill 225 of 2021: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in quality health care accountability and protection, further providing for definitions, for responsibilities of managed care plans, providing for preauthorization standards and for preauthorization costs, and providing for preauthorization and adverse determinations, for appeals, for uniform preauthorization form, for preauthorization exemptions.
House Bill 325 of 2021: Advisory Opinions from Licensing Boards
House Bill 916 of 2021: An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, in casualty insurance, providing for coverage for nonopioid pain management care.
-
Delegation of Therapeutic Exercise to Unlicensed Personnel (no bill # yet)
-
Parity in Insurer Reimbursements (no bill # yet)
-
PID Direct Oversight and Enforcement Authority of Health Insurers’ Contracted Third Party Administrators (no bill # yet)
Working Groups are Formed! Join YOUR Colleagues! #PCAStrong
The staff at the home office has never been better. Our executive vice president is cordial, respectful, and a true leader who has years of experience which has helped the association greatly over the past number of years.
I'm thankful for the PCA and what we as an association have accomplished to protect the rights of chiropractors to practice as well as protecting the health of individuals throughout our state."
Ed Kropf, DC - Pittsburgh, PA
"As a PCA member over 31 years I have been a distant observer of Chiropractic in our state as well as the several factions of philosophy practiced here. As so far as the PCA is viewed, I feel the current system in place is providing the best communication with it's members. PCA has put into place several terrific members and administration that take on the problems from many fronts, report and attempt to correct/improve the position for the future of Chiropractic in our state.
Good job, you all are doing things so very much better, keep it up!!!"
The level of responsiveness from any direct inquires to the Execs or affiliates(legal, political) has always been unparalleled with Ed Nielson as Executive Director. Whether you are a member or not, you have benefited from battles won by the PCA that may have never crossed your front steps.
The PCA has been a major contributor to my success in practicing in Pennsylvania. I am grateful to serve and more grateful to have such selfless colleagues that freely donate hours and hours of their time for our benefit as Pennsylvania DCs!"
“I am a retired doctor, who was hit with a $17,000 recoupment request from a Pennsylvania health insurer, TWO years after I retired. As a retired-status member, I immediately contacted the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association. PCA’s staff were responsive and very helpful, including referring me to Mr. Jason Martin, PCA’s General Counsel, for a free legal consultation.
After talking at some length with Mr. Martin, he assisted me with the audit and provided very solid advice. I followed his advice and I was able to resolve the audit with the health insurer without any payment on my part. I am thrilled with the supportI was given by PCA staff and General Counsel Martin’s legal advice.
Thanks to my membership in PCA, I received very responsive and immediate support for my problem. Most importantly, my membership in PCA saved me $17,000of my hard-earned money! Thank you, PCA!”
Lori Kalie, DC - Lancaster, PA
"I actually sold my practice. About two hours after you posted the ad, I got a call from a doctor who was interested. He officially took over today. I received quite a number of calls about the practice since the ad was up. The service you provide is valuable, and I just wanted to thank you and the PCA for offering this service."
Brian Meenan, DC - Pittsburgh, PA
"I just started my own practice a couple of months ago. $600 is a bit steep but it is worth it! Charge me monthly, that’d be great."
Strategic Business Partner Spotlight
TJ Billing Company
Experience - Capable - Hands-on Chiropractic Billing
TJ Billing Services provides specialized chiropractic medical billing services for individuals and medical practices and has worked with dozens of organizations for over 10 years. Our remote chiropractic billing solutions will manage your billing needs so you can focus on what matters the most – your patients.
Billing Solutions