WELCOME TO THE PENNSYLVANIA CHIROPRACTIC ASSOCIATION!
YOUR PCA is working for you in Harrisburg and on Capitol Hill!
The Bureau of Occupational Affairs has learned of an increase in scams targeting health related licensees.
Scammers are purporting to be from the Bureau of Occupational Affairs board and working with the FBI or the DEA.More information can be found at the link below.The board office would appreciate any assistance in getting this link out to the licensees.PCA statement about providing information to PA DCs
PCA continues to take no position on vaccinations (vaccinations remain the choice of each DC and patient).
All DCs should want to know what the PA Dept of Health announces and their patients might be reading in the national, state and local news, so they are aware of questions about COVID-related issues like expansion of vaccinations and can professionally respond to patients' inquiries.
Pennsylvania Accelerating Vaccine Strategy
March 31, 2021
Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health (DOH) in conjunction with the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force today announced the start of the special initiative to vaccinate targeted industry workers and to accelerate the vaccination timetable for those in Phases 1B, 1C and 2. All Pennsylvanians will be eligible to schedule vaccination appointments beginning April 19.
“The vaccine landscape continues to evolve as the federal government is increasing allocations to more retail pharmacy chains across the country,” Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said. “To ensure that vaccine continues to get to people efficiently and equitably, Pennsylvania is adapting its plan to allow workers in targeted industries to access any of the three vaccines available at providers throughout the state, and to accelerate our eligibility for remaining phases of the state’s vaccination plan.
“Pennsylvania’s vaccine providers have dramatically stepped up the pace of vaccinations to an average of 83,000 per day, moving the keystone state higher and higher in the rankings with other states. As we complete Phase 1A vaccinations, it’s time to open eligibility to more Pennsylvanians so providers can continue to fill appointments and efficiently, effectively and equitably vaccinate more people every day.”
Pennsylvania will begin the following accelerated phased rollout:
· March 31 workers in the four targeted industries that Gov. Wolf and the Task Force announced on March 12:
o Law enforcement, which includes police, sheriffs and deputies, constables, corrections officers and staff, as well as probation and parole staff.
o Firefighters, including career and volunteer firefighters.
o Grocery Store workers, including all workers in supermarkets and grocery stores.
o Food and Agriculture workers, including all food processing company employees, including meat, poultry, and dairy processing, fresh fruit and vegetable packing operations, food manufacturing, all farmworkers, farm operators, and farm managers, including at urban agriculture operations.
· April 5 all residents in Phase 1B will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.
· April 12 all residents in Phase 1C will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.
· April 19, all residents will be eligible to start scheduling vaccination appointments.
“It is important to remember that eligibility does not guarantee an immediate vaccination appointment,” Beam said. “Vaccine providers are ready and eager to get a shot in the arm of every person who wants one while we continue to aggressively advocate for more vaccine.”
COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force members discussed the benefits of the accelerated plan.
“President Biden has asked us to make every adult eligible for vaccination with the vaccine he is providing,” said Sen. Art Haywood. “We can do it, we can make the change. We can get more vaccine to Southeast PA and across the commonwealth and target vaccine, so no one is left out.”
“Due to the successful implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force’s revised strategic plan, along with an increasing supply of vaccine doses from the federal government and the tremendous work of our provider network, Pennsylvania is now in a position to pursue an aggressive timeline to ensure any Pennsylvanians who wants to be vaccinated is eligible to do so by April 19,” said Sen. Ryan Aument. “As we expand eligibility, we must not forget about our seniors and our commitment to prioritize them and others in Phase 1A, as well as our frontline workers such as law enforcement and first responders in Phase 1B.”
“We can meet President Biden ‘s request with the amount of vaccines he is providing,” Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski said. “Pennsylvania has done the work to make this a reality. I have said time and time again that this will get better, and it is. Our dedicated providers, who are on the ground every day, Governor Wolf’s administration, and our task force have collaboratively worked together in prioritizing the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians.”
“Today is a day of hope and optimism,” said Rep. Tim O’Neal. “Earlier this month, we announced plans to prioritize our essential workers and first responders by offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to them in the coming weeks. We have now done that today. In addition, we have set a timeline so that anyone who wants the vaccine will get able to begin scheduling their appointment at the latest by April 19. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter every day.”
Residents should continue to use the Department of Health’s Vaccine Provider Map to find a vaccine provider nearest them. The department will continue to update the map as the federal government increases the number of pharmacy chains receiving vaccine through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership.
People without internet access can contact the Health Hotline by calling 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258).
MEDIA CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo - ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
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U.S. Senate Passes Substitute Version of H.R. 1868
The House-passed version postponed the 2% Medicare sequestration cuts scheduled for April 1 - December 31, 2021. It also included protection from the 4% Medicare PAYGO sequestration cuts associated with the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
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Starting Today: Learn ACA HIPAA Series
A free, four-part overview of the implications of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
TODAY
HIPAA Series Part 1: The HIPAA Privacy Rule – Overview and Individual Rights
Rachel Lips, JD | Hyla Schreurs, JD
The first session in this series will provide an overview of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and who is covered by HIPAA. The speakers will discuss the key provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, with an in-depth discussion of an individual’s right to access their medical record.
COMING UP IN THE HIPAA SERIES
HIPAA Series Part 2: Overview of the HIPAA Security Rule
This session will provide an overview of the HIPAA Security Rule. The speakers will discuss the type of information that is covered by the rule; the standards and implementation specifications outlined in the rule; and necessary administrative, physical and technical safeguards. Participants will also receive links to helpful Security Rule resources.
HIPAA Series Part 3: Overview of the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule
The third session in the HIPPA Series will provide an overview of the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule. The speakers will discuss the definition of a breach; when a breach needs to be reported; and what happens when the HHS Office for Civil Rights receives a breach report.
HIPAA Part 4: Overview of HIPAA Enforcement
This session will provide an overview of HIPAA enforcement by the HHS Office for Civil Rights. The speakers will discuss current compliance trends as well as recent enforcement actions.
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PA State Board Chair Halloran Emphatically Reminds DCs About Their CV19 Responsibilities
Imperative that DCs Maintain Adequate Patient, Doctor and Staff Safety Measures
The PA State Board of Chiropractic Examiners convened in a "virtual meeting" on Thursday, March 11, 2021 to address a variety of issues.
In his report to the Board, Chair J. Gerald Halloran, DC (Philadelphia) took a moment to emphatically remind ALL PA-licensed DCs of the importance of masking, social distancing and disinfecting. The state licensing board doesn’t “interpret or come up with its own regulations." It only follows the mandate.
Dr. Halloran stated a clear and urgent warning to licensees to wear masks, enforce social distancing and disinfect offices at all times and until Governor Wolf eases the current COVID-19 rules and restrictions.
Dr. Halloran further noted that DCs in violation of the Governor's orders are being reported to the PA Department of Health. In those cases, the PA State Board of Chiropractic is then made aware of such violations and mandated to investigate and where appropriate, impose punishment on offending doctors. And, he noted, they are getting too many complaints about DCs who are being investigated for board action.
PCA reminds all DCs to be patient-centered and safe by masking, distancing and disinfecting, for their patients, their staffs, their families and themselves.
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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.
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Delegation of Therapeutic Exercise to Unlicensed Personnel (no bill # yet)
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Parity in Insurer Reimbursements (no bill # yet)
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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
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Experience ~ Trust ~ Strength ~ Choice
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