It seems hard to believe that it’s been three months since the end of the 2020 legislative session, and it’s been a while since I’ve provided an update.

I know you can all relate when I say that navigating the weekly, sometimes daily, changing directives in running a chiropractic practice during this COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and time-consuming. Most of us have been working hard to manage and mitigate our losses, which has included applying for the SBA Paycheck Protection and EIDL loans. We’ve been there for our patients who need us! If you have received a Paycheck Protection Program loan, the WSCA is preparing a video with information you need to know about PPP loan forgiveness — getting that process right is important for loan forgiveness. Watch for information coming from the WSCA.

On a positive note, good things have happened and continue to be happening on legislative and administrative fronts. I’m pleased to report that chiropractic and our patients fared well during the 2020 state legislative session. Two important bills passed – one regulating benefit managers and the other regarding prior authorization – and both were signed into law by the governor. The prior authorization law becomes effective June 11, 2020 and the benefit manager bill will be implemented on January 1, 2022. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) has taken up our complaints against Kaiser and Aetna regarding unfair payment practices.  Thus far, as a result of OIC’s review, Kaiser has recently retroactively made additional payments to chiropractors for previously provided spinal manipulation services; we expect to hear soon in regard to E&M and other services that Kaiser has refused to reimburse chiropractors for.  We understand that OIC is still reviewing and communicating with Aetna on these same issues.

Here’s a summary of each bill passed in 2020:

2SSB 5601– Regulating Benefit Managers

Gives OIC regulatory oversight over health care benefit managers. These are entities like Evicore, Tivity, Optum and ASHN, which routinely and arbitrarily deny patients access to their chiropractic benefits with no accountability.

2SSB 5887– Prior Authorization

Provides access to up to six (6) visits of care without prior authorization for each episode to each of the following: a chiropractor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, acupuncturist, massage

2SSB 5887– Prior Authorization

therapist and speech and hearing therapists.  Importantly:  A new episode is defined as 90 days without treatment for the same condition.  The intent of the legislation is to also allow an episode of 6 visits not requiring prior authorization for treatment of a new condition not previously treated, if the patient is currently treating for a different condition.

You can see the full text of both these bills at at this link..

I understand that we’re in very challenging times (strangest in my lifetime). The reality is none of this changes the fact that we have a major election in November 2020 and there are key state House and Senate races up for election. Our continued success depends on our continued involvement in the legislative process. It’s about having friends in the state Legislature who understand and appreciate what we do as chiropractors — every day — to improve the health of our patients.  Simple as that!

I also understand that the political division in our country is probably as high as you can get on the Richter scale. Please remember that the Washington State Chiropractic Trust (WSCT) and Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) function as special interest entities for Chiropractic.  We are bipartisan, we have members and contributors from both sides and in the middle. We’re about strategic positioning legislatively to win as a profession and for our patients. We have friends on both sides of the aisle.

I invite you to learn more about our legislative efforts by attending a virtual Go2Meeting, presented by WSCA lobbyist Lori Grassi.  They are organized by WSCA Legislative District – but anyone is welcome to attend any session. You can earn 1.5 CE credits by attending, but to receive the CE credits, you must register. You can register at www.chirohealth.org/events/event_list.asp

We have the following sessions coming up:

Tuesday, July 21 at  noon     Central King County

Thursday, July 23 at 10 AM   Thurston & South Pierce Counties

Thursday, July 23 at 2 PM     Chelan, Kittitas, Eastern Pierce and Eastern King Counties

Your financial support of the WSCT and membership in the WSCA is EVERYTHING! You have and will continue to benefit from EVERYTHING that we do.  If you have donated recently and/or are a regular contributor to the WSCT, it is appreciated, and it makes a difference. You can also click on the DONATE button to make either a one-time or recurring donation.And you can become a WSCA member by filling out the membership application at www.chirohealth.org/page/join_wsca.

— Dave Butters, WSCT President

The 2020 session of the Washington State Legislature is fast approaching, and it’s critical that you learn more about the issues impacting your practice – and how you can support the Washington State Chiropractic Trust’s efforts to protect chiropractic and our patients.

We have scheduled several two-hour legislative and policy update seminars for chiropractors in specific legislative districts (see information below). These seminars are free, and you can receive 2 CE credits attending. WSCA lobbyist Lori Grassi will discuss a range of important issues, including which Washington State laws protect your patients’ access to chiropractic care, an update on bills that passed and failed during the 2019 legislative session, and chiropractic legislative priorities for 2020.  You will also receive current details on our challenges to the Kaiser E&M payment and other insurance-related issues.

Here’s a recap of our 2020 legislative agenda, as approved by the Washington State Chiropractic Association Board of Directors:

Legislation:

1) Regulating Benefit Managers (ASHN, Tivity, eviCore, Optum)

2) Prior authorization (clarifying “episode of care”)

3) Medicaid inclusion of chiropractors

Policy:

1) Monitoring the implementation of SB 5380, passed during the 2019 session, which addresses prescription opioid misuse via prevention, education and treatment.

2) Tracking the details and service area requirements for a program in underserved communities that would make chiropractors eligible for student loan repayment.

3) Monitoring the progress of Cascade Care, the state’s new public option health plan and the state’s new Universal Health Plan Work Group. Making every effort to maintain access to chiropractic services consistent with statutory protections, such as Every Category of Provider.

Insurance:

Continue to challenge unfair practices regarding chiropractic coverage and push for fair laws.

It is important that all chiropractors connect now with their state senators and representatives. Those relationships will be important as we begin meeting with lawmakers to get support for our issues in 2020. Invite your legislators to coffee or lunch or take them on a tour of your office. It’s all about educating them about what you do to provide health and wellness care in your community.

You can find the names and contact information of your legislators here.

We have numerous requests from legislators for campaign contributions, and we need to make those contributions soon to meet the campaign contribution cutoff date. Our strong financial participation in key campaigns is critical to successfully moving our agenda. We need donations now!

Click DONATE to make a one-time contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or sign up for monthly credit card withdrawals. If you prefer, you can do the same by filling out and returning the enclosed contribution envelope.

Here’s a list of the legislative information sessions scheduled so far. Please note that while they are scheduled by district, chiropractors from any area are welcome to attend. You can register online by date at www.chirohealth.org/events/event_list.asp or you can call the WSCA office at (206) 878-6055. Meals are available for purchase at each venue.

Legislative District 1 – Bothell
Monday, Oct. 14, 2019

Revolve Restaurant
10024 Main St.
Bothell, WA 98011
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Legislative District 34 – Burien
Monday, Oct. 21, 2019

Angelo’s of Burien
601 S.W. 153rd St.
Burien
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Legislative District 12 – East Wenatchee
Friday, Oct. 25, 2019

Shari’s
501 Valley Mall Parkway
East Wenatchee, WA 98802
509-886-9502
Noon-2 p.m.

Fall is right around the corner, then the holidays, then the New Year and then the 2020 legislative session.  This means that we are working hard to lay the groundwork to move our legislative agenda in the 2020 session of the Washington State Legislature.

Our 2020 agenda as approved by the Washington State Chiropractic Association Board of Directors includes:

Legislation:

• Regulating Benefit Managers (ASHA, Tivity, eviCore, Optum)
• Prior authorization (clarifying “episode of care”)
• Medicaid inclusion of chiropractors

Policy:

• Monitoring the implementation of SB 5380, passed during the 2019 session, which addresses prescription opioid misuse via prevention, education and treatment. There is huge opportunity here as its clear legislative intent is that patients be directed toward trials of non-drug treatment prior to opioid prescriptions being administered.
• Tracking the details and service area requirements for a program in underserved communities that would make chiropractors eligible for student loan repayment.
• Monitoring the progress of Cascade Care, the state’s new public option health plan and the state’s new Universal Health Plan Work Group. Making every effort to maintain access to chiropractic services consistent with statutory protections, such as Every Category of Provider.  So much to keep track of!

Insurance:

• Continue to challenge unfair practices regarding chiropractic coverage and push for fair laws.

While many of us are still enjoying summer activities, the January 2020 legislative session will be here before we know it! I encourage all chiropractors to connect now with their state senators and representatives.  Those relationships will be important as we begin meeting with lawmakers to get support for our issues in 2020. Invite your legislators to coffee or lunch or take them on a tour of your office.  It’s all about educating them about what you do to provide health and wellness care in your community.

You can find the names and contact information of your legislators here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/.

We have numerous requests from legislators for campaign contributions.  To move our agenda successfully we must participate financially and at a grass roots level.  We can’t be successful without your contributions!

If you are a regular WSCT contributor, it is appreciated. If you haven’t donated, please do so now!  Click here to make either a one-time or recurring donation.  Or, if you prefer, fill out and return the enclosed contribution envelope. You can make a one-time contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $100 or you can sign up for monthly credit card withdrawals.

Finally, here’s a reminder to place the WSCA’s Annual Fall Conference on your calendar.  It will be October 4-5 at Bellevue Marriott, and you can earn up to 25 CEs. Continuing education topics include:

• Today’s Chiropractor on the Witness Stand: Presenting and Defending Treatment of Acute and Chronic Injuries, with featured speakers Richard Adler, JD and Dan Murphy, DC, DABCO
• Current Evidence-Based Approach to Diagnosis, Triage, and Clinical Chiropractic Management of Common Lumbar Spine Conditions, with Anthony Lisi, DC
• Establishing Trust with Patients through Professional Marketingby Siouxsie Jennett

Learn more and register at www.chirohealth.org/wsca19. Hope to see you there!

— Dr. Dave Butters, President
Washington State Chiropractic Trust

We have urgent, unfinished business.

That’s my simple message as we prepare to advocate once again for chiropractic during the 2019 Washington State Legislature.

Yes, we achieved tremendous gains during the 2018 session, including fair pay regarding spinal manipulation (which becomes effective Jan. 1, 2019) and six visits without prior authorization for each new episode of care, new episode = 90 days with no treatment for same condition (in effect since June 6, 2018).

Now, in this critical mid-term election year we must support those state legislators who supported us. To complete our contribution objectives we need to raise an additional $30,000 between now and the general election. Our legislative strength and effectiveness depends on this!

You can learn more about the legislators we are supporting in this online WSCA Election Guide.

Our main priority for the 2019 legislative session, as outlined by the WSCA Board of Directors, is to emphasize drugless services to combat the opioid crisis: This proposed legislation is modeled after legislation that passed in West Virginia this year. This bill is intended to do three things:

1) Require health plans to increase their visit limits to 20 for drugless services such as chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage therapy and occupational therapy.

2) Require the copay for these drugless services to be the same as Primary Care services.

3) Require patients who seek opioid services/prescriptions to first visit for a trial of care at least one of the named drugless providers prior to receiving an opioid prescription.

We have expended enormous political capital to achieve our latest legislative wins, and much will be expected of us. I can’t stress enough how important it is to donate to the Trust, to help elect those who support chiropractic. Your donations ensure that we have access to legislators who are in a position to help our profession and our patients.

If you have contributed recently and/or are a regular contributor to the WSCT, it is appreciated and makes a difference.  If you haven’t contributed, I urge you to do so today. Just click on the DONATE button.

Make a one-time contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, or $100, or sign up for monthly credit card withdrawals: $100, $50 or $25.

— By Dr. Dave Butters, President
Washington State Chiropractic Trust