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A recent bulletin from UnitedHealthcare has announced it will no
longer be covering chiropractic care for children. This announcement comes
without substantial reasoning or evidence. It also appears discriminatory,
considering the numerous off-label drugs for children covered by their policies.
Chiropractic political organizations have forwarded their statements to UHC,
however consumer/ parental participation is necessary! These insurance
conglomerates need to know we are appalled by their unfair double standards.
They need to know that they cannot limit our rights as parents to choose the
care we want for our families! They need to know they are not intimidating us,
rather they are revealing their real motive: profit and alliance with Big Pharma.
Their unfounded and unprecedented actions needs to be addressed immediately.
Experimental and Investigational
The editorial in the current issue of Pathways (#15) addresses this issue as
well. It can be accessed on the Pathways web site here:
http://www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org/references/references_15.html
In previous Family Wellness First E-newsletter we warned parents about the
writing on the wall.
Read the archives here:
http://www.icpa4kids.org/wellness/0011.htm and here:
http://www.icpa4kids.org/wellness/0012.htm
Because the ICPA has seen this coming it has formed the largest Practiced Based
Research Network (PBRN) in the chiropractic profession. A PBRN is the
opportunity to collect data from our practices and prove what we have known for
over 100 years: Chiropractic Care for Children is Safe and Effective.
Our current survey study addressing this topic reveals outstanding preliminary
data. To read our press release and the abstracts which have been accepted for
publication visit this link on our doctor's web site.
http://www.icpa4kids.com/research/updates/archives/Research_Update_008.htm
What's a parent to do?
Here are several suggestions for you to insure unbiased health care for your
children:
1- Write a letter to UnitedHealthcare (see example below) and let them know you
will not tolerate this discrimination. Do this regardless if they are your
insurance carrier - they need to know that as a consumer you would not consider
them for coverage because of their unsubstantiated, unprofessional behaviors.
2- Forward this free e-newsletter to all parents you know who are concerned with
upholding their rights to maintain Freedom for Health Care for their families.
Encourage them to sign up for future news alerts on our public web site here:
http://www.icpa4kids.org/e-news.htm
3- Subscribe to Pathways magazine and receive leading edge resources and
articles about your families' wellness:
http://www.pathwaystofamilywellness.org/index.html
The ICPA is a non-profit organization and proceeds from Pathways support the
ICPA mission of Research and Public Education.
4- Encourage your doctor of chiropractic to participate in the ICPA Practiced
Based Research Network. We need data from thousands of practices so that the
safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care cannot be disputed!
Doctors can sign up for the PBRN here:
http://www.icpa4kids.com/research/PBRN/PBRN_Join.htm
5- Make a donation to the only research in chiropractic securing your rights to
choose care for your family:
https://secure.icpa4kids.com/ICPA_donation.htm
6- Encourage your doctor of chiropractic to have these sample letters in his/her
office for all parents to sign and mail to UHC.
Sample letter to use for consumers who are subscribed to UnitedHealthcare
insurance.
Mr. Robert J. Sheehy
Chief Executive Officer
UnitedHealthcare
450 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103
RE: United Healthcare Network Bulletin, Volume 21, September 2007. "United
Healthcare had previously concluded that certain services provided as a part of
chiropractic care were unproven. A recent review of the clinical evidence in
published peer-reviewed medical literature leads us to further conclude that
chiropractic services for treatment of children and adolescents is unproven and
services for treatment of headaches is unproven."
Dear Mr. Sheehy,
I am aware of your new policy refusing chiropractic care for children under the
age of 21. As a subscriber to UHC, I am questioning my decision to renew my
policy with you and I find your recent special bulletin to be discriminatory
considering the numerous services you cover which are considered "off label" and
even unsafe for children.
I am aware that UHC’s new standards concerning research and new announced policy
were not applied in equal fashion across the spectrum of healthcare professions.
In fact, if every licensed profession were held to the same unrealistic standard
being imposed on the chiropractic profession, virtually no treatment or drug
would be reimbursable by UHC.
I am aware that you made this decision without consulting any major chiropractic
organization for their input in regards to this unprecedented denial of benefits
to adolescents and children and I am concerned over this apparent exclusion of
expertise in your decision.
I am aware that every major chiropractic organization has requested the
immediate rescission of the above-referenced policy and I, too expect the same.
I am also aware that these organizations have offered their assistance to
provide whatever input your organization may need to craft policies that are
reflective of health needs of chiropractic patients under your programs.
Additionally, UHC failed to consider that evidence/research is only one facet of
a best practice strategy in clinical practice. Other equally important elements
include clinical decision-making/experience, patient values, documentation,
process of care, response to care, and risk stratification. Over-reliance on
literature is impractical in a clinical setting where unique patient attributes
often exceed the strict controls found in most randomized controlled trials.
I suggest that you specifically contact the International Chiropractic Pediatric
Association, the largest chiropractic pediatric organization in chiropractic and
examine their current Practiced Based Research projects and the preliminary
findings on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for children. They
can be reached via their web site: www.icpa4kids.com or by phone: 610-565-2360.
Whereas I expect constructive dialog to occur, I also expect immediate
rescission of this policy as I find it to be inappropriate to deny needed care
for our children.
Sincerely,
Sample letter to use for consumers who are NOT subscribed to UnitedHealthcare
insurance.
Mr. Robert J. Sheehy
Chief Executive Officer
UnitedHealthcare
450 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103
RE: United Healthcare Network Bulletin, Volume 21, September 2007. "United
Healthcare had previously concluded that certain services provided as a part of
chiropractic care were unproven. A recent review of the clinical evidence in
published peer-reviewed medical literature leads us to further conclude that
chiropractic services for treatment of children and adolescents is unproven and
services for treatment of headaches is unproven."
Dear Mr. Sheehy,
I am aware of your new policy refusing chiropractic care for children under the
age of 21. As a potential subscriber to UHC, I am questioning my decision to
ever consider subscribing with your company. I find your recent special bulletin
to be discriminatory considering the numerous services you cover which are
considered "off label" and even unsafe for children.
I am aware that UHC’s new standards concerning research and new announced policy
were not applied in equal fashion across the spectrum of healthcare professions.
In fact, if every licensed profession were held to the same unrealistic standard
being imposed on the chiropractic profession, virtually no treatment or drug
would be reimbursable by UHC.
I am aware that you made this decision without consulting any major chiropractic
organization for their input in regards to this unprecedented denial of benefits
to adolescents and children and I am concerned over this apparent exclusion of
expertise in your decision.
I am aware that every major chiropractic organization has requested the
immediate rescission of the above-referenced policy and I, too expect the same.
I am also aware that these organizations have offered their assistance to
provide whatever input your organization may need to craft policies that are
reflective of health needs of chiropractic patients under your programs.
Additionally, UHC failed to consider that evidence/research is only one facet of
a best practice strategy in clinical practice. Other equally important elements
include clinical decision-making/experience, patient values, documentation,
process of care, response to care, and risk stratification. Over-reliance on
literature is impractical in a clinical setting where unique patient attributes
often exceed the strict controls found in most randomized controlled trials.
I suggest that you specifically contact the International Chiropractic Pediatric
Association, the largest chiropractic pediatric organization in chiropractic and
examine their current Practiced Based Research projects and the preliminary
findings on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for children. They
can be reached via their web site: www.icpa4kids.com or by phone: 610-565-2360.
Whereas I expect constructive dialog to occur, I also expect immediate
rescission of this policy as I find it to be inappropriate to deny needed care
for our children.
Sincerely,
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