ACA Issues “Ideal Practice Act” Language

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) House of Delegates (HOD) met in Washington, D.C. during the 2015 National Chiropractic Leadership Conference (NCLC) and approved a resolution outlining six key elements that should be considered or included in a modern chiropractic practice act. According to the ACA, variability of state chiropractic regulations has created uncertainty and confusion for the general public, chiropractic patients and chiropractic physicians, impeding development and progress of the profession.

CLICK HERE to READ ACA RESOLUTION

The ACA also seems to have lost patience with the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB) which has been working on a “Model Practice Act” (MPA) since 1993. Interestingly, the FCLB recently finalized its Model Practice Act and stated in was undergoing legal review. The FCLB’s MPA has not been released to the chiropractic profession for review or comment. 

• FCLB Educational Agenda 2014
• FCLB Ohio Board July 2011 Retreat Minutes
• FCLB Minutes November 2013
• FCLB Newsletter January 2014

SIDE NOTE: The FCLB receives the majority of its funding (Half million dollars a year) from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. (Click Here for Related Story)

Hinting at their impatience with the FCLB the ACA stated in their Resolution:

“Efforts to create a ‘Model Chiropractic Practice Act’ have dragged on for more than two decades, slowed in large part by the tremendous variability in the state statutes themselves. The identification of key elements which should be included in a best practice, modern Chiropractic act is a more straightforward and attainable goal that is not affected by the variability and state statutes.”

The ACA and the FCLB are part of the Summit Group of chiropractors and organizations seeking to expand the role of chiropractic into primary care.

Consistent with the ACA and the Summit Group’s goals the ACA’s “Ideal Practice Act” includes: 

1. “Chiropractic Physician” and “Chiropractic Medicine” as the Regulatory Terms of Licensure.
2. Scope of Practice Determined by Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Education, Training and Experience Obtained Through Appropriately Accredited Institutions.
3. Full Management, Referral and Prescription Authority for Patient Examination, Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis and Health Assessment.
4. Full Management, Referral and Prescription Authority for the Care and Treatment of Neuromusculoskeletal and Other Health Conditions or Issues.
5. Full Authority for the Delivery of Information, Advice, Recommendations and Counseling Regarding General Health Matters, Wellness and Health Optimization.
6. Full Authority and Adaptable Requirements for the Management and Training of Health Care Teams and the Participation in Collaborative or Integrative Health Care Groups.

It is expected that those states actively pursuing scope expansion will seize on the ACA language to include full scope of training both from the regular course of a chiropractic college program as well as the post graduate Advanced Chiropractic Physician programs which include training in the use of prescription drugs.