NBCE Needs to Provide Evidence for its Claims
The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation (FVS) has responded to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) most recent request for feedback from the profession. The FVS, known for its advocacy in the chiropractic profession, is seeking essential data to scrutinize the role and impact of NBCE exams in chiropractic education and practice.
The letter from the FVS is a response to the NBCE's request sent out to stakeholders in relation to their Advancement and Development Project which the NBCE embarked upon as damage control in an effort to repair the outrage occurring in the chiropractic profession over the NBCE's actions.
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The NBCE letter claims its surveys are an "effort to increase testing opportunities for students across the nation and invite stakeholders to help shape the future of chiropractic testing".
In this most recent request, the NBCE is asking for feedback on how to increase exam opportunities and address concerns over exam delivery costs without sacrificing the validity, fairness, or integrity of their exams or increasing the cost and/or resources required by Chiropractic Colleges who host NBCE Exams.
The FVS points out to Ouzts that he states right in his letter that the NBCE's ". . . research from this period revealed how to accomplish these goals" but they admit that "research is incomplete without feedback from our academic partners".
The FVS points out that these statements contradict one another - "you found the answer but you haven't even actually asked the people most affected yet".
Addressing Ouzts, the Chief Executive Officer of the NBCE, the Foundation has highlighted the pivotal role that NBCE exams play in assessing the competence of chiropractic graduates through its mandated testing via a monopoly.
The Foundation asserts that access to pertinent data is paramount in pursuit of improved chiropractic education and examination processes.
The comprehensive list of data requested from the NBCE encompasses critical aspects of chiropractic education and practice. These include historical pass rates for licensing exams, performance trends over the past decade, and the correlation between student performance in NBCE exams and their academic achievements in chiropractic colleges.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the request is the call for information on the success and outcomes of chiropractors who have passed NBCE exams. This includes data on patient satisfaction, malpractice claims, and career longevity, sparking a vital discussion on patient safety and quality care within the chiropractic profession.
Additionally, the Foundation is seeking comparative data with other healthcare professions to evaluate the impact of NBCE exams on patient safety and healthcare quality. The request also delves into the financial realm, demanding a breakdown of the costs and resources allocated to the development, administration, and grading of NBCE exams.
The data request extends to graduate employment rates, patient outcomes, stakeholder feedback, and alternative assessment methods considered by the NBCE. It concludes with a call for a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis to assess whether the benefits of NBCE exams outweigh the costs and resources expended.
Their call for transparency aims to inform decisions regarding the future of chiropractic education and examination.
As the chiropractic community awaits the NBCE's response, this development signals a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for accountability and quality assurance within the chiropractic profession. The demand for transparency from the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation highlights the need to critically examine the role of NBCE exams and their impact on chiropractic education and practice.
The FVS' letter also sheds light on the highly questionable legal and financial relationships that exist between the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards (FCLB), the NBCE, the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) other chiropractic organizations and state chiropractic regulatory boards.
At the heart of this controversy is the alleged "monopoly cartel" that controls the flow of federally backed student loan money, related student loan debt, and state tax dollars within the chiropractic profession. The FCLB for example claims these regulatory boards are its "members," creating a network that exerts considerable influence over chiropractic education, regulation, and licensing.
The United States Department of Education identified this chiropractic cartel years ago, exposing a web of non-profit and for-profit entities that wield tremendous power in the industry. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) has come under scrutiny for its role in this complex arrangement.
The crux of the issue lies in the necessity of the NBCE's exams. While chiropractic graduates receive diplomas certifying their competence from their respective colleges, the NBCE insists that nobody is deemed competent until they pass their exams – a process that comes with a hefty price tag.
According to reports, student money from the NBCE has been funding the bulk of the FCLB's budget for a very long time – to the tune of nearly $700,000.00 a year. This substantial financial support, along with the provision of free rent and utilities worth over $30,000.00 annually, raises critical questions about the relationship between these entities.
Further eyebrows were raised that the "not-for-profit" Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) received a significant donation of $615,000.00 from the NBCE Directors for "career development." Intriguingly, NBCE Directors sit on the F4CP's Board, raising concerns about the nexus of influence and resources between these organizations.
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Digging deeper, it becomes apparent that the directors of these non-profit entities intertwined with the NBCE frequently transition between the NBCE, FCLB, and other cartel-controlled organizations. This close-knit group operates behind the scenes, prompting questions about transparency and accountability in the chiropractic profession.
Just recently it was revealed that having a "Seat at the Table" for Cartel meetings comes at a high cost and only a select few are invited to sit.
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Given the contention surrounding the necessity of the NBCE exams, it is increasingly evident that they have the focus wrong. Instead of raising fees on students, creating more exams, and otherwise enjoying the statutorily mandated monopoly they have, they should be helping state regulatory boards follow Colorado's lead and remove the NBCE requirement from their statutes.
Furthermore, the fact that the NBCE is explicitly named in the statutes, rules, and regulations of nearly every state and since many NBCE Directors sit on state boards, this raises concerns about potential restraint of trade by active market players. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that such actions may not enjoy state protection if carried out without proper oversight.
Taken together, the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the Council on Chiropractic Education and the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards appear to wield complete control over the education, licensing, and regulatory aspects of the chiropractic profession due to the monopoly. As the debate rages on, the chiropractic community and the public alike demand greater transparency and accountability in an industry where vital interests hang in the balance.
