White House: Don't Scrap ACA If Mandate Thrown Out

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Published 02/08/2012 - 12:27 p.m. CDT

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Medpagetoday.com REPORTS HERE that "If the Supreme Court rules that the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate is unconstitutional, the entire law doesn't need to be thrown out, lawyers for the Obama administration argued in a brief filed with the high court."

"The individual mandate -- easily the most controversial piece of the landmark law -- requires everyone to have health insurance starting in 2014 and levies a tax penalty on those who don't. Opponents of the law -- including the 26 states who are suing the Obama administration over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) -- say it is a violation of the Constitution to require everyone to purchase health insurance. The individual mandate is considered by many to be the linchpin of the entire law. The states who are suing the government have asked the Supreme Court to strike down the entire law if it finds the individual mandate to be unconstitutional."

"Both sides have said that without the requirement that everyone have health insurance, one can't expect the insurance industry to be asked to accept everyone who applies for insurance, and charge the same for the sick and healthy, and the old and the young, and for men and women (called community rating)."

"Lawyers for the Justice Department said that while those two provisions -- requiring insurers to accept everyone and use community rating -- hinge on the mandate and wouldn't function without it, the entire law should not be scrapped for want of a mandate."

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EDITORIALS & OPINIONS

Clinical Trial Data Should Be Open for Review

Published 04/30/2012 - 3:14 p.m. CDT

Original clinical study reports, which contain far more detail than published randomized trials, should be made available to independent researchers seeking to verify efficacy and safety claims.

In support of this argument, the history of the influenza antiviral oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which was approved by the FDA in 1999, was cited. The widespread belief in oseltamivir's efficacy, was based on a meta-analysis of 10 trials conducted by the manufacturer prior to licensure. But the authors pointed out that the FDA, which was aware of these clinical trials, concluded that oseltamivir had not been shown to reduce complications and required a statement on the drug's label to that effect. Moreover, oseltamivir was not given an FDA indication for prevention of spread of influenza.

To this, [authors] commented, "If FDA is right, the drug's effectiveness may be no better than aspirin or acetaminophen.'"

HR 329 in need of Co Sponsors

Published 04/30/2012 - 11:11 a.m. CDT

Representative Bob Filner recently introduced the Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Act (H.R. 329). The bill would require the Veterans Administration (VA) to have a chiropractic physician on staff at all major VA medical facilities by 2014. You too can help ensure chiropractic care is available to those who have placed their lives in service to our country. H.R. 329 is in need of cosponsors to assist its likelihood of passage.

CLICK HERE to urge your legislators to cosponsor the bill.

Court Sides with Generic-Drug Makers

Published 04/25/2012 - 6:33 a.m. CDT

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that generic drugmaker Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories can sue Novo Nordisk for what Caraco says are exaggerated descriptions of the scope of patents Novo Nordisk holds on a diabetes drug.

A group of Democratic senators has introduced a bill that would allow people to sue generic drugmakers over failing to update their drug labels to include all known risks. The bill is meant to counter last year's Supreme Court decision in a generic drug dispute.

Watch for Changes in Coming Weeks

Published 04/30/2012 - 10:36 p.m. CDT

The TCA Web sites will be under going change in the next few weeks. Please bear with us while we complete some improvements.

Published 04/25/2012 - 11:30 a.m. CDT

When the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation published its list of 45 overused tests and procedures that physicians and patients should think twice about, it did so with the caveat that these aren’t things doctors should never do — nor are they actions that should never be covered by public and private insurers.

The Choosing Wisely campaign was sparked by a 2010 article that prompted the National Physicians Alliance to publish a list of overused tests and procedures in primary care. The ABIM Foundation wanted to spread the idea to as many medical specialties as possible. The ABIM Foundation recruited nearly a dozen consumer groups, including Consumer Reports, to help disseminate the list.

Published 04/20/2012 - 8:01 a.m. CDT

The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reports on the TMA v TBCE Court of Appeals Decision.

Published 04/29/2012 - 12:02 p.m. CDT

Girls who face multiple social stressors at home as toddlers are more likely to be obese by age 5, researchers found.

Published 04/29/2012 - 5:00 a.m. CDT

Nonpharmacologic pain management appears to be safe for mother and baby, although there is limited published evidence to explain its efficacy, according to a Cochrane Review.

There is more data to support the ef?cacy of pharmacologic pain management, such as epidurals and opioids, but these methods lead to more adverse effects. This reports reports upon some of these

Water May be Good but Watch the Bottle!

Published 04/24/2012 - 3:22 p.m. CDT

"In just one year, Americans drank nearly 9 billion gallons of bottled water, which is second only to soft drinks as the largest beverage type in the U.S. market, according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation.

In the first study of its kind, researchers determined just how much BPA you absorb when you drink bottled water.

Published 04/29/2012 - 9:43 p.m. CDT

Ethiopia and Kenya Trips. Have you ever wanted to provide chiropractic care in another country and give back to those in need?

Dr. Teresa Jones has been volunteering on mission trips to Africa for 4 years and is reaching out to the District 5 for help this year. There are two chances to participate, both in July 2012 and if you are interested please RSVP to frontdesk@wholehealth-care.com to let her know you area interested!

Published 04/28/2012 - 6:57 p.m. CDT

Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic were slow to inform patients and their doctors about problems with metal-on-metal hip implants and relied on industry officials and consultants in crafting their responses.

Complications included high failure rates and possible systemic effects from elevated metal ion levels in the blood. An advisory has been issued to surgeons, telling them that patients who have received metal-on-metal implants should have annual checkups for life. The evaluations should include testing for metal ions in the blood as well as for clinical symptoms of device failure.

Home is Where the practice is

Published 04/25/2012 - 2:25 p.m. CDT

Historically, many physicians worked in a living space with a medical practice area. That slowly fell out of favor in the 1950s, when more and more physicians set up separate offices or worked in hospitals.

The home-based medical practice currently is something of an oddity, but some physicians have managed to establish one that meets the standards of a commercial space. Setting up a home-based practice is like setting up an office, with a few complications.

Published 04/29/2012 - 3:04 p.m. CDT

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Initiative (PCORI), established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, has set five priorities as the group's research agenda for the coming years, with the overall goal of advancing clinical effectiveness research. …. the priorities [are] as follows...

Published 04/21/2012 - 12:11 p.m. CDT

Twenty thousand physicians in four Midwest states received a glimpse into their financial future last month. Landing in their email inboxes were links to reports from Medicare showing the amount their patients cost on average as well as the quality of the care they provided. The reports also showed how Medicare spending on each doctor's patients compared with their local peers in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.

The "resource use" reports, which Medicare plans to eventually provide to doctors nationwide, are one of the most visible phases of the government's effort to figure out how to enact a complex, delicate, and little-noticed provision of the 2010 healthcare law: paying more to doctors who provide quality care at lower cost to Medicare, and reducing payments to physicians who run up Medicare's costs without better results.

Published 04/16/2012 - 1:38 p.m. CDT

The new "healthcare law could sharply exceed its cost-savings targets and add up to $530 billion to the federal budget deficit, a leading authority on U.S. government benefit programs said.

Scrap Medicare Advantage Demo, GAO Says

Published 04/30/2012 - 6:09 a.m. CDT

An $8 billion Medicare demonstration program is poorly designed and should be cancelled, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) said. The program is designed to reward the highest-quality Medicare Advantage plans, but instead pays out most of its award money to mediocre plans, according to a report.

Published 04/24/2012 - 12:19 p.m. CDT

Medicare is set to withdraw most coverage of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for chronic low back pain, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services indicated.

Medicare Documentation Made Simple

Published 04/22/2012 - 3:36 p.m. CDT

Regarding Medicare Documentation, either an inaccurate message is being delivered to chiropractors regarding appropriate Medicare documentation requirements and/or chiropractors are misinterpreting the message.

This article provides a look into the requirements of Medicare and offers a "Medicare Documentation Simplified" flow chart for explanation.

Published 04/03/2012 - 1:51 p.m. CDT

Dr. John Demartini recently spoke to Parker University students about clarifying their purpose, strategizing their actions, and living proactively towards their goals and dreams.

Dr. Demartini told the students to determine what’s most important to them. After that’s determined, he recommended they align their lives, goals, and actions so they have the most congruent life plan. He stressed the importance of dissolving challenges, overcoming obstacles, and managing emotions in order to stay focused and take charge of creating their dreams.

“If you have a mission and vision beyond you, you will not let fear distract you or hold you back,” said Dr. Demartini. “If your cause is bigger than your obstacles—the obstacles melt.”

He told the students to become certain in what they’re doing and live congruently and authentically with their highest morals. He explained that people will be magnetized to them because of their inspiration and authenticity.

TCC to Host Summer Wellness Program

Published 03/27/2012 - 3:44 p.m. CDT

ACA and the National Wellness Institute (NWI) will offer students and DCs the opportunity to become leading wellness experts starting this June. Through the Certified Chiropractic Wellness Specialist program, participants can earn an NWI certification and begin implementing new chiropractic services into their practices. The next seminar will begin June 2 at Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) in Pasadena, Texas. Presenters include Will Evans, DC, PhD, CHES; Cheryl Hawk, DC, PhD, CHES; and Michael Perko, PhD. To register, click here.

What it Takes to be a Servant Leader

Published 03/12/2012 - 11:08 a.m. CDT

Servant Leadership: Empower, Encourage, and Inspire” during an all-school Parker assembly. Dr. Mancini told the audience that the core foundation of chiropractic and Parker is service. He shared the importance of chiropractors being servant leaders.

For years, Dr. Mancini has studied what it truly takes to be a servant leader. He explained key characteristics that a servant leader must encompass including the first characteristic of being an effective listener.

Published 04/30/2012 - 12:13 p.m. CDT

The Kilgore College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will sponsor an educational seminar for medical office staff, including office managers and billing staff, entitled Basic Workers’ Compensation for Medical Office Staff on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.

Published 04/05/2012 - 10:04 a.m. CDT

The Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners has adopted a final version of Rule 77.5, "Misleading Claims." The full text is found in this article.

Published 04/05/2012 - 2:57 a.m. CDT

Final amendments to TBCE Rule 80.1, Delegation of Authority, have been adopted. The full rule is found in this article.

Published 03/23/2012 - 12:52 p.m. CDT

"You don’t have to look very far to see the perfect storm developing in our nation’s health care system. With the combination of skyrocketing health insurance premiums, an aging population average, an obesity epidemic, staggering health insurance deductibles, a rapidly climbing incidence of diabetes, a looming doctor shortage, and a record breaking budget deficit … Alan Greenspan said 'The greatest threat to the economy is healthcare.' Our government’s attempt to tweak the system is equivalent to putting up a tent in a hurricane. … The truth is that we won’t stop being sick until we stop making ourselves sick. The ultimate solution is that we need more self-care not more health care."

What Limits?

Published 12/15/2011 - 9:43 a.m. CDT

Regarding the practice of chiropractic, there are some who are telling us that "...what is in the statute is extremely limiting."

If that is the perspective you wish to look at it then the results of the various court judgments are the results you would expect.

I see the term "condition" in a broader sense.

Published 11/15/2011 - 11:31 a.m. CDT

At this point in the history of mankind, we have been conditioned to abhor symptoms of any kind. Headaches, sneezing, coughing, colds, allergies, pain, infections, hypertension, etc., are no longer tolerated as a part of the process of living. Rather than look into the mechanisms that may be causing these symptoms, we are reaching for the medicine that will suppress them. In so doing, we may feel better, but we now have no motive to look at causes and correct for the issues that may be impairing our health, thus increasing our "need" for more medications over time.

Without the "gold standard" double blind, placebo controlled study there can be no FDA approval of a new drug. So let's look at this approval process more closely.

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