Free Workers' Compensation Seminar 08.14.2010
Seats are filling up fast and if you want to know everything their is to know about Oregons Work Comp law and how to handle those patients, sign up now for a FREE W/C Seminar
Contact: Dr. Vern Saboe, DC (541) 231.4528
Time: 8:30 Registration - 12:00pm
Where: University of Western States - Hampton Hall #1
Contact: Dr. Vern Saboe, DC (541) 231.4528
Time: 8:30 Registration - 12:00pm
Where: University of Western States - Hampton Hall #1
Anthony "Tony" Ledesma
Anthony "Tony" Ledesma, 39 of Grants Pass passed away on Thursday, June 3rd, 2010, in Grants Pass, OR. The service was held Wednesday June 9th, 2010 at 9:45am. He was born April 30th, 1971 in Mountain View, CA to Louis Frank and Annabelle Madestry (Downing) Ledesma. He graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in August of 2005. He was an associate doctor in Corvallis from 2006 to 2008. In November 2008, he and his wife purchased ChiroHealth and moved to Grants Pass, OR. He is survived by his wife and 6 children who all reside in Grants Pass, OR.
20th Anniversary of the Workers’ Compensation Reforms in Oregon.
May 3, 2010 will mark the 20th anniversary of the workers’ compensation reforms in Oregon. To commensurate the 20th anniversary a “Celebration” is set for Monday May 3rd in Salem from 10:30am-noon and will be held in the Oregon Capitol Galleria according to the “Workers Comp Division” website. The “Mahonia Hall” reforms as they have become known, was the package of proposals that under the Oregon legislative body and Senate Bill 1197 changed Chiropractic care for injured workers in Oregon. The then legislative body and the Governor Neil Goldschmidt used this legislation to limit chiropractic providers’ ability to treat patients to “12 visits and 30 days”. (That has now been revised through the diligence of our legislative representatives and lobbying efforts in Salem to “18 visits in 60 days”). Senate Bill 1197 was the same legislation that formed the advisory group of labor and management known to us today as MLAC. In the recent “Focus” Newsletter (Spring-Summer 2010) John Shilts reviews this event and gives his personal perspective on what happened and where WCD is today. The Focus newsletter is published twice a year by the WCD. If you would like to read his comments or other articles in this publication you can find this newsletter through the link at:
http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/wcd/communications/publications/focus/focusind.html
Proposed Reduction of Workers Comp Fees for the Medicine Codes
Workers Comp Fees == Proposed reduction to the Medicine Codes: The Workers Compensation Division is looking to reduce the fees relating to the medicine codes including “98940-98941-98942-98943” during their current rule making for 2010. In my conversation with Fred Bruyns at the WCD he tells me that these are just “minimal reductions” with increases in each of the other areas. In my mind—“any reduction is not acceptable or minimal”…….
The codes of particular interest to us in Chiropractic (conversion factors) are as follows:
Physical Medicine codes:
for 2009 were $65.79 going up to $68.00 (increase)
E/M codes:
for 2009 were $64.79 going up to $75.00 (increase)
Radiology codes:
for 2009 were $68.00 and would stay at $68.00 (remain the same)
Medicine Codes:
for 2009 were $75.04 going down to $70.00 (decrease)
After calculating the fees by multiplying with the proposed RVU’s here are the proposed 2010 fees:
98940 in 2009 = $51.03 2010 (proposed)= $48.30
98941 in 2009 = $70.54 2010 (proposed)= $67.20
98942 in 2009 = $92.30 2010 (proposed)= $87.50
98943 in 2009 = $48.03 2010 (proposed)= $39.20
During my phone call with Mr. Bruyns I questioned the rationale behind singling out our codes (Manip codes= 98940-41-42-43) for reductions and he could not specifically give me the reason for that. There is a public hearing scheduled for this “Rule Making” on April 21, 2010 at 1:30 pm in the L&I Building –Room 260 (Located at 350 Winter St NE Salem, OR 97301). This meeting is open for anyone to attend. However, I would like to gather letters from my members with regards to their response to this. You can find the actual proposed rule making document by going to www.cbs.state.or.us clicking (L column) “Laws and Rules” then “Proposed Rules” then “Rules 009.pdf” Proposed changes to Workers Compensation Rules. I would like to gather as many letters as possible from my membership with regards to this proposed change. Please take time to go to the WCD website – read/review the 54 page document (pg 48 shows conversion factors) and then write a letter against these proposed reductions of the “medicine conversion factors” from$75.04 to $70.00 which would decrease our fees (as shown above).
(PLEASE*****Mail a copy of your letter to the OCA office or Email us a copy at (chirooregon@hotmail.com or fred.h.bruyns@state.or.us) *****)- But Address them to: Workers Compensation Division Attn: Fred Bruyns PO Box 14480 Salem, OR 97309. Dr. Ferrante and I are planning to attend that meeting (as we have in past years) along with other representatives of the OCA and I would like to take all of those letters with me to have them presented there in person (rather than being separately mailed – where they could potentially be lost in the mail --if you know what I mean).
“Strawn vs. Farmers”
I have stayed in contact with the Class Action Lawsuit representative for the “Strawn vs. Farmers” lawsuit that was filed many years ago. I thought I would give you a brief update with regards to that lawsuit. The lawsuit filed was regarding reductions taken by Farmers Insurance on PIP claims that were taken from January 26, 1998 through July 31, 1999 (the class period). Farmers reduced payment of amounts billed by medical providers that they say has a CPT code that exceeded the 80th and then later the 90th percentile when a bill was compared to other bills in the defendant’s (Farmers Insurance) database. These reductions were noted in the “Reductions” portion of the EOB with a “Reason code” 40 or B2. The class action lawsuit was won and the Class Fund currently consists of a Limited Judgment of $9,5000,000 (the patient portion) entered on March 23, 2004 in favor of the class members following a jury verdict awarding “compensatory damages” of $757,163.17 (the providers portion) with prejudgment interest of $742,836.83 and punitive damages of $8,000,000 (also for the patient’s). Of course there have been numerous appeals – but my understanding is that has only been for the patient’s side and the punitive damages not for the actual compensatory side (for the doc’s). Interest has been accruing at 9% since that judgment date. You had to have completed the earlier paperwork (years ago) to have been included in this class action lawsuit. If you have done that paperwork your money is still not lost. According to my recent conversation with the attorney handling – he is finally seeing the light at the end of this long-long tunnel. Unfortunately, the “compensatory” side is held up until the “punitive” damage side has finally exhausted all appeals which he believes should be in the next 6-12 months.
I have been asked to help the attorney (our side’s rep) update his info on the list of names he has for chiropractors in Oregon that have an award amount due them. He has forwarded me his complete list. I will be assisting him in those names of OCA members that are on that list – updates to non-member information will not be provided by this office.
New Administrative Assistant at the OCA Office.
I have hired a new administrative assistant at the OCA office. Her name is Kira Richards. She has a background in Chiropractic as a CA, communications skills, organizational skills, marketing, and customer service. She has assisted in her past jobs at doing field presentations, public relations work, and designing/re-designing websites. She has attended “Masters Circle” events and other Chiropractic seminars. In addition, she is willing to continue learning new things and expand her knowledge of chiropractic. She is going to take charge of other forms of member communications for me via “FaceBook” and “Twitter” with our business profile. Kira replaces my previous assistants Jill Ferrante who has taken a position with Bio-Genesis as their Oregon-SW Washington sales rep and Jessica Spencer who has left to move onto newer and more technical challenges.
Dr. Ted Carrick of the Carrick Institute for Graduate Studies in Florida discussed with Dr. Ferrante the possibility of bringing a post graduate program in Neurology to Oregon. Dr. Carrick then mentioned during our convention that he was looking to bring a program to the west coast and was going to get back to the OCA office is they decided to do so. It has now happened. I just received the information from his coordinator and as I promised those of you who were at the convention I would get this information out to you in a timely manner. The Carrick Institute will be offering “Accredited Board Certification in Functional Neurology and Master of Neurological Science Degree”. It will be held in Portland with the first session being held May 1-2, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah, Portland, Oregon.
The entire schedule for 2010 is as follows:
May 1-2, 2010 = Module 801/901 : Neuron Theory
June 19-20, 2010 = Module 802/902 : Neuromuscular Applications
July 17-18, 2010 = Module 803/903 : Peripheral Nervous System
August 21-22, 2010 = Module 804/904 : Spinal Cord
October 9-10, 2010 = Module 805/905 : Reflexogenic Systems
Nov. 20-21, 2010 = Module 806/906 : Autonomic Nervous System
Parker Seminar Teacher June 12, 2010 (Saturday) at the Sheraton / Portland Airport
June 12, 2010 (Saturday) at the Sheraton / Portland Airport: We are excited to have a “Parker Seminar Teacher” Brandi MacDonald coming to Portland for us. She will be presenting 6 CE hours for CA’s that will include Anatomy, Principles and Philosophy of Chiropractic & Health, Front Desk Procedures/Policies, and Understanding Treatment Plans. She will be joining us just before she leaves for Rome, Italy – for Parker Seminars 2010 Rome.
Brandi MacDonald will be doing 6 CE hours for the CA – 9am-4pm with lunch included.
Flyers will also be in the mail soon or for more information you can go to our website or contact the OCA office.
Workers Compensation Division == Bi-Annual Newsletter "FOCUS"
2010 Medicare Fee Schedule
Here is a link to the 2010 Medicare Fee Schedule : https://www.noridianmedicare.com/p-medb/fees/
Select your State and Locality, then scroll to pages 84,85,86 for information pertaining to Chiropractic.
OCA LAUNCHES SALE OF MATERIALS FOR YOUTH EDUCATION (K-3)
The OCA has just started a product line for youth education (K-3). In this current environment of health care reform the OCA is starting a PR campaign as well as a youth education system offering you the opportunity to contact your local school districts with "Stop - Look & Learn" color books.
These color books teach young students information about what Chiropractic is, as well as the importance of a good nutrition and exercise. These color books will also make a nice gift (the holidays are fast approaching) to those young patients that come into our offices, so they can benefit from learning more about Chiropractic, Health, and Wellness.
These color books (2 different choices == educational coloring and activities) are now available through the OCA office. They are $24.95 for packages of 50 (This offer is only to our members - that is only .50 each):
| "A visit to the Chiropractor" | "Eat Right, Eat Healthy" |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Please Complete the order form and return it to the OCA office. Current supplies are limited so don't wait - order today!
Go to page >>
Archived News Items
