International Chiropractor Of The Year Announced LAS VEGAS- The Australian Spinal Research Foundation, a nonprofit, grant-making, chiropractic research foundation, announced today its president. Martin Harvey. DC. received the International Chiropractor of the Year Award at this year's Parker "Much of today's healthcare is focused on treatment of symptoms when equal priority should be given to whole body well-being through pro-active consideration of health and lifestyle issues," says Harvey. "While prevention in healthcare is a noble goal we should be aiming beyond that. Chiropractic optimizes health, providing individuals with greater energy, stronger immune systems, and better overall stability in their lives." Under Harvey's guidance, the Australian Spinal Research Foundation has been generating research for a number of years and was also acknowledged for its outstanding contribution to chiropractic with the International Leadership Award for Research, The foundation's current research studies relate to: • Whether chiropractic care for pregnant women may help the delivery process by improving the function of pelvic floor muscles. • How chiropractic care may lead to long lasting changes in the ability of the brain to work efficiently. • How falls in the elderly — the leading cause of accidental injury-related deaths within this age group — can be reduced through chiropractic care. "Our research is aimed at understanding how chiropractic care may give a better quality of life for people so they are happier, healthier, and thrive — not just survive." adds Harvey. "It is ironic that we tend to think of thriving when it comes to relationships or money but not with our health." Source: Australian Spinal Research Foundation, www.spinalresearch.com.au Congressional Concession On Medical Malpractice Awards Will Not Lower Health Care Costs And Will Hurt Patients' Rights WASHINGTON- Lawyer Michael A. Abelson savs proposed curbs address an illusion instead of the real problem — doctors committing preventable errors. Michael Abelson. a personal injury lawyer in Maryland and Washington. DC. savs proposed limits on damage awards in medical malpractice lawsuits would not lower health care costs but could instead deprive injured patients of their right to appropriate compensation. Abelson, said, "There is no evidence that cutting awards to injured patients will cut overall health care costs. There is obvious evidence that limiting potential penalties for doctors will limit protections for patients." Congressional Republicans supported limits on malpractice payments at a healthcare forum with President Obama last week. The President has not endorsed such limits, but said this week that he is open to funding state experiments with "health courts" as an alternative to the current system of resolving medical malpractice claims through iurv trials. In theory, health courts would make it faster and less expensive for injured patients to press claims, but the courts would also award smaller amounts. In an analysis of the Data Bank report, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen found that between 2000 to 2009 health care spending rose 83 percent while medical malpractice payments fell 8 percent. Meanwhile. Public Citizen noted, medical malpractice payments are a tiny and shrinking percentage of overall health care spending. The group's report said malpractice payments on behalf of doctors in 2009 accounted for only 0.14 of one percent of the estimated $2.5 trillion spent on U.S. health care last year. In response to the findings, David Arkush, director of the Public Citizen's Congress Watch division, said, "Litigation accounts for a miniscule fraction of health costs, small enough to be a rounding error. It is ridiculous that certain members of Congress continue to obsess about this greatly exaggerated problem. They should know better, and they should focus instead on fixing real problems like the crisis of preventable medical errors." Source: ibtimes.com Chiropractor and Lawyer Charged In Accident Fraud PHILADELPHIA- An additional 17 people - for a total of 83 -were charged yesterday in the latest stage of a long-running federal and city investigation into a scheme to fake automobile accidents and then file false insurance claims. The case dates to 2007, when a tow-truck driver and a now-former city police officer were indicted for soliciting people to participate in fictitious accidents. The new indictments include charges against a chiropractor. Stephen Rios. 45. of Philadelphia, and an attorney. Glori A. Kasner. 36. of Huntingdon Valley. Others charged yesterday are accused of participating in the fake accidents or fake medical treatment between 2004 and 2007. The amount paid out by insurance companies in yesterday's alleged fraud was S167.000. The total paid out for fictitious accidents was S634.000. prosecutors said. The probe started three years ago when the FBI received a tip about alleged health-care fraud, said agent Bryan Pacchioli. At almost the same time, city police received a tip about fake auto-body-repair claims, said Detective Robert DiFrancesco, who is attached to the District Attorney's Office. Rios was charged with 23 counts of mail fraud in the alleged fabrication of treatment records and billing for medical care that was never delivered. He operates the Rios Chiropractic Center near Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue. Its Web site says, "We specialize in motor vehicle accidents." The center opened in 1997 and has a staff of six. Rios did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Kasner is accused of helping Rios obtain fraudulent civil settlements for accidents that did not occur. She did not return a call to her office. Source: phillynews.com Pass on the information to inform other D. C. 's about events that are really happening to chiropractors. For further information, fax 1-305-716-9212. Write us at [email protected] or #CO138, 8619 NW 68th St., Miami, FL 33166.
