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Doc's:

Is there anyone out there who is having trouble with Alternare and denial of treatment plans, # visits, follow up assessment or other denial of services that are reasonable and necessary?

Please respond to me personally in order to spare others on the list.

Thanks

Dr B

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  • 2 years later...
Guest guest

,

Alternare, just like Complementary Health Plans here in Oregon has not increased there reimbursement in over 4 years. I would think seriously before signing on with them. We have requested that they update their reimbursement schedule several times, but to no avail.

Yours,

DR. COBY L. HANES991 NE THIRD STREETPRINEVILLE, OR 97754voice: 541.447.7230fax: 541.447.5775dochanes@...

-----Original Message-----From: ang320@... [mailto:ang320@...] Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 2:24 PM Subject: AlternareI recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar with them? Anglen OregonDCs rules:1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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Guest guest

I believe in fair competitive pricing, and

Alternaire provides this consistently. They do not

allow full freedom of choice in health care like a PIP or some other private

plans but payment is adequate and they pay promptly with a minimum of

paperwork. Most of us in Union County Oregon are members of the panel which is

not restrictive like CHP. It is a good plan for medium income people.

It is interesting that the same people who

slam the managed care industry also want to salvage the PIP industry by

limiting fees to make us all one big happy rate controlled profession. Ironic,

isn’t it, that I who belong to several managed

care organizations do not feel it is necessary to make the whole state into managed

care by the OBCE. Maybe there is a lesson in this.

Back to you Dr. Coby.

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to

join some sort of managed care/insurer called ALTERNARE. They just started here

in Arizona, but said they were one of the largest insurers in Washington and

Oregon. They cover massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional

counseling. Are any of you familiar with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs

rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose

of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal

attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and

last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could

end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy,

print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another

member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been

removed.

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs

rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose

of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal

attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and

last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could

end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy,

print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another

member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been

removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

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Guest guest

Willard,

I am not sure if you are referring to me when you say "It is interesting that the same people who slam the managed care industry also want to salvage the PIP industry by limiting fees to make us all one big happy rate controlled profession." If you are referring to me, which I assume you are because you close by saying Back to you Dr. Coby, you are way off base!

I have had very little to say in this whole limiting fees debacle. And, just for the record I am opposed to more bureaucracy and limiting fees. I have full faith in the free market system and universal laws "what comes around goes around."

Perhaps you should get your facts straight before you chuck spears Willard.

Back to You!

DR. COBY L. HANES991 NE THIRD STREETPRINEVILLE, OR 97754voice: 541.447.7230fax: 541.447.5775dochanes@...

-----Original Message-----From: Dr. Willard Bertrand [mailto:mail@...] Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 6:35 PM Subject: RE: Alternare

I believe in fair competitive pricing, and Alternaire provides this consistently. They do not allow full freedom of choice in health care like a PIP or some other private plans but payment is adequate and they pay promptly with a minimum of paperwork. Most of us in Union County Oregon are members of the panel which is not restrictive like CHP. It is a good plan for medium income people.

It is interesting that the same people who slam the managed care industry also want to salvage the PIP industry by limiting fees to make us all one big happy rate controlled profession. Ironic, isn’t it, that I who belong to several managed care organizations do not feel it is necessary to make the whole state into managed care by the OBCE. Maybe there is a lesson in this.

Back to you Dr. Coby.

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

-----Original Message-----From: Dr. Coby Hanes [mailto:dochanes@...] Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 5:54 PMang320@...; Subject: RE: Alternare

,

Alternare, just like Complementary Health Plans here in Oregon has not increased there reimbursement in over 4 years. I would think seriously before signing on with them. We have requested that they update their reimbursement schedule several times, but to no avail.

Yours,

DR. COBY L. HANES991 NE THIRD STREETPRINEVILLE, OR 97754voice: 541.447.7230fax: 541.447.5775dochanes@...

-----Original Message-----From: ang320@... [mailto:ang320@...] Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 2:24 PM Subject: Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar with them? Anglen OregonDCs rules:1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed. OregonDCs rules:1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

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Guest guest

I did not target you specifically, Dr. Coby. I am simply continuing to

spear points against the proposed fee limiting regulations.

Thanks for keeping me on base!

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

-----Original

Message-----

From: Dr. Coby Hanes

[mailto:dochanes@...]

Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 7:29

PM

'Dr. Willard Bertrand';

Subject: RE: Alternare

Willard,

I am not sure

if you are referring to me when you say " It is interesting that the same people who slam the managed care

industry also want to salvage the PIP industry by limiting fees to make us all

one big happy rate controlled profession. " If you are referring to

me, which I assume you are because you close by saying Back to you Dr. Coby,

you are way off base!

I have had very little to

say in this whole limiting fees debacle. And, just for the record I am

opposed to more bureaucracy and limiting fees. I have full faith in the

free market system and universal laws " what comes around goes

around. "

Perhaps you should get

your facts straight before you chuck spears Willard.

Back to You!

DR. COBY L. HANES

991 NE THIRD STREET

PRINEVILLE, OR 97754

voice: 541.447.7230

fax: 541.447.5775

dochanes@...

Alternare

I

recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer

called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one of

the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you

familiar with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members

will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise

distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent,

unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members

will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise

distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent,

unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members

will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise

distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent,

unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members

will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise

distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent,

unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

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Guest guest

Gentlemen

It is not a " fee limiting regulation " like managed care. It is clarifying

that someone who charges $150 for an adjustment that you provide for $50

had better be able to justify why their treatment is 3 times more valuable

than your treatment. If you consider that " fee limiting regulation " , then

your sensitivity to any type of consensus regulation is probably too

overwhelming for you to ever see the benefits to our profession. Without

proper justification, the excessive fees and treatments are detrimental to

our entire profession.

It is much easier, (but less healthy for our profession) to blame everybody

else for all of our woes. How many patients go to MDs because it is easier

than taking personal responsibility for their health. Yes, we have been

victimized in the past by the insurance companies, legislators, and medical

doctors among others. Yet some of the blame rests on our inability to

regulate those that are excessive in their fees and treatment. Lets come

together and find a solution for our problems and improve our profession.

All this railing against the OBCE for considering an Administrative Rule

clarifying what constitues excessive treatment and fees, reminds me of the

Medical profession railing against chiropractic treatment as something

harmful to our patients health. . . . . and we all know that wasn't true,

don't we.

Yours in Health,

J. Vissers, DC

Original Message:

-----------------

From: Dr. Willard Bertrand, D.C. mail@...

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 20:54:14 -0700

Subject: RE: Alternare

I did not target you specifically, Dr. Coby. I am simply continuing to spear

points against the proposed fee limiting regulations.

Thanks for keeping me on base!

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer

called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one

of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar

with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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Guest guest

They have a low fee schedule (there is some variation in plans) and limited re-embursement, however, they are fast and make very few errors in claim processing. I've been a member since they started, patients love having it. Ann Goldeen, Astoria

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar with them? Anglen OregonDCs rules:1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve members will be tolerated.2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However, it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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Guest guest

Exactly :

The excessive fee rule is linked but separate and distinct from excessive

treatment (frequency and duration of care). The excessive fee rule is for

the $45.00 cold pack that the provider gives the patient to take home and

use which the clinic paid the vendor $1.50 for. Or the $3,500 charge for

nerve conduction testing that costs $350 at your local medical neurologist's

clinic. The above two examples are real occurrences.

The proposed excessive fee rule is not about setting a " one size fits all "

specific fee schedule which is wrong and is in direct conflict with the

tenets of free enterprise. Oops almost forgot that's right due to our

failure to act relative to the issue of excessive fees the PIP insurance

carriers (Farmers/State Farm) via an amendment to HB 3668 have now stuck us

to a flat fee schedule...that be the fee Worker's Compensation fee

schedule...is that " concrete " enough for ya?

That sound you heard out in your barn was all the chickens (chicken littles

of course), geese, ducks, and other smaller animals (HB3668 fee schedule)

leaving your barn. These are the sounds generally heard just prior to your

huge reliable plow horse (PIP) gallops out of the barn into the sunset never

to return again...then...and only then will we take the drastic step of

closing the barn door...makes perfect sense to me hey it worked like a charm

in 1990 (SB 1197) I'm sure we can make work again.

Vern Saboe, DC

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer

called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one

of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar

with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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Guest guest

Excuse me please, but when was the last time anyone got paid $150 for an

adjustment? There are already limits on what 3rd parties will pay for CPT 98940

through 9894-whatever. And now PIP has the WC fee schedule to limit what one

can charge anyway. So why the big freakin' fuss over this issue?

I had my annual visit to my urologist 2 weeks ago. The nice man chatted with me

for 3 minutes, bent me over and stuck his finger up my rectum and told me

" everything looked OK " , to which I asked, how would he know if " everything

LOOKED OK " unless he had eyes on the end of that digit. He laughed and

corrected his verbage. The bill for this enlightening little tickle? $289.96.

It gives one perspective as to the " value " of your time.

Something to think about. Perhaps you SHOULD be charging more?

Ray DC

Gentlemen

It is not a " fee limiting regulation " like managed care. It is clarifying

that someone who charges $150 for an adjustment that you provide for $50

had better be able to justify why their treatment is 3 times more valuable

than your treatment. If you consider that " fee limiting regulation " , then

your sensitivity to any type of consensus regulation is probably too

overwhelming for you to ever see the benefits to our profession. Without

proper justification, the excessive fees and treatments are detrimental to

our entire profession.

It is much easier, (but less healthy for our profession) to blame everybody

else for all of our woes. How many patients go to MDs because it is easier

than taking personal responsibility for their health. Yes, we have been

victimized in the past by the insurance companies, legislators, and medical

doctors among others. Yet some of the blame rests on our inability to

regulate those that are excessive in their fees and treatment. Lets come

together and find a solution for our problems and improve our profession.

All this railing against the OBCE for considering an Administrative Rule

clarifying what constitues excessive treatment and fees, reminds me of the

Medical profession railing against chiropractic treatment as something

harmful to our patients health. . . . . and we all know that wasn't true,

don't we.

Yours in Health,

J. Vissers, DC

Original Message:

-----------------

From: Dr. Willard Bertrand, D.C. mail@...

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 20:54:14 -0700

Subject: RE: Alternare

I did not target you specifically, Dr. Coby. I am simply continuing to spear

points against the proposed fee limiting regulations.

Thanks for keeping me on base!

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer

called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one

of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar

with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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Guest guest

;

You don't post often enough. Thanks for those cogent thoughts in your last

couple of posts.

Best regards,

Les

RE: Alternare

Excuse me please, but when was the last time anyone got paid $150 for an

adjustment? There are already limits on what 3rd parties will pay for CPT

98940 through 9894-whatever. And now PIP has the WC fee schedule to limit

what one can charge anyway. So why the big freakin' fuss over this issue?

I had my annual visit to my urologist 2 weeks ago. The nice man chatted

with me for 3 minutes, bent me over and stuck his finger up my rectum and

told me " everything looked OK " , to which I asked, how would he know if

" everything LOOKED OK " unless he had eyes on the end of that digit. He

laughed and corrected his verbage. The bill for this enlightening little

tickle? $289.96.

It gives one perspective as to the " value " of your time.

Something to think about. Perhaps you SHOULD be charging more?

Ray DC

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere. However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

Link to comment
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Guest guest

Coby:

re:

Perhaps you should get your facts straight before you chuck spears Willard.

Perhaps you didn't know that Willard used to be known as " Spearchucker Bertrand " , the baddest jose ever to heave a spear or an epithet at a salmon or an adversary in that order.

Just for the record and just kidding.

E. Abrahamson, D.C.

Chiropractic physician

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

Please note " New address " 315 Second Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

503-635-6246

drscott@...

or

info@...

From: " Dr. Coby Hanes " <dochanes@...>

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 19:28:50 -0700

" 'Dr. Willard Bertrand' " <mail@...>, < >

Subject: RE: Alternare

Willard,

I am not sure if you are referring to me when you say " It is interesting that the same people who slam the managed care industry also want to salvage the PIP industry by limiting fees to make us all one big happy rate controlled profession. " If you are referring to me, which I assume you are because you close by saying Back to you Dr. Coby, you are way off base!

I have had very little to say in this whole limiting fees debacle. And, just for the record I am opposed to more bureaucracy and limiting fees. I have full faith in the free market system and universal laws " what comes around goes around. "

Perhaps you should get your facts straight before you chuck spears Willard.

Back to You!

DR. COBY L. HANES

991 NE THIRD STREET

PRINEVILLE, OR 97754

voice: 541.447.7230

fax: 541.447.5775

dochanes@...

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

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OregonDCs rules:

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Guest guest

I want to know where I can get one of those $289.96/3 min. fingers!

E. Abrahamson, D.C.

Chiropractic physician

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

Please note " New address " 315 Second Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

503-635-6246

drscott@...

or

info@...

From: mottray@...

Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 14:05:25 +0000

mvissers@...

Cc:

Subject: RE: Alternare

Excuse me please, but when was the last time anyone got paid $150 for an adjustment? There are already limits on what 3rd parties will pay for CPT 98940 through 9894-whatever. And now PIP has the WC fee schedule to limit what one can charge anyway. So why the big freakin' fuss over this issue?

I had my annual visit to my urologist 2 weeks ago. The nice man chatted with me for 3 minutes, bent me over and stuck his finger up my rectum and told me " everything looked OK " , to which I asked, how would he know if " everything LOOKED OK " unless he had eyes on the end of that digit. He laughed and corrected his verbage. The bill for this enlightening little tickle? $289.96.

It gives one perspective as to the " value " of your time.

Something to think about. Perhaps you SHOULD be charging more?

Ray DC

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,

I have been with Alternare (Not to be confused with Alternair-hair removal lotion for razorphobics) for 2 years. I hate managed care's guts and liver, but they have been business-like, and honest. We got a " more treatment please " request in after the pt. had returned for an aggravation 4 months after finishing care and after we had treated her twice. They retroactively approved of tx. Would that other MCO's were as honest and fair!

E. Abrahamson, D.C.

Chiropractic physician

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

Please note " New address " 315 Second Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

503-635-6246

drscott@...

or

info@...

From: ang320@...

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 17:24:00 EDT

Subject: Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed care/insurer called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were one of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you familiar with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

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,

Yes, you are correct. The idea of a new rule for excess treatment/ fees, is not generated by the OBCE. When the public comes to us, we are obligated to respond. The public includes chiropractors. We often get suggestions from DC's in the field. In addition to hundreds of pages of complaints, staff reports, new doctor orientation development, budget reports, private investigative reports, licensing change reports, CA reports, legislative reports, each agenda has something suggested from the field that we are obligated to discuss and consider. I use the word obligation not as a negative. Just a fact. We put it on the agenda and either send it to committee within the board (peer review, rules advisory etc) or send a letter back to the doctor suggesting where he or she might find help. I hope this helps those reading understand how the OBCE works.

As a member, I'm working to bring the concerns you send me via this listserv, such as the suggested changes to the new doc orientation (Joe Medlin's baby). In addition, I took several docs posted concerns (with their permission), to the rules advisory meeting. Because of your suggestions, there was a general agreement that any of these new rules should pertain to 3rd party payment only. (However, you should know that most of the committee felt this was a good idea already.) New research, cash practices, wellness care and contracted special service fees with patients are being discussed as exempt.

The committee is looking at ways to use specific language to deal with that. We need your help immediately on that. IT's not as easy as it sounds. We have to say it in a way that doesn't imply unequal fee schedules. Anyone able to come to a meeting for input to help us is appreciated. There is also a poly com line you can dial in on to participate remotely if you can't drive to Salem. If nothing else, simply email directly to me including a note of permission for me to copy your email. I'll take it and present it as best I can. The next meeting is tenatively scheduled for July 8th.

Please be patient and understand that the job is pretty time consuming. We are all volunteers running a practice as well. It would be appreciated by me if you could give constructive suggestions without general, blanket statements referring to the "OBCE" as some organization trying to ruin the profession.

Thanks,

Minga Guerrero DC

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I believe that it is the CAO that is proposing the " Excessive Fee Rule " , NOT

the OBCE.

<html><DIV> Knecht DC </DIV>Namaste Chiropractic

<DIV></DIV>1809 NW

<DIV></DIV>Portland, OR 97209

<DIV></DIV>503-226-8010</html>

& gt;From: & quot;mvissers@... & quot; & lt;mvissers@... & gt;

& gt;Reply-mvissers@...

& gt;

& gt;Subject: RE: Alternare

& gt;Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 01:33:12 -0400

& gt;

& gt;Gentlemen

& gt;

& gt;It is not a & quot;fee limiting regulation & quot; like managed care. It is

clarifying

& gt;that someone who charges $150 for an adjustment that you provide for $50

& gt;had better be able to justify why their treatment is 3 times more

valuable

& gt;than your treatment. If you consider that & quot;fee limiting

regulation & quot;, then

& gt;your sensitivity to any type of consensus regulation is probably too

& gt;overwhelming for you to ever see the benefits to our profession.

Without

& gt;proper justification, the excessive fees and treatments are detrimental

to

& gt;our entire profession.

& gt;

& gt;It is much easier, (but less healthy for our profession) to blame

everybody

& gt;else for all of our woes. How many patients go to MDs because it is

easier

& gt;than taking personal responsibility for their health. Yes, we have been

& gt;victimized in the past by the insurance companies, legislators, and

medical

& gt;doctors among others. Yet some of the blame rests on our inability to

& gt;regulate those that are excessive in their fees and treatment. Lets

come

& gt;together and find a solution for our problems and improve our

profession.

& gt;

& gt;All this railing against the OBCE for considering an Administrative Rule

& gt;clarifying what constitues excessive treatment and fees, reminds me of

the

& gt;Medical profession railing against chiropractic treatment as something

& gt;harmful to our patients health. . . . . and we all know that wasn't

true,

& gt;don't we.

& gt;

& gt;Yours in Health,

& gt;

& gt; J. Vissers, DC

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;Original Message:

& gt;-----------------

& gt;From: Dr. Willard Bertrand, D.C. mail@...

& gt;Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 20:54:14 -0700

& gt;

& gt;Subject: RE: Alternare

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;I did not target you specifically, Dr. Coby. I am simply continuing to

spear

& gt;points against the proposed fee limiting regulations.

& gt;

& gt;Thanks for keeping me on base!

& gt;

& gt;Willard Bertrand, D.C.

& gt;

& gt; Alternare

& gt;I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed

care/insurer

& gt;called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were

one

& gt;of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

& gt;chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you

familiar

& gt;with them?

& gt;

& gt; Anglen

& gt;

& gt;OregonDCs rules:

& gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

& gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

& gt;members will be tolerated.

& gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

& gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

& gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

& gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

& gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;---

& gt;Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

& gt;Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

& gt;Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;OregonDCs rules:

& gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

& gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

& gt;members will be tolerated.

& gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

& gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

& gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

& gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

& gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;OregonDCs rules:

& gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

& gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

& gt;members will be tolerated.

& gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

& gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

& gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

& gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

& gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;---

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& gt;---

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& gt;

& gt;

& gt;OregonDCs rules:

& gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

& gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

& gt;members will be tolerated.

& gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

& gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

& gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

& gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

& gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

& gt;

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Guest guest

Yes :

It is the CAO that is proposing both an " Excessive Fee Rule " and an

" Excessive Treatment/Under Treatment Rule. "

Vern Saboe, DC

President Chiropractic Association of Oregon

Alternare

> & gt;I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed

> care/insurer

> & gt;called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they

were

> one

> & gt;of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

> & gt;chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you

> familiar

> & gt;with them?

> & gt;

> & gt; Anglen

> & gt;

> & gt;OregonDCs rules:

> & gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is

to

> & gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on

listserve

> & gt;members will be tolerated.

> & gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

> & gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

> However,

> & gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

> & gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

> his or

> & gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;---

> & gt;Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

> & gt;Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

> & gt;Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;OregonDCs rules:

> & gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is

to

> & gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on

listserve

> & gt;members will be tolerated.

> & gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

> & gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

> However,

> & gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

> & gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

> his or

> & gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;OregonDCs rules:

> & gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is

to

> & gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on

listserve

> & gt;members will be tolerated.

> & gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

> & gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

> However,

> & gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

> & gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

> his or

> & gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;---

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> & gt;Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

> & gt;Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;OregonDCs rules:

> & gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is

to

> & gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on

listserve

> & gt;members will be tolerated.

> & gt;2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

> & gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

> However,

> & gt;it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

> & gt;otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

> his or

> & gt;her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

> & gt;

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Guest guest

,

Thanks for the clarification. The CAO is " proposing " it and the OBCE will

have to " consider " whether to make the proposal an Administrative Rule.

My point was not who was bringing the proposal, but who was bearing the

verbal onslaught for even " considering " it.

Thanks, J. Vissers, DC

Original Message:

-----------------

From: Knecht allenknecht@...

Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 16:41:28 -0700

mvissers@...,

Subject: RE: Alternare

I believe that it is the CAO that is proposing the " Excessive Fee Rule " ,

NOT

the OBCE.

<html><DIV> Knecht DC </DIV>Namaste Chiropractic

<DIV></DIV>1809 NW

<DIV></DIV>Portland, OR 97209

<DIV></DIV>503-226-8010</html>

>From: " mvissers@... " <mvissers@...>

>Reply-mvissers@...

>

>Subject: RE: Alternare

>Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 01:33:12 -0400

>

>Gentlemen

>

>It is not a " fee limiting regulation " like managed care. It is

clarifying

>that someone who charges $150 for an adjustment that you provide for $50

>had better be able to justify why their treatment is 3 times more

valuable

>than your treatment. If you consider that " fee limiting

regulation " , then

>your sensitivity to any type of consensus regulation is probably too

>overwhelming for you to ever see the benefits to our profession.

Without

>proper justification, the excessive fees and treatments are detrimental

to

>our entire profession.

>

>It is much easier, (but less healthy for our profession) to blame

everybody

>else for all of our woes. How many patients go to MDs because it is

easier

>than taking personal responsibility for their health. Yes, we have been

>victimized in the past by the insurance companies, legislators, and

medical

>doctors among others. Yet some of the blame rests on our inability to

>regulate those that are excessive in their fees and treatment. Lets

come

>together and find a solution for our problems and improve our

profession.

>

>All this railing against the OBCE for considering an Administrative Rule

>clarifying what constitues excessive treatment and fees, reminds me of

the

>Medical profession railing against chiropractic treatment as something

>harmful to our patients health. . . . . and we all know that wasn't

true,

>don't we.

>

>Yours in Health,

>

> J. Vissers, DC

>

>

>Original Message:

>-----------------

>From: Dr. Willard Bertrand, D.C. mail@...

>Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 20:54:14 -0700

>

>Subject: RE: Alternare

>

>

>I did not target you specifically, Dr. Coby. I am simply continuing to

spear

>points against the proposed fee limiting regulations.

>

>Thanks for keeping me on base!

>

>Willard Bertrand, D.C.

>

> Alternare

>I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed

care/insurer

>called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were

one

>of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

>chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you

familiar

>with them?

>

> Anglen

>

>OregonDCs rules:

>1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

>foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

>members will be tolerated.

>2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

>3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

>it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

>otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

>her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

>

>

>

>---

>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

>Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

>

>

>OregonDCs rules:

>1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

>foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

>members will be tolerated.

>2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

>3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

>it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

>otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

>her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>OregonDCs rules:

>1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

>foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

>members will be tolerated.

>2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

>3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

>it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

>otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

>her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

>

>

>

>---

>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

>Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

>

>---

>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

>Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

>

>

>OregonDCs rules:

>1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

>foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

>members will be tolerated.

>2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

>3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

>it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

>otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

>her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

>

>

>

>

>

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Guest guest

Willard,

Just call the board office and ask our staff for the polycom number. I posted it last week, but don't have it just now. I want to make sure you get the right number. I'm not sure if the number stays the same. They can give you the procedure for calling in. The line is open at a certain time for each meeting.

You lost me about your last comment ,"after a drive like that I would expect to talk for several hours, which I am certain would be atypical for even a board member." Do you mean atypical to drive from so far to reach the meeting? Or atypical to talk for several hours? Both are typical of the volunteers.

Minga Guerrero DC

In a message dated 5/17/2004 10:03:54 AM Pacific Standard Time, mail@... writes:

Hi Dr. Minga:

Please what is the polycom line number? I will be happy to participate via this method. I would have to drive 12 hours to participate otherwise. After a drive like that I would expect to talk for several hours, which I am certain would be atypical for even a board member. The phone participation is perfect for this common situation.

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Guest guest

Hi Dr. Minga:

Please what is the polycom

line number? I will be happy to participate via this method. I would have to

drive 12 hours to participate otherwise. After a drive like that I would expect

to talk for several hours, which I am certain would be atypical for even a

board member. The phone participation is perfect for this common situation.

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

Re: Alternare

,

Yes, you are correct. The idea of a

new rule for excess treatment/ fees, is not generated by the OBCE. When

the public comes to us, we are obligated to respond. The public

includes chiropractors. We often get suggestions from DC's in the field.

In addition to hundreds of pages of complaints, staff reports, new doctor

orientation development, budget reports, private investigative reports,

licensing change reports, CA reports, legislative reports, each agenda has

something suggested from the field that we are obligated to discuss and

consider. I use the word obligation not as a negative. Just a fact. We put it

on the agenda and either send it to committee within the board (peer review, rules

advisory etc) or send a letter back to the doctor suggesting where he or she

might find help. I hope this helps those reading understand how the OBCE works.

As a member, I'm working to bring

the concerns you send me via this listserv, such as the suggested changes to

the new doc orientation (Joe Medlin's baby). In addition, I took several docs

posted concerns (with their permission), to the rules advisory

meeting. Because of your suggestions, there was a general

agreement that any of these new rules should pertain to 3rd party payment

only. (However, you should know that most of the committee felt this was a good

idea already.) New research, cash practices, wellness care and contracted

special service fees with patients are being discussed as exempt.

The committee is looking at ways to

use specific language to deal with that. We need your help immediately on that.

IT's not as easy as it sounds. We have to say it in a way that doesn't imply

unequal fee schedules. Anyone able to come to a meeting for input to help us is

appreciated. There is also a poly com line you can dial in on to participate

remotely if you can't drive to Salem. If nothing else, simply email directly to

me including a note of permission for me to copy your email. I'll take it and present

it as best I can. The next meeting is tenatively scheduled for July 8th.

Please be patient and understand

that the job is pretty time consuming. We are all volunteers running a practice

as well. It would be appreciated by me if you could give constructive

suggestions without general, blanket statements referring to the

" OBCE " as some organization trying to ruin the profession.

Thanks,

Minga Guerrero DC

OregonDCs

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Guest guest

Dr. Ray.

Maybe we should put in a rule to limit insufficient fees. They seem to

be damaging our profession more than anything in the excessive arena.

Say Dr. Ray I give a complete physical for $78 includes a proctoscope

and the rest.

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

RE: Alternare

Excuse me please, but when was the last time anyone got paid $150 for an

adjustment? There are already limits on what 3rd parties will pay for

CPT 98940 through 9894-whatever. And now PIP has the WC fee schedule to

limit what one can charge anyway. So why the big freakin' fuss over

this issue?

I had my annual visit to my urologist 2 weeks ago. The nice man chatted

with me for 3 minutes, bent me over and stuck his finger up my rectum

and told me " everything looked OK " , to which I asked, how would he know

if " everything LOOKED OK " unless he had eyes on the end of that digit.

He laughed and corrected his verbage. The bill for this enlightening

little tickle? $289.96.

It gives one perspective as to the " value " of your time.

Something to think about. Perhaps you SHOULD be charging more?

Ray DC

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Guest guest

THE CAO REQUESTED AN EXCESSIVE FEE RULE!?!?

Would any current Board member care to respond to this?

I would have to see a copy of minutes from the initial meeting when the

" excessive fee rule " discussion began. Perhaps these could be published.

I certainly hope this excessive fee rule debate doesn't turn out to be the

" tail wagging the dog. " We have enough division and distraction within the

profession without ANY one group going off half-cocked to conduct a moral

crusade through influence of the Board.

Something like this (if true...) would not only reflect badly on the

profession and the State organizations, it would reveal our Board to be

inept, compromised (i,e., corruptible) and of questionable efficacy in

protecting the citizens of Oregon.

In other words, if a handful of chiropractors can unilaterally set policy

for the entire profession, and therefore the citizens of Oregon, without

these groups being directly involved, than the Boards ability to " protect "

the public (ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE CHIROPRACTORS) comes under question.

Anybody want to buy a chiropractic (whatever that means anymore)

practice...?

M. s, D.C.

M. s, D.C.

Alternare

> & gt;I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed

> care/insurer

> & gt;called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they

were

> one

> & gt;of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

> & gt;chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you

> familiar

> & gt;with them?

> & gt;

> & gt; Anglen

> & gt;

> & gt;OregonDCs rules:

> & gt;1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is

to

> & gt;foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on

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> & gt;3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

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to

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Guest guest

imho, it is not the role of the OBCE to create a rule regarding excessive

fees—or minimal

fees, either. Fee rules are legal if promulgated under contracts between

providers and

insurers, as in HMOs and other managed care organizations, or mandated by law as

in

workers' compensation or PIP. It is otherwise up to the payer (the patient or

third party) to

determine if the fees charged are within the usual and customary range for the

geographic

area, and to dispute the fees if they exceed this range. The discussion about

the proposed

excess treatment rule is a separate issue from excessive fees.

J. Burke, D.C.

Sent by Medscape Mail: Free Portable E-mail for Professionals on the Move

http://www.medscape.com

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Guest guest

Geeze , why don't you tell us how you really feel!

Actually, I very much appreciate your candid approach and agree with

much of what you say. Vern is convinced that this will make us look

good in the eyes of the legislature and the insurance companies and that

they will be gracious enough to spare us the limitations and caps seen

in other states. Hog Wash! The insurance companies will continue to

try to limit utilization and reimbursement, just as any other business

tries to eliminate overhead in order to increase their profit margin.

Vern is very dedicated to this profession, I know because I served on

the CAO executive board with him. However, the CAO would have much

greater participation if it were to refocus on improving the self-esteem

of Oregon chiropractors, bring doctors together and facilitating healthy

discussions. You cannot legislate morality! However, you can improve

the collective consciousness of the entire group, so that the chances of

individual chiropractors making bad choices becomes much more remote.

DR. COBY L. HANES

991 NE THIRD STREET

PRINEVILLE, OR 97754

voice: 541.447.7230

fax: 541.447.5775

dochanes@...

Re: Re: Alternare

Doesn't this in turn suggest to the Legislature, State, and Insurance

authorities (what IS an " insurance authority " anyway...?) that we

HAVEN'T " been willing to police ourselves " all these pervious years!!!

Remember, insurance made a 42% profit as an industry last year. Medicine

is a 1 trillion dollar a year BUSINESS, 14% of our GNP, kills 783,000

people, and charges 282 billion dollars in UNNECESSARY services each

year. SAIF has billions in reserve, has been paying Goldschmidt (who

ADMITS to having sex with a 14 yo girl) $25,000 a month for over 10

years, and is about to be dissolved by Kulongoski who is going to spend

the money. State Farm and Farmers (among others) have been found guilty

of FRAUD in claims management and car repairs, and they continue to

implement new, illegal scams once their current scam is uncovered (i.e.,

Colossus).

Yet, in the face of all of this, we SOMEHOW see OURSELVES as the sex

offenders...the overcharges...the over utilizers...and the insurance

defrauders.

I'm sorry, but I think we have a SICK group of Chiropractors here in

Oregon (by sick I mean not physically, emotionally or spiritually well)

and a CERTAIN group of these wants to continually flog the profession

over their own (personal and professional) feelings of inferiority,

powerlessness and ineptitude.

I'm sorry, but I'm just not buying into the message that Chiropractic is

The Evil Empire. Are we perfect? No. Do we have problems? Yes! As I

see it, our problems are of: UNDER UTILIZATION, UNDER COMPENSATION, OVER

PERSECUTION, PREJUDICES, ANTI-TRADE VIOLATION, RACKETEERING, AND

SLANDER!!!

M. s, D.C.

Re: Re: Alternare

>

>

> imho, it is not the role of the OBCE to create a rule regarding

> excessive fees-or minimal fees, either. Fee rules are legal if

> promulgated under contracts between providers and

> insurers, as in HMOs and other managed care organizations, or mandated

by

> law as in

> workers' compensation or PIP. It is otherwise up to the payer (the

patient

> or third party) to

> determine if the fees charged are within the usual and customary range

for

> the geographic

> area, and to dispute the fees if they exceed this range. The

discussion

> about the proposed

> excess treatment rule is a separate issue from excessive fees.

>

> J. Burke, D.C.

>

> Sent by Medscape Mail: Free Portable E-mail for Professionals on the

> Move http://www.medscape.com

>

>

> OregonDCs rules:

> 1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is

> to foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on

> listserve members will be tolerated. 2. Always sign your e-mails with

> your first and last name. 3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail

> could end up anywhere.

However,

> it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

> otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

> his

or

> her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

> Groups Links

>

>

>

>

>

OregonDCs rules:

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Guest guest

Dear Dr. Vissers:

I do not think that $150 is an excessive charge for an adjustment --

now, you apparently do. This is exactly the problem. How can you

objectively prove that that $150 is an excessive fee?

If I were to charge that fee for an adjustment to a cash patient then

that is between myself and the patient, not the OBCE or the State of

Oregon. IF I were to charge that to an auto insurance then they would

probably limit my fee to customary fees. I would have the choice to go

to court where all would be decided by a judge or jury, at little or no

cost to the OBCE. Seems simple enough. OBCE steps in with fee

restrictions at considerable expense ($5000 for the defending

chiropractor's legal fees for a lawyer with NO FEE RESTRICTIONS + OBCE

legal fees from limited resources).

Figure the adjustment fee of $150 goes to pay for an education (with 3

board certifications) that costs over $150,000, plus my house that is

about $300,000 plus my car at $30,000 and my 7 kids, 3 of whom are in

college to the tune of $75,000 per year. And then there are incidentals

like paying $5000 annually for the lawyers to protect me from government

and insurance intrusions into my freedom to practice, and so on. You can

see that it all adds up quickly. Would these be satisfactory criteria to

set my fees? I bet not. It " should " be set up based upon what committee

thought an Oregon chirorpactor deserved, since I am after all, only

worth $50, even if someone is willing to cost me over $5000 to defend my

fee. It seems like something that is so expensive to defend should be

worth more than the price of its defense. So I think that $5000 per

adjustment might be actually closer to a fee worth the trouble of

defending it.

As an additional example of this dilemma: what is the economic value of

Yellowstone National Park? Is it just worth the value of the real

estate? How about the value of replacing it with another park? How about

the value of the feeling it gives you to just know that Yellowstone will

be available for a future vacation? What about the value of the lost

mineral and oil reserves? How about the political value for the opponent

of the Presidential candidate who says they want to close it?

As you can see setting fees should always be left to the market, since

governments and even economists are usually poor at judging the value of

services or goods. Last I looked, the OBCE was part of the government.

Governments should set policies, not fees. Show me a government in

history that permanently set the fees for its electorate and I will show

you the history of a government in decline.

Your intentions are good, but the results will be harmful to free

enterprise. The end will not justify the means. It will only serve to

embarrass the profession in a new way.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Willard Bertrand, D.C.

Alternare

I recently recieved an invitation to join some sort of managed

care/insurer

called ALTERNARE. They just started here in Arizona, but said they were

one

of the largest insurers in Washington and Oregon. They cover massage,

chiropractic, acupuncture, nutritional counseling. Are any of you

familiar

with them?

Anglen

OregonDCs rules:

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3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

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OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

---

Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.681 / Virus Database: 443 - Release Date: 5/10/2004

OregonDCs rules:

1. Keep correspondence professional; the purpose of the listserve is to

foster communication and collegiality. No personal attacks on listserve

members will be tolerated.

2. Always sign your e-mails with your first and last name.

3. The listserve is not secure; your e-mail could end up anywhere.

However,

it is against the rules of the listserve to copy, print, forward, or

otherwise distribute correspondence written by another member without

his or

her consent, unless all personal identifiers have been removed.

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