DC's Fear ASHN reprisals

[Guest guest]

Here in the land of the free and the home of the brave, it appears that

chiropractors live in fear of an MCO, namely American Specialty Health

Network (ASHN).

I have caved in and joined some managed care panels. I have tried to be

selective as to which ones I join because they are akin to a business

partnership so SHOULD BE open to negotiation when signing. Apparently thus

far, they have been offered like a fast food franchise where the conditions

are laid out with no variation allowed.

These are accounts I have heard but may be incorrect. I am appealing to

those of you with firsthand knowledge to correct me if I am wrong.

When chiropractors met at the local chiropractic college, contracted

chiropractors were sent letters which threatened RICO prosecution should

they organize a boycott.

Chiropractors privately say that they are forbidden from contacting patients

with whom they have established a doctor-patient relationship if they quit

ASHN's provider panel.

They are prohibited from contacting old patients even if they were patients

before they signed on with ASHN.

They are forbidden from contacting patients even to inform them of new

information regarding their specific condition or areas of health care which

may benefit them.

And it appears that this is an agreement made by the doctor, when signing

with ASHN.

Chiropractors decry the unfairness of certain panels and encourage people to

refuse to join them only to appear on the panel's roster as a participating

physician.

But we later find that:

Chiropractors privately report that they may be kept on the roster of ASHN

in published panel lists and websites for months or years after they leave

the panel. This makes ASHN's provider network falsely appear larger than

reality.

Publishing this false information is legally allowed in the contract signed

by the doctor with ASHN even IF OTHER CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT ARE

CHANGED, such as reimbursement.

This is a conversation between chiropractors on this elist. If you forward

it to ASHN or one of their friends, please have the integrity to sign it,

" Weasel for the opposition of free enterprise. "

E. Abrahamson, D.C.