My treatment plan: My Response to Dr. Hacmac and the OCA Board - Dr. Vern Saboe

[Guest guest]

Lots of eloquent words have been said. In short: Vern must be re-enstated, or better yet his dismissal voided and the folks responsible for this fiasco replaced ASAP. Of course, in as a civilized manner as possible!

M Kalb MS DCWellness Chiropractor and Health Coachwww.DrKalb.com 541.488.3001

On Dec 12, 2010, at 1:25 PM, Abrahamson wrote:

Commenting as we go:

PIP in Colorado:

Do most of us even KNOW how bad it has been in Colorado to lose PIP reimbursement to managed care? We hear mention of it from others but we don’t need to know because we “don’t like politics” and we have a competent lobbyist! Thanks for saving our collective butts on this one, Vern.

OK, forget it; there are too many line items to comment on; even for me.

I’ll just say,

Powerful email, Vern.

In the Pierce Brosnan movie (pause for the gals to sigh), “Dante’s Peak”, the city council meets about a perceived danger to the community because the local volcano is making seismic noises. They learn that the visiting scientist’s team disagree about the danger and that the city should NOT be warned to prepare for an impending evacuation. One of the council said, [paraphrasing] “This meeting should never have been called, and the meeting itself causes alarm and destroys confidence in us.”

I mention this because we cannot afford a fight at this time. There is an even higher level of activity in Salem than usual:

Obamacare is being hammered out at the state level;

A new governor has retaken the helm with a primary focus on health care;

Our enemies (political and market share) are more organized;

The economy has people in desperate state of mind making desperate measures more likely;

The perception that we are in disarray will embolden our adversaries, weaken some of our lukewarm supporters, and cost a lot of energy in our own ranks.

(Ever had an argument in a confined space...like your car? Tom Hanks, playing astronaut Jim Lovell, in “Apollo 13” wouldn’t let his two crewmates yell at each other by saying, “We are not going to go off in here, bouncing around like ping pong balls, and end up in the same place.”)

It is critical that the meeting next week get our association past this crisis so that we can enjoy the holidays and come back in the new year totally engaged in building our practices and expanding our influence in Salem, because things that do not grow will certainly decay.

For you who buy into the whole Bible thang, the instruction Book recommends a way to support our leaders so that we can practice in peace; or that we may lead a “peaceful and quiet life”:

1st 2:1

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life.

I’m only in charge of one employee and 6 renters and am overwhelmed by the job.

So I’ll spend a couple of minutes today praying for Vern, Mazzara, our board, Minga and the good people who are trying to move the process forward, and although I think he’s sort of a hasn’t-learned-from-European-history borderline socialist, my Governor Elect, Kitzhaber.

What leader doesn’t agree that they need all the help they can get!!!

Respectfully,

E. Abrahamson, D.C.

Chiropractic physician

Lake Oswego Chiropractic Clinic

315 Second Street

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

503-635-6246

Website: http://www.lakeoswegochiro.com

From: Vern Saboe <vsaboe@...>

Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:29:54 -0800

' Hacmac' <ehacmac@...>, < >, ' ' <msmith@...>, ' Jennings' <rjennings@...>, 'GattiEmail' <Gatti@...>, 'Jim ' <jnelson1@...>, "' R. Jennings'" <jim@...>, 'Ron Sayer' <rsayer@...>, 'Lyle Bosket' <lbosket@...>, 'Jeff Thayer' <jthayer@...>, 'Best' <cbest@...>

Cc: Dave McTeague <Dave.MCTEAGUE@...>, 'ph Brimhall' <JBrimhall@...>, ' Winterstein' <jwinterstein@...>, 'Bryce Milam' <bjmilam@...>, "'B. Bjornson'" <bjornsons@...>, Vern Saboe <vsaboe@...>, 'Jeri Saboe' <jerijsaboe@...>, ' Kehr' <jkehr@...>, "' J. Holzapfel, DC'" <kjholzdc@...>, <millerbunch6@...>, <dduemling1@...>, <gchase97203@...>, 'anthony saboe' <ajspine1@...>, 'Dan Beeson' <drdan@...>, Beebe <daniel.beebe@...>, "Coby L. Hanes" <dochanes@...>, 'Lyle Zurflu' <drzurflu@...>, 'Lyndon McGill' <twogems@...>, Palmer <higgins@...>, <AboWoman@...>, ' Grice' <rongrice@...>, 'Dr Dale' <drdaledc@...>, ' Vissers' <mvissers@...>, <anngoldeen@...>, 'Bruce Chaser' <bchaser@...>, 'bradrethwilldc' <bradrethwilldc@...>, "'Dr. Scarborough'" <drtlc@...>, <dkollardc@...>, <drnickb@...>, ' Heath' <prochiro@...>, 'Bluepearl2001' <bluepearl2001@...>, "' G. Hartje, DC'" <billhartje@...>, Carpentier <carpentier@...>, "' S. Feinberg'" <feinberg@...>, Freeman <forensictrauma@...>, "'Dr. Kahn'" <gregorykahndc@...>, ' McBurney' <info@...>, 'johncc48' <johncc48@...>, <mdejanadc@...>, <pegastianpress@...>, 'Rod DC' <rjacksondc@...>, 'Sunita Bhasin' <dr.sbhasin2008@...>, 'Tamara Blum' <tamarablumdc@...>

Subject: RE: "My Response to Dr. Hacmac and the OCA Board - Dr. Vern Saboe"

Dear Colleagues,

You asked that I stay off the listserve relative to my responding to the fax I received from the OCA office notifying me of my termination as your lobbyist. You said you wanted to respond, to be out in front, and for me to stay out of your way. Your collective responses have been both overwhelming and humbling. I feel very blessed and thank you all. Some of you may disagree, but it is time to respond to this apparent “official” email post by the OCA Executive Board. I simply cannot remain silent I apologize for the length of this post but “it has come to that” and I respectfully ask that you read the following in its entirety. It is my sincere hope that my service through the years to you, my valued colleagues, has earned me at least this much and if so, I sincerely thank you.

Dear Dr. Hacmac and members of the Board,

You refer to “In only two years…” the current OCA had a “ny of successful political actions…”

Agreed. In two years (2008 – 2010) since the formation of the OCA, we did indeed have several political successes. The new clinical justification administrative rule language I wrote in 2005 employing “Evidence Based Outcomes Management” relative to curative care and that which helped save Oregon’s auto PIP from being swallowed by a “closed panel PPO” scheme much like Colorado was permanently adopted by the OBCE in 2008. This administrative rule was instrumental in our getting Senate Bill 585, the only law in the nation that actually prohibits auto PIP insurers from entering into managed care contracts. During this period we achieved several Administrative Rules and Forms that are helping to stop the inappropriate “steering” of injured workers to particular clinics or provider e.g. “the company doctor.” We had a series of training seminars on the new “6th Edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment,” one of many fund raisers for “ICE PAC.” We strategically dovetailed House Bill 2045 passed in 2009 which I authored and now allows chiropractic physicians to rate permanent impairment within Oregon’s Workers’ Comp System. This was key because many injured workers were being “steered” to the local Occupational Medical Clinics and since many of these same doctors “moonlight” as IME doctors for the various IME vendors, their ability to “find impairment” was in my opinion suspect. We also achieved the passage of our House Bill 2369 that addresses the “predatory third party claims settlements” in auto injury cases. As author of this bill concept, the strategy was to have the ability for consumers to give these “settlement” checks back to the “at fault insurer” within five business days if they found out later that they were indeed injured and in need of treatment. The bill also prohibits these settlements (when your patient keeps the $500 carrot) from disrupting your patient’s PIP benefits and your doctor-patient relationships. So yes, we had a “litany of successful political actions.”

You say; “ Recently our motives have been questioned and our process of governing challenged. Much of the uproar is fueled by distorted facts, half-truths, and misplaced allegiances. ..”

What specifically are you referring to as per “distorted facts, half-truths, and misplaced allegiances?” The general membership and your colleagues at large deserve specifics. As to your comment “our motives have been questioned and our process of governing challenged.” On November 18 of this year the OCA Leadership mailed a statewide member notice calling for a “General Membership Meeting” which was held at the University of Western States Hampton Hall. The meeting was well attended by 80 to 100 or so doctors from around the state that came to the meeting to voice their concerns and ideas. That night we passed several motions and elected a 5-member “Nominating Committee.” When questions were asked if voting could take place legal counsel to the Board stated, “Yes this is a General Membership Meeting.”

In regards to, “…our process of governing challenged.” On the night of November 18 your colleagues in attendance referred to the OCA bylaws that clearly state that all of the current special interim Board members terms ended on December 31, 2010. The bylaws also state that the “Nominating Committee” will be elected by a simple majority vote of those members present (80-100 that night) at a General Membership meeting. In contrast, the current OCA Board had self-selected or appointed their own “in-house” nominating committee revealing a Power Point slide of the doctors who the Board had selected in direct conflict with the bylaws. The bylaws state that the nominating committee will be elected from the members present at the general membership meeting. There was also mention by one of the Board members (sitting in the gallery) that the Board members had agreed among themselves that six of the current Board members shall simply continue on the Board without any input by the general membership, which also conflicts with our bylaws. Yes this type of unilateral activity by the Board did lead to colleagues being concerned about the Interim Board’s “…process of governing.”

You state in part, “Much of the uproar is fueled by distorted facts, half-truths, and “misplaced allegiances.” As to those “distorted facts,” “half-truths,” and “misplaced allegiances” I have now heard from many colleagues (emails and phone calls) around the state who have apparently been told by a member of the OCA staff and several individual members of this interim Board several “distorted facts” and “half-truths” and have suffered through the following “rumor-mill” comments by your fellow Board members. “Vern staged a coup” referring of course to the November 18th OCA General Membership meeting scheduled by the OCA leadership. This was the comment actually made or something very similar by one of the OCA Board members at one point in the meeting. This kind of unprofessional comment and demeanor toward his fellow colleagues many whom had traveled from afar suggested that the 80 to 100 doctors in attendance were nothing more than “lemmings” following my orders. The “truth” and reality was these colleagues were at the Nov. 18 General Membership Meeting because they had numerous concerns which had accumulated over the last few months regarding actions taken by OCA staff, individual Board members, and the Board itself. I believe the November 18 meeting had the largest number of members present of any General Membership meeting in the past and colleagues were present because of concern.

Next it was stated by a current Board member that, “Vern wants to break up the association.” I nor anyone else wants our association to splinter, we are much stronger politically together than apart. When we had two associations I worked (communicated) for years behind the scenes with a key Board member of ODOC. Later when we were both Presidents of the two associations we worked toward unity but it wasn’t yet to be. It was our colleague Dr. as President of ODOC who in fact finally got the job done with the help of many other colleagues and the Gatti Law Firm attorneys Mike and Jennings who continue to be my good friends. I have now heard “No we don’t really know what that $4,200 Vern was drawing from ICE PAC was for.” Or something to that effect, my translation Vern had been stealing from ICE PAC. After roughly seven years of lobbing at the Capitol the first four years of which I was not compensated, my practice services had dropped right at $90,000 per year. This was the agreed upon arrangement between myself and the then CAO Executive Board which was to replace $75,000 of that lost practice income. I was told at the time that the CAO could only afford to give me $2,000 of that from the general fund and was instructed to take the balance from ICE PAC ($4,200). This was an agreement suggested by and approved by the then CAO Board members and that which both staff and the current interim Board members were well aware of. I will have copies of email communications, ICE PAC expenditure sheets, and three prior CAO Board members who will be in attendance December 14 who can if necessary, validate this arrangement and dispel this “half-truth.” Recall I have but one “client,” you my colleagues, in contrast to the many lay lobbyists we’ve hired through the years who had multiple clients. To gain the proper perspective, several of us were discussing lay lobbyist Chuck who we believe we retained for roughly 13 years circa 1985-1998 and we believe at a cost of around $70,000 per year and he had other clients. That translates into roughly $900,000 + over those 13 years and we accomplished what? The next lay lobbyist was Mr. Larry Harvey which we recall cost $84,000 per year and was also to provide “public relations” or at least the name of his company implied such (Larry Harvey Public Relations).

Continuing with “distorted facts” and “half-truths” more recently I have been told that a current Board member told at least one colleague in Corvallis that, “Vern doesn’t care about scope of practice issues nor of “wellness.” My father practiced both chiropractic and naturopathy when he started our practice in 1956. Dad preached “wellness,” the concept if we keep our patients in homeostasis or a state of optimal health (wellness) they are much less likely to get sick in the first place. Health promotion and true wellness has always been a focal point of our practice. Health promotion and wellness is key to making health care affordable and relative to Oregon’s coming universal health care system (HB-2009). Many weeks ago Governor Kitzhaber asked that I review his draft document “Health Care Reform in Oregon” and give comment as per my perspective as a chiropractic physician. If you didn’t know any better and read this document, you would think it was written by a chiropractic or naturopathic physician as it emphasizes “health promotion and wellness.” Governor Kitzhaber’s draft document validates that we don’t have a “health care system” we have a “sick care system” a crisis care system. Governor Kitzhaber and I have now had several conversations about how the “medical model” of health care doesn’t work and that the key trouble with our current health care system isn’t so much how we fund health care, but how we deliver health care. The “medical model” isn’t working, we need something different. It is so ironic to hear this latest rumor cast by a current Board member as Tuesday of this week I traveled to Medford Oregon to meet with our good colleague and my long time friend Dr. Colwell. We had a meeting with Senator Alan “Doc” Bates, an osteopathic family physician who is a member of the Senate Health Committees and very involved with health care reform in Oregon. Dr. Colwell and I first spoke with Senator Bates of the physical therapist’s bill which I have been lobbying against for several months (at the direction of the current Board). The PTs bill would prohibit other health care providers including chiropractors, from marketing or saying to the public that we provide “physical therapy” services. Following our discussion with the Senator, he is now a no vote, however their bill is not going to get a work session (voted on) they will receive “window dressing” hearings from the Senate and House if introduced in both chambers. I then brought up with the Senator the pre-scheduled phone conversation I had earlier that morning with the Governor. Senator Bates and my State Senator here in Albany, Senator Morse, are very involved and are key players with regards to Oregon’s coming universal health care system (HB-2009). I informed them I told Governor Kitzhaber that if there were a provider group that could help Oregon’s universal health care system achieve the “Triple Aim,” it would be us. The “Triple Aim” described in Governor Kitzhaber’s draft document (and within HB-2009) refers to three goals key to reforming our health care system. They are - 1. Improve the health of a defined population (our patients). 2. Reduce the per capita cost. 3. Improve patient satisfaction which includes increased patient safety. I told Senator Bates I explained to the Governor how my profession was perfect for this task, as we focus on health promotion and wellness “eat well,” “move well,” and “think well.” “Heard that before?” I asked. In addition, we have excellent studies showing significant savings when consumers can select a chiropractic physician as their primary care provider (Illinois, California studies). That these same studies reveal high patient satisfaction and improved patient safety, especially in regards to reducing “adverse drug events.” These studies revealed significant drops in prescription drug use when patients were managed by my colleagues. I could easily go on, but my post is already going to be way to long and I’m just getting warmed up. Senator “Doc” Bates made a final statement, “You guys,” meaning chiropractic physicians and the naturopaths, “will be very important in helping make this new system work.” So much for that “half-truth” or was that a “distorted fact?” that “Vern doesn’t care about scope of practice issues or wellness.”

Next the latest “distorted fact” or “half-truth” I’ll let you colleagues determine which, “Vern had missed some key bills, causing the Board to lose some faith in him and so they only asked him to focus on work comp and PI.” In my opinion, the “key bills” referenced by this particular current OCA Board member is to House Bill 2009 passed in 2009 and is Oregon’s universal health care bill or what some would call “Oregon’s version of ObamaCare.” I and then adjunct lobbyist Bob Oleson were watching this huge bill as it was developing. It is 536 pages and included an astronomical number of amendments. As such, in the initial stages, the discussion revolved around conceptual models and had not gotten down to the detail wherein we would provide specific input as a profession. Though inappropriate, it is quite understandable this Board member busy and more focused on the daily grind of practice, would fall victim to the current apparent “win at all costs” mentality and perpetuated yet another “distorted fact” or “half-truth.” However, with that said, we are fast approaching the period wherein in we can give needed and meaningful input relative to the critical role chiropractic physicians will play in Oregon’s health care reform movement and not simply in the realm of musculoskeletal conditions. Governor Kitzhaber views chiropractic physicians as critical to helping fill the current need for primary care providers which is only going to grow with the leading edge of the baby boomers set to retire and onto the Medicare rolls. This critical need for primary care chiropractic physicians will increase yet again when the more than 1 million Oregonians are added to the health care system via Oregon’s universal health care system set to come on-line in 2015. As your ACA Delegate, we were successful in gaining the very important “Non-Discrimination Provision” within the federal health care bill (ObamaCare) which prohibits discrimination against provider types to “ level the playing field” and we will make sure Oregon’s universal health care follows that federal mandate so our colleagues are finally treated fairly and respectfully.

Yet another recent “distorted fact” or “half-truth” is that (yes again from a current Board member) “Vern likes to take all the credit for everything that has happened in Salem” or something close to that. Our legislative wins in Salem and in Washington, DC are the cumulative result of hundreds of doctors here in Oregon and literally thousands of doctors all across our nation stepping up and getting involved when asked. Our legislative wins since 2005 here in Oregon have been the result of colleagues all across the state stepping up when asked. For example, the 66 doctors that agreed to donate their time and travel from all over the state to come to the Capitol as volunteers for our “Chiropractor of the Day” program. Some of these doctors who were selectively chosen because they were actively treating their Senator or Representative. We made sure these doctors were present in the “chamber” as they were announced by the Senate President or Speaker of the House. Without exception the doctor’s Senator or Representative would stand and tell their individual “chiropractic miracle story” for all 60 Representatives, all the capitol staff, and people in the Gallery, to hear. It was the same in the Senate Chamber, in a word, it was “huge” for us, you simply cannot buy that kind of PR. Our success came because of the doctors all across Oregon that stepped up when asked and held “grass roots” fund raisers at their private homes, clubs, or local restaurants, for legislators running for re-election or first time candidates who were good on our issues. Our success has been due to the accumulative effect of colleagues also attending functions held by candidates when asked, getting involved in that legislator’s campaign planting campaign lawn signs, knocking on doors, and yes giving donations directly. Shortly after winning the democratic primary, Kitzhaber performed a statewide multi-city campaign tour to Pendleton, Bend, Medford, Eugene, Corvallis, Salem, Lincoln City, and Portland. Our colleagues stepped up yet again when asked and were present at each and every stop introducing themselves and giving the profession’s support. The 60 to 80 doctors traveling from all over the state to come to the capitol for our “Chiropractic Day at the Capitol” to lobby to our Senator and State Representatives has had an accumulative affect as well. The many doctors who traveled when asked to give testimony on many of our bills against negative legislation, such as the physical therapist’s bill, and on public safety issues revealing our profession, is also concerned for the “common good” (yes ODOC’s playbook) of all Oregonians. So no, our past, current, and future political success have been, are, and will always be due to the collective work of many, many “shoulders pushing that great stone wheel up the mountain” and yes we are nearing the top together.

Your reference to the 80 to 100 doctors who traveled from all over the state (e.g. Astoria, Day, Ashland, Medford, Eugene, Salem, Bend, Corvallis, Albany, etc.) to be present at a General Membership Meeting to voice their concerns and hopeful solutions as, “…a vocal band of Association members,” they are your colleagues. You then suggest, “…to replace the entire current Board of Directors,” was the goal of your colleagues during the Nov. 18 meeting. This was also yet another message given by yet another current Board member during the Board’s apparent phoning calling campaign of “win at any cost,” “…they tried to removed the entire interim Board” was the “battle cry.” The truth is no such motion nor even the idea of removing the entire Board was suggested but just the reverse. A review of the meeting minutes of the Nov. 18 general membership meeting reveals that several colleagues in the gallery actually suggested the need for current Board members to continue on the Board for continuity and in the spirit of unity to quote you, “…do the right thing,” and “Doing the right thing is not always easy.”

As to, “There have been concerns and distortions promulgated regarding our choice of lobbyists.” Please again give specifics, your colleague deserve it.

You say, “We recruited and contracted with a professional lobbyist/publicist with extensive experience...” It was the understanding of the general membership and one current Board member that no contracts were to be signed with the two lobbyists at the time of the November 18, General Membership Meeting. A motion was passed giving very specific instructions to the current Board not to sign any contracts with the two lobbyist and that the issue was to be taken up by the newly elected Board in January 2011. In addition the motion specifically stated that the two lobbyist were to continue to received their normal fees until such time. Reviewing the Nov. 18 draft meeting minutes just obtained from the Board’s attorney confirm this though this section of the minutes shall be amended to reflect the exact wording of the motion a printed hard copy of which was given to the Board Secretary. Please clarify if the Board has indeed signed a contract with this lay lobbyist for $60,000/year and if so when? If you have signed a contract with the lay lobbyist, was it prior to the November 18th meeting?

With regards to this lay lobbyist’s, “…extensive experience.” According to Ms. Mazzara’s resume, her political “in the field” experience appears to have started in January of 2007 as “Exec. Assistant to the Labor Commissioner.” She then moved to “Pac/West Communications” as an “Account Manager,” then on to “Senior Account Manager” for the same firm. So this 15 months with “Pac/West Communications” as an account manager is clearly what you are referring to when you say, “She has been a veteran employee of a large regional lobbying firm? And lastly and most recently from February 2010 – May 2010 she was a “Finance Director, for “Bradbury for Governor, Portland, Oregon,” is this the “extensive experience” to which you refer or are we missing something? You also note, “…is a mature and highly educated individual, with a degree and PhD in political science.” Yes, Ms. Mazzara achieved her PhD in political science in May of 2000 from Washington State University and something she should rightly be very proud of. However, relative to the key (half-truth?) issue of supposed “extensive experience” I do feel compelled to give my colleagues a comparison in this regard so they gain yet another perspective as per the disparity that exists between us. To that end, Ms. Mazzara notes that she received her “B.A.” degree from Oregon State in 1992. Working backward it would be appropriate to assume she graduated from high school in or about 1988-89. In 1981 when I was sitting on the Oregon House Floor next to my then State Representative Mae Yhi (Albany) being introduced by the Speaker of the House as the “Doctor of the Day” (the first chiropractic physician as such) under the old Oregon Medical Association’s program, Ms. Mazzara was likely attending fifth grade. After the morning House session was over I had lunch with Rep. Yhi and also visited with my Senator. We of course discussed our chiropractic issues (no I probably wasn’t very compelling) but it was because of this legislative “…experience” that I knew about the little medical treatment room on the third floor just off the Senate Chamber’s doors. As a consequence of that “experience” the “Doctor of the Day” program became the “Chiropractor of the Day” program and that little “medical” treatment room became a “chiropractic” treatment room with over $9,000 in donated state of the art equipment.

Currently, in addition to working with the Governor on health care reform in Oregon we have four Workers’ Compensation Bills two of which will positively impact the financial bottom-line of our colleagues. Those two bills will be introduced as committee bills and pre-session filed on December 14, by Senator Diane Rosenbaum (D) who I have worked with for several years now. Another bill our “anti-steering” of injured workers bill will be introduced as a Committee bill and pre-session filed by Rep. Mike Schaufler Chair of the House Business and Labor Committee. Mike and I have worked on this issue for four years now and it has become a very important issue to the Representative. Our fourth work comp bill is relative to addressing the biased IME system and issue I have worked with Rep. Phil Barnhart (Eugene) for many years, as a retired psychologist Phil has first had experiences with the current biased system. Lastly, I will continue to monitor the physical therapist’s bill and lobbying the key committee members as per why their bill is poorly conceived, in direct conflict with our practice act, and does nothing for consumers.

I’m sorry this post is so long dear colleagues and I think I’ve made my point and I will not make further comments relative to the balance of this, “Message for the ListServe from the Oregon Chiropractic Association Board of Directors,” to do so would be redundant.

Final thoughts, “I don’t believe in a no win scenario,” it has been said where there are no trials in life, there will be no triumphs. It has also been said when we go through difficulties in life, there are things we learn and discover that we could not learn anywhere else. There will always be times when our association goes through difficult times (the valleys,) our own history has taught us that. We will also have the good times (the mountaintops), but I believe it is at least possible that during our times of difficulty we can learn important lessons. “Fruit does not grow on mountaintops, it grows in the valleys.” Some believe our current difficulty will weaken our association, I disagree. I sincerely believe we as an association will emerge from this valley much stronger than when we entered, “The hammer shatters glass, but forges steel.”

You my dear chiropractic colleagues who are highly trained, extremely hard working, and exceptionally caring health care professionals deserve not just to survive, but to prosper. We provide services that no other profession can duplicate. When given a respectful level playing field which we so rightly deserve, the results are improved health of our patients, high satisfaction, improved safety (e.g. reduced adverse drug events & surgeries namely spinal) and reduced per capita costs, the key ingredients necessary for true “health” care reform, (the Triple Aim). Not long ago I traveled to Bend after patients on a Monday night, to meet with a good friend and colleague, as we were to meet with a newly elected State Representative the following morning. That night after dinner highlighted by a “killer” venison steak, we spoke of our colleagues and how so many of the local doctors were literally hanging from their financial finger nails, an all too familiar story. It is so hurtful to me to hear this time and time again from colleagues all across the state and it simply strengthens my resolve to work even harder for you “like no other” in achieving one day what we all deserve. We all deserve to prosper financially, we deserve that “level playing field,” and to be equal and respected members of the (true) “health” care delivery team. As such have the “problems” our medical colleagues have, which are too many patients. I know very well that specific colleagues reading this may think this all sounds quite “cornball,” but I absolutely assure you with our Lord as my witness, it comes directly from my heart. I have absolutely dedicated the balance of my chiropractic career to making sure we achieve our “level playing field” and prosperity for us all (btw this has been my goal for a while). In short, I have been and will continue to be (if you want me) your “political bulldog” and a level playing field for us all will continue to be my “pork chop.”

To the Continued Good Fight (you knew I had to say it!),

Blessings,

Vern Saboe

541-231-4528 (Cell)

Tic

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Hacmac

Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 1:38 PM

Subject: Message for the ListServe from the Oregon Chiropractic Association Board of Directors

Message for the ListServe from the Oregon Chiropractic Association Board of Directors

I am corresponding on behalf of the Board of the Oregon Chiropractic Association. We have reserved our input through this medium for various legal and ethical reasons. At this time, we are prepared to issue the following statements. We thank you for your thoughtful attention to this message.

The transition Board that brought together the divergent groups formerly known as ODOC and CAO consists of individuals who set aside a history of differences of opinion and agenda, along with some mistrust, in order to meld together as one functional and effective governing body. This act of leadership is and has been a labor of love, for our profession and our purpose. We, on this transition Board, have been volunteers with no other personal agenda than dedication to a unified association that ultimately makes chiropractic care more understood and available to the people who need it.

In only two years, this effective leadership backed by excellent support staff has helped our Association develop a top-notch reputation, a litany of successful political actions, two successful Conventions, a national presence and a regional identity.

Recently, our motives have been questioned and our process of governing challenged. Much of the uproar is fueled by distorted facts, half-truths, and misplaced allegiances. Let us defend several contentious positions and clarify some of these facts.

There has been a calculated effort by a vocal band of Association members to challenge the Board for actions it has taken, to reverse the progress we have made and ultimately, to replace the entire current Board of Directors. This culminated effort became public at the November 18th General Membership Meeting. Details of that meeting have been communicated to membership recently via e-mail and postal mail.

We are not hiding. We haven’t responded in this forum due to the recommendations of legal counsel, the fact that many of you are not Association members and this is Association business, and the fact that most of the Board members don’t subscribe to this message board. We are individually available to speak with any member of the Association. For the most part, our phones have been silent.

We hired the noted legal firm, Tonkon Torp LLP, for specific counsel regarding employee-employer relations and corporate law. There has been direct criticism of the use of this particular firm, but this was the same firm that successfully assisted the CAO in the past and has the knowledge to give our Association and our Board the legal counsel it needs in an organizational crisis such as is being fomented these days. The fact that they serve a minor role in the Oregon Physical Therapists Association’s legal counsel holds NO conflict of interest for them or for us. This is not a reasonable risk to our profession. They are professionals who have assured privacy.

The prominent reason for recent turmoil and blasting of e-mails has been in response to how our Board directed political actions and the contractors associated with those political actions. WE GUARANTEE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE, this Board has no self-serving interest in our actions. Our motive has always been to do whatever it takes to protect the integrity of, and to achieve the best for, the Oregon chiropractic profession, the Association and its members. We have sacrificed our time and our personal resources and risked our professional image and personal friendships to do the right thing.

There have been concerns and distortions promulgated regarding our choice of lobbyists. Earlier this year, and upon careful review of past actions and current and future needs, the Board decided it best to release two lobbyists and one PR firm. We recruited and contracted with a professional lobbyist/publicist with extensive experience in the area of health-care policy-making and with deep ties in the political process. She is a mature and highly educated individual, with a degree and PhD. in political science. She has been a veteran employee of a large regional lobbying firm. Her hiring was for part-time legislative-related activities and part-time association-building activities. She was contracted at an equivalent hourly rate under half of what the other Association lobbyist was paid, who we retained under a restructured compensation package that did not involve use of non-Association funds.

We also supported restructuring of the Political Action Committees, thereby making it possible to fund efforts to elect our supporters to legislative office, achieving a phenomenal success rate at the polls in November. Of the 20+ candidates we supported, only one lost.

Doing the right thing is not always easy, especially when it means we have to take steps that might injure friends, upset colleagues, empower our detractors, confuse members and test our own mettle.

We have been faced with a situation all too familiar to many of us who follow this message board, an untenable situation with a trusted employee or contractor that resulted in a no-win solution and a difficult resolution. But for the ultimate survival and good of your business, you made difficult choices, confident that time and talent will restore order and value. Unfortunately, that is the position we have found ourselves in and seek your support and understanding.

This week, we have asked the membership to help clean up bylaws regarding the election of the Board of Directors. The common sense changes we have asked for support on are to allow the intent of the original Bylaws to be preserved. The Bylaws were deficient in the area of Board succession, but had a clear intent: replace some Board members while retaining some others. We are simply clarifying that 50% of the Board positions should be filled through an election each year for a two year term, retaining 50% of the existing Board positions for one year so as to preserve a continual mix of new and seasoned members. Since our Board is numbered at twelve, that means six positions are retained and six positions are up for election each year. In the spirit of the unification process, we propose to retain three former ODOC affiliated members and three former CAO affiliated members from the unification Board.

Timing this Bylaws election in concert with the recent employment changes made by the Board is certainly controversial, but both of these issues came at a critical junction for this Association, and in its best long-term interest… The fact of our not having the clarified By-Laws written and sent to the membership for a vote before this time does show that we dropped that ball, an oversight as the first two years of OCA’s business went by so quickly. We have been criticized for looking foolish in that regard, and accept that criticism.

But please be clear: we operated since the inception of OCA with the clear intent of having half of the OCA Board go off for each election cycle and half remain. We never would have dreamed that this common-sense clarification would take on, for a few people, a connotation of manipulation and power mongering. All of us look forward to moving on from our board positions sooner or later. We consider it a measure of health and success of our organization to have new faces, energy, and ideas continually refreshing the leadership of OCA, on its board, committees, and councils. Six of us have already volunteered to leave the board at the next election cycle, and desire to continue to serve our profession in other roles.

When all is said and done, this whole thing is about what is more important, one man’s job or the health and preservation of an entire unified Association. That is what we are and will be debating about.

Again, we welcome direct communication with any member who wants to discuss the situation. On some topics, we are bound to disagree. On most others, we will find common ground. On a few, we will be unable to comment due to on-going legal processes and ramifications.

I hope this helps some of you understand what is going on a bit better.

Hacmac, DC 503.656.8098

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