Alert Storm Clouds on the PIP Horizon!

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues, Are you already to lose the professional privilege of treating auto injury cases in Oregon??? Over the last 14 months I have been warning the profession that the abuses in auto PIP by a few must end or we run the danger of losing the privilege of treating (yes privilege) Oregon consumers injured in auto accidents. I told you that excessive treatment, excessive treatment without the use of “Evidence Based Outcomes Management” to validate curative care as in showing improvement and that the “PIP Multi-Provider Mills” with $300-$400 per visit average charges could end PIP for us in Oregon. I warned you that treating every PIP case for 6-12 months regardless of the mechanisms of injury, ages of the consumers, pre-existing conditions, level of symptoms (like mild) was a problem we as a profession must address. I reminded you that Oregon is but one of 13 states that still has a PIP law and Oregon has a wonderful law and we DO NOT WANT TO LOSE IT! Well we have failed to act and there is a strong current impression by many within the industry that the insurers are about to do something major. Recently certain auto insurers are sending out blanked “fishing trip” subpoenas in hopes of capturing documentation likely to support their current behind the scenes plans, interviewing former patients whose claims were closed long ago, as well as interviewing doctors who had previously worked at certain clinics. So, are you all ready to lose PIP??? Just yesterday I received a very ominous email from a well known attorney who is a chiropractic patient and strong advocate of the profession, here is his final sentence in that email, “I have no clue what to do about it, if anything. But I can smell it. I can feel it. It is wallowing up as I write.” The Oregon Chiropractic Association’s Executive Board, Legislative Committee, and I as the OCA lobbyist and your ACA Delegate have determined we will not duplicate the “in-action combined with a lay lobbyist - mistakes” we made in circa 1988 which resulted in a sting operation, subsequent smear campaign of the profession, and the ultimate loss of our privilege to treat Oregon’s Injured Workers. The OCA will be mailing a proactive and pre-emptive plan to the OCA membership for its approval once approved we will then move forward, time has run out on us dear colleagues we can no longer “look the other way” the consequence and price to us all of doing so is too great and it just isn’t happening on the OCA’s watch!!!!!!!!!!!! Non-OCA member colleagues if there were ever a time to step up and financially support the profession by being a member this would be it!! Call the OCA office and join TODAY call 503-256-1601 you can join for a monthly due structure of just $66/month. Now measure that cost against losing the PIP portion of your practice… If you have trouble contacting someone to join call me immediately 541-231-4528 Vern Saboe DC FACOLobbyist, Oregon Chiropractic AssociationACA Delegate for Oregon