45th Annual ACA Meeting: Health Care Reform Discussed The American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) House of Delegates (HOD) discussed the possible impact of national health care reform and approved a host of important policies during its 45th annual meeting, Sept. 17-20, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Other key issues included an updated informed consent policy statement and a resolution encouraging the affiliation and collaboration of state chiropractic organizations with the ACA. Among important association business was the election of officers, presentation of awards, and progress reports from association leaders on ACA programs and initiatives. “In the year ahead, the country will be under the leadership of a new president and Congress, which will likely bring changes to many aspects of health care. Doctors of Chiropractic can trust ACA to carefully monitor and participate in any discussions surrounding Medicare reform and the possible creation of universal health care,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC, in his remarks to the ACA House of Delegates. “As a profession, we must stand ready to fight for our right to practice and for our patients’ right to access the chiropractic care they need and deserve. ACA works everyday for this profession and our patients, and the more doctors of chiropractic we have participating in ACA, the more effective we will be,” Dr. Manceaux continued. In his presentation to association leadership, ACA Chairman John Gentile, DC, addressed five areas in which the chiropractic profession—especially ACA—needs to focus in the year ahead, including scientific research, legal defense, public relations, government policy, and individual doctor profitability. “It is abundantly clear that the success of our doctors in practice has a great impact on the profession’s ability to survive—and thrive,” said Dr. Gentile. “Doctors in practice today want the same thing as everyone else—to be fairly compensated for their expert services and to provide the best possible care to their patients.” To assist doctors of chiropractic in meeting the economic challenges they face in today’s marketplace, Dr. Gentile announced the formation of ACA’s Practice Profitability Task Force. “The goal of the task force is to provide ACA members with opportunities to increase their bottom line. To begin, ACA is developing a monthly webinar series through which members can receive expert advice on how to profit in practice.” Read more Contact our local chiropractor to help relieve your chronic back pain