IMPORTANT NEWS BULLETINS:

 (Updated 3/16/04)

STILL PROBLEMS WITH CAs:

 There are currently 7 disciplinary cases pending regarding chiropractors using unauthorized/unregistered personnel as chiropractic assistants.  Some of these are fully blatant cases and will result is a prospective summary suspension (i.e. closing of practice) of the chiropractor’s license.  All doctors are again reminded of the strict compliance requirements. 

• You must be a Supervising Chiropractor (apply to Board for Certification) to hire and employ a Chiropractic Asst or trainee;
• The trainee must be reported to the Board at the START of employment and employment and training must be tracked on applicable forms.
• The trainee has one year to complete the clinical training and take/pass the Board Examination and receive his/her registration as a CA.
• All applicable forms are available in the forms menu of this website.

The Board is considering altering the CA Program in the near future.  This will require regulatory changes.  Proposed changes include eliminating the required clinical training and have all applicants receive, complete all didactic classroom training first, then take and pass the examination and receive his/her registration.  At that point, only fully registered personnel could serve as CAs.

CONFLICTS WITH HIPPA RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS:

Recent inquiry was made where a patient tells a doctor about malpractice by a previous doctor.  Can the new doctor file a complaint without violating privacy of the patient, assuming the patient does not wish to report the incident.  The answer is “YES.”  The HIPPA regulations exempt this situation and allow the doctor to report the complaint to the Board. 

Along the same lines, a subpoena issued for patient records takes precedence over HIPPA privacy regulations.  In such cases, the doctor MUST comply with the subpoena and release the records as subpoenaed.