State Scopes of Practice and Insurance policies including Medicare and Medicaid may not be able to restrict or limit the scope of practice of a Doctorate level provider who has received a 5 year didactic equivalent. All Boards, Scopes, Insurance policies or similar regulating bodies must recognize in the scope of practice and in the definition the broadest practice provided to the profession by their education and continuing education. Healthcare Providers are educated and see patients pior to graduation. They are required to take Board examinations and have passing scores on all material. In addition, they are licensed by States where they must pass additional Jurisprudence examinations and undergo background checks. They are further required to obtain continuing education credits which are approved with connection to a graduate school or association.
For example, Chiropractic Physicians education and training is far beyond what Medicare reimburses providers and therefore covers for patients. Medicare will only reimburse for an adjustment. Nothing else. That is extremely limiting especially for someone on Medicare. They are harming the patient by not allowing the Provider to treat based on their full education.
In addition, multiple States are guilty of limiting the scope of practice of Chiropractic Physicians by the wording in the scope of practice and definition. Some of these have underlying motives to limit the scope by competitors in the AMA circle and others have competitive motives internally from Chiropractors who do not want to practice to their full scope. and to limit reimbursement from insurance companies who prefer to invest the monies in the stock market. Chiropractic Physicians in New Mexico have Advanced Practice privelages which permits them to have a limited prescribing license. The education of a Chiropractic Physician is far beyond what the public knows because States and Boards and Insurance have limited the Scope therefore tied the hands of the Provider to only treat backs.
The ability of a Doctor to set a business model to their desired scope does not prevent them from referring to other Doctors that do practice that full scope or other specialists. Therefore, they should not be limiting the scope of well trained intelligent providers and therefore preventing the public access to these Doctors and specialists. by failing to recognize the full education and continuing education.
Scopes of practice and definitions should be required to encompass the full education and CEU that providers meet.
Such examples are the legislation in Ohio by Governor Kasich and the legislation in New Mexico by the Advanced Practice New Mexico Keeps Making Headlines | Dynamic Chiropractic and Chicago Scope of Practice.
In addition, all States should be required to honor the practice of Acupuncture Certification for Chiropractic Physicians.
In addition, schools that are lead or encompass Medical programs for other specialties may not diminish the scope of practice for other providers or Alternative Care Providers in an attempt to limit the competition.
Further the Allopathic Community should be required to refer patients to Functional Medicine Chiropractic Physicians and Naturopathic Doctors rather than trying to take over the specialty. They have the ability to refer and should be using it for the benefit of the patient. They should not pretend to be trained in all aspects of healthcare but instead refer to those who are trained. This does happen already the other way.
There is lasting impact of professional discrimatory practices as seen in Wilk vs. AMA. That needs to be defeated for the health of our Country and best practices for patients. They need to refer out to the specialists who are wellness and functional specialists.