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Missouri Revised Statute Seach

Current Law

Insurance (including Prompt Pay statutes) RSMo 376.383 and 376.384)

Lien Law RSMo 430.225

Patient Access RSMo 376.1230

Practice Act RSMo 331.010

Fees for Medical Records - CLICK HERE

Legislative Day is Coming

Legislative Day is coming and your attendance and/or donation is absolutely imperative! Mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 12, 2008, and if you can't come to the State Capitol in Jefferson City, please make your donation anyway. Everyone is invited to attend, and everyone’s donation is needed.

Legislative Day is not only your best opportunity to visit with your legislators and promote chiropractic; it is also one of the biggest fundraisers for the MSCA's Political Action Committee. 2008 is an election year, and we must have a strong PAC if we hope to compete with those who would love to see chiropractic disappear. Don’t kid yourself, they are out there.

The MSCA PAC will provide Back Saver Wallets for every Senator and Representative on Legislative Day and EVERYONE’s  PAC donation of $80 ($40 for your Representative and $40 for your Senator) is needed to make this event a success.

For more information, click here to download a flyer (PDF file).

MSCA Legislative Report
February 07, 2008

Equality
By Michael Finley, D.C.
MSCA District 1 President and Membership Chair.

Equality is the focus of our MSCA 2008 legislation. How are we working to achieve this goal? The MSCA filed two major pieces of legislation. Here’s the basic information on each one and why the MSCA is going for them.

Co-payment Parity: Chiropractors across the state have seen their status with insurance companies suddenly being pushed to “specialty.” This has caused many patients to go from a standard co-pay of $10 to $25 dollars, to specialty co-pay rates of $30 to $50 per visit or greater. This has increased the financial burden to the patients. Why is it after several decades insurances companies changed our status? Simple, to place a financial burden on the patients not to go to you.

Think about it docs. Insurance companies are selling plans to Missourians that have chiropractic benefits. They put on a “specialty” $50 co-pay per visit. Then, the contracted fee schedule allows an adjustment code, and one or two therapy codes, that total less than $50, or maybe a few dollars over. In other words, no benefit!

Insurance companies are now dropping all chiropractic out-of-network benefits (just chiropractic and no other groups), or going to $1,000 plus out-of-network benefits.  Remember, they are selling plans and telling people they have chiropractic benefits! This is why the MSCA is proposing the second piece of legislation.

Out-of-Networks Benefit Parity: We can’t pass legislation stating how much an insurance company should pay, but we can demand equality! How is it legal that an insurance company offers out-of-network benefits for every other health group except chiropractic? If this is not discrimination, then what is it???

Docs, this is why you join the MSCA, join the MSCA PAC, or go to legislative day on February 12 . . . or do all three. It’s a battle! What other group is out their fighting for you? As you know, you have to “do to get” what you want.
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MSCA Legislative Update
By Mo McCullough
MSCA Government Affairs Director/Lobbyist

The MSCA lobby crew is hard at work this session. We are following thirteen bills (see below) that we either need to pass, kill, amend onto or just monitor. Those of most importance at this time are:

HB 1815 (Portwood) which would increase copying fees chiropractors can charge. GOOD!

HB 1871 (Portwood) adding chiropractic care to MO Health Net-subject to appropriations. GOOD!

SB 962 (Champion) which would eliminate the mandate that at least one member of the MO Board of Health be a chiropractor. BAD!

SB 1043 (Ridgeway) which would require carriers to cover out-of-network chiropractic services. GOOD!

Rep. Portwood is also going to sponsor a bill that would prohibit carriers from considering chiropractic as a specialty. GOOD! This would, among other things, address the exorbitantly high co-pay issue. We are finalizing the language so it has not been filed at this time. 

Also, we are monitoring the progress of the Governor's Insure Missouri initiative in which chiropractic is not currently included. BAD!

Watch your emails and come to Legislative Day on February 12. We could use the HELP! 

MISSOURI STATE CHIROPRACTORS ASSOCIATION
Bill Status Report
02-05-2008 - 15:46:56

- End of Report -