August 10, 2017
Facts not fiction about the
chiropractic CEU bill in Massachusetts
TOP Education would like to bring you the facts about the chiropractic continuing education bills in Massachusetts. These are the facts with citations.

We encourage all Massachusetts Licensed Chiropractors to review all the material completely so you may form your own assessment and opinion of the proposed legislation.

TOP Education has prepared our position and it is available on our website for anyone and everyone to see.  We are always open to hearing from others.  

Although TOP Education is vehemently opposed to the proposed CEU legislation we are not opposed to the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society.

The MCS also filed S.1228 & H.2809 which is an Act relative to students of chiropractic. TOP Education supports the MCS and its efforts.

TOP Education has filed H.3584 which would protect chiropractors' outstanding balance in an injury claim.  We hope that the MCS is a proponent of our proposed legislation as it makes its way through the legislative process. 
Background
The Massachusetts Chiropractic Society filed legislation on January 20, 2017 through Senator Barbara L'Italien and Representative James Arciero S1227 and H2808 respectively. 
What it says

An Act relative to continuing education requirements for chiropractors.


1 SECTION 1: Section 96 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014


2 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 13, the word “board”, and


3 inserting in place thereof the following words:- “Massachusetts Chiropractic Society.”
The current law



What the proposed law doesn't say
  • How CEUs will be approved or denied by the MCS
  • Cost to CEU providers
  • In turn the cost to MA Licensed Chiropractors
  • Appeal process for CEU providers that do not agree with the denial of the MCS on a CEU application
  • Appeal process for MA licensed chiropractor that has taken a CEU but was denied by the MCS thus disqualifying the licensees ability to renew their professional license
  • No definition as to what subject matter does or does not qualify as CEUs in Massachusetts
  • No contingency defined if the MCS was no longer in operation
  • No governmental oversight of the MCS and its CEU process
Testimony at the Committee Hearing
On July 18, 2017 The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure held a hearing on H.2808. 

Drs. Albert Kalter and Thomas Sullivan representing the Massachusetts Chiropractic Society were present to offer oral and written testimony in favor of their Bill. ( MCS Testimony )

Dr. Daniel Reida (immediate past Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Chiropractors) along with Dr. Mark Davini and Paul Andrews of TOP Education were present to offer oral and written testimony in opposition to the Bill.
( Dr. Reida's Testimony ) ( TOP ED's Testimony )

The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Chiropractors was asked by Senator Julian Cyr to give their opinion on the proposed legislation.
Board's letter
TOP Education's response to the MCS' recent mailing (page 1) labeled
"Did You Know"
  • TOP Education applauds the list of past accomplishments of the MCS as the outlined in their mailer
  • TOP Education agrees that a divided message publicly can hurt the profession.


Unfortunately, this proposed legislation by the MCS was never publicly discussed in advanced but rather was filed by the MCS on the last day of the deadline for filing legislation.  This left no room for discussion on the matter by anyone.
TOP Education's response to the MCS recent mailing (page 2) labeled
"The Truth About MCS Legislative Efforts"
  • Response to bullet #1: It has never been stated that CEU hours would increase for MA Licensed Chiropractors
  • Response to bullet #2: The MCS reports that they will not be the sole organization authorized to offer CEU courses.  This is misleading as the bill as cited above gives SOLE approval of any and all Chiropractic CEU courses to the MCS.  So the MCS would in fact be the SOLE approving body for all CEU courses and providers.  
  • Response to bullet #3: The only way any CEU providers OTHER THAN THE MCS can continue to provide quality educational programs is if the MCS allows for it.


Response to Paragraph #4: There is no absence of pre-approval by the MA State Chiropractic Board.  In fact the State Chiropractic Board has clearly outlined what is acceptable CEU credits in the regulations that were adopted on February 24, 2017.  Take a look at the language from the regulation.  It makes it clear what would and as important what would not be approved.  Click on the following link and look at section 3.03.  233 CMR 3.03


The current law and regulations allows great flexibility and choice for all MA Chiropractors right now.  The Governor and the Chiropractic Board has created much more freedom of choice and reduces the burden for chiropractors in choosing CEU courses. 


Response to Paragraph #5: 


  • Bullet #1: for-profit organizations like TOP Education and others re-invest income from CEUs to improve and offer continued high quality courses.  Additionally TOP Education provides high quality services to the profession and we have even filed legislation in Massachusetts that helps protect chiropractors. TOP Education has done without asking our members for any money.
  • Bullet #2: chiropractic colleges receive income back to their institutions to support the college, their alumni and current students 
It isn't just TOP Education that oppose the CEU bill
A coalition is building from other CEU providers that oppose the MCS bills. 

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