SecureCare, NCPA’s wholly owned subsidiary, has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing businesses in America.

As the COVID-19 pandemic created one of the most serious business disruptions in recent history, many businesses struggled to stay afloat with just 28% of small businesses reporting growth in 2020. Despite these challenging business conditions, SecureCare was positioned to press forward with advocating for the expansion of conservative care within the health care arena. Major investments in human capital and technology are allowing SecureCare to win larger and more complex contracts.

The strength and growth of SecureCare provides the NCPA with stability and the resources to ensure that the chiropractic profession thrives in Nebraska. Just as important, providers from across the country look to SecureCare for a fair and balanced approach to network management.

To celebrate October's National Chiropractic Health month in conjunction with the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the NCPA began a month-long promotion including radio across all 93 counties in Nebraska, and digital ads on various social media outlets.

A proclamation recognizing October as National Chiropractic Health Month in Nebraska was signed by Governor Ricketts to inspire all Nebraskans to #KeepMoving. The proclamation was presented to us by Lt. Governor Mike Foley on October 6 in Lincoln.

Kearney did not disappoint his year! Even though we have not been there since 2017, their facility, staff, and food cannot be beat. We had over 200 doctors in attendance with many great speakers and an interactive annual business meeting.

During the NCPA Annual Business Meeting, many awards were given. The 2021 Healing Hands Scholarship recipients were Megan Drury, Dr. Nicholas Rubarth, Andrew Stowe, and Blake Wills.

Lifetime Member awards were presented to Dr. James Abel, Dr. Lance Earhart, Dr. David Lauer, Dr. Pat Luse, Dr. Allyn Sutton, Dr. Thomas Tomoi, and Dr. Kurt Vollers. Dr. Brian Brockman, Dr. Mark Eiler, Dr. Gary Elsasser, and Dr. Brent Geringer will receive their awards at later date.

Dr. Troy Brainard received the Ritch E. Miller Chiropractic of the Year award for his dedication to the profession during his board presidency. Dr. Brainard passed the President's gavel to Dr. Christopher Murray of Hastings for the next two years.

For social events, the annual Brook Bowhay Memorial Golf event was held at the Kearney Country Club. Over 35 golfers had a good time on the course. Family night was held at the Big Apple Fun Center, where there was bowling, indoor go-carts, mini golf, games, and billiards. There was so much to do at this state-of-the-art entertainment facility. Social evening was held at the Younes Conference Center, where dancing was a hit!

For continuing education, please note, that the 2022 March convention to be held in La Vista will be the last convention of the renewal cycle. We hope to see you there!

Thank you to all of the doctors who have signed up to be monthly donors to the Federal PAC since the last convention. You've made an amazing commitment to protecting our ability to continue practicing the way we currently do in our state.

To anyone who is not yet a monthly donor to the PAC, please consider giving something, even $10 a month. You have no idea how valuable every contribution is. That money allows us to get in front of and build relationships with the senators who ultimately have control over our practice environment.

We have undoubtedly the best chiropractic environment in the country, and we want to keep it that way. To protect it, and to stay proactive rather than reactive, takes money. We have well over 600 NCPA members and only a very small percentage are donors to the PAC. Even a large number of our SecureCare and NCPA staff are donating, not because it helps them, but because it helps you. So, if they can donate, surely, we can all give something. Contact the NCPA office at [email protected] if you would like to make a contribution.

Thank you in advance for helping us protect our chiropractic rights in Nebraska!

Two years ago, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (Blue Cross) added new chiropractic benefits to their Medicare Advantage product including an office visit being covered with a $20 copay and the first set of routine x-rays being covered with no copay. In the August Blue Cross newsletter to enrolled patients, Blue Cross emphasized chiropractic care in a feature article and provided a link so patients could find your office!

The evidence proves conservative care has great outcomes to get patients better with less cost to the insurance company. These facts have been shown in several studies and insurance companies are beginning to see and share what we have known for so long about the conservative care approach. Collectively, we need to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to share the word about chiropractic with all those in the healthcare industry that are not yet aware. In Nebraska, SecureCare and the NCPA have done this very effectively with expanded Blue Cross Medicare chiropractic benefits.

We have also effectively used this same template of talking about great outcomes, amazing savings, and patient satisfaction on a government level to work with Nebraska Medicaid to expand our coverage into the best benefits of any state in the country. These facts have even resonated with our Federal House of Representative members to the point that all three Nebraska House members have signed on as co-sponsors of HR2654, our Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2021. The insurance CEO’s and our government officials are not making these changes because they want to do chiropractic a favor, they are making changes because it makes good economic sense and because it helps the beneficiary while saving money.

Currently, the NCPA and SecureCare are carrying this message forward to help change the paradigm on a national scale by offering help to other states to get improved Medicaid benefits. This is done by talking to national leaders and helping them use the same strategy we have here in Nebraska to get HR2654 across the finish line. At the same time, SecureCare continues to work across the country to improve conservative care benefits by proving they have a model that benefits the patient, results in cost savings for the insurance company and simultaneously improves reimbursement rates for providers.

This is a unique time in history where many of the pieces are falling together to improve benefits for providers and the care our patients receive. It’s important that all conservative care providers work together to spread the word about the lasting impact conservative care can have on patients, insurance companies and providers.

Credentialing Review applications (407 process) for changes or expansions in scopes of practice have been submitted by the optometrists and the respiratory therapists. The Credentialing Review Committee (CR) of the Board of Health (BOH) met to begin the process of those reviews by nominating individuals who will serve on the Technical Review Committees (TRC) for those two applications. Credentialing Review provides a list of potential committee members, which are then approved and sent on to the Director of Health, Dr. Gary Anthone. The Director makes the final appointment of members to the Technical Review Committees, in consultation with DHHS staff, Ron Briel and Matt Gelvin, who administer the Credentialing Review process. These two reviews are expected to begin later this year. The TRC must be chaired by a member of the BOH. Mr. Bud Synhorst, who is a public member from Lincoln, and Mr. Dan Rosenthal, the professional engineer member of the BOH, will chair these two committees. To view these CR applications or any other information related to the CR process, you can go to the CR page on the DHHS website at https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Credentialing-Review.aspx.

Dr. Brian Stevens of Omaha was appointed to the Board of Chiropractic (BOC) to fill the position being vacated by Dr. David Lauer of Lincoln. On November 30, Dr. Lauer will complete his second full term on the BOC, having served the maximum allowed of ten years. Dr. Stevens joins Drs. Heather Henrichs and Scott Misek as professional members of the BOC, along with Mr. David Henske, who is the public member. Congratulations to Dr. Stevens, and many thanks to Dr. Lauer for his years of service!

There are never enough applicants to fill the vacant public member positions on various boards. Some public member positions have been vacant for years. If you know of someone who would be interested in serving on a board as a public member, please encourage them to apply. Public members must be at least 19 years of age, must have been a Nebraska resident for at least one year, and cannot serve on a board for which they currently or formerly held a license in that profession or have any other conflict of interest. So if you have friends, neighbors, patients who may be interested in serving as a public member on a board, encourage them to look at the information and application at https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Board-Requirements-and-Vacancies.aspx.

If you have any questions or comments for me regarding Board of Health, contact me at [email protected].

It has been a tremendous year for marketing chiropractic in Nebraska and beyond. We’ve made a few changes and additions to our current partnerships and programming. Many of the programs that we sponsor including the Nebraska Great Park Pursuit, the Cornhusker State Games/Torch Run, and the Lincoln Trail-a-thon have had record growth this year. Moreover, in July, we did a general chiropractic education radio commercial campaign that reached all 93 counties in Nebraska. A few other highlights below:

This year, the university brought their marketing in-house, which has prompted many shifts and exciting opportunities. We have scaled back on in-stadium signage but have compensated with more digital recognition, including now being featured every football game on Twitter with the @NebChiro Hit of the Game. Our last Husker social media promotion gave 13 lucky winners tickets to the October 2^nd Husker blowout game against Northwestern and grew our social media follower counts by over 200 people!

Thank you to NCPA member, Dr. Paul Pfeifler, for connecting us to this new prospect. Sporting Nebraska is the largest youth soccer organization in the state, and they are affiliated with Sporting KC, the Elite Clubs International League, and the National Premier League. They have many invitational tournaments that host players and families from across the state to the Omaha and Lincoln areas, and they are looking to grow across Nebraska into Norfolk, Kearney, Grand Island, and further west in the next few years. We are proudly featured on their website and on the front of their academy level jerseys, which travel regionally. Check out their Facebook feed to see photos! Not to mention, we have banners at local fields and their indoor facility, we will also have educational events and treatment possibilities to introduce their members to the benefits of chiropractic!

Lewis Squires, DC, chairman of the ACA-PAC, encouraged ACA members to donate to the ACA Political Action Committee (ACA-PAC) Dr. Eric Benson $20,021 challenge. I am pleased to report that the challenge was exceeded with proceeds being directed to the passage of the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 2654).

During NCHM 2021, chiropractors will share information on the benefits of movement, recommended physical activity levels, and advice on increasing daily movement. NCHM 2021 resources will be available at www.acatoday.org/NCHM for those who would like to participate.

The event brings together doctors, students, and industry leaders from across the country to network and learn. In addition, during ACA’s Advocacy Day, which occurs during ACA Engage, doctors of chiropractic will continue to advocate for The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 2654), reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. The bill would ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to all Medicare-covered services that DCs are licensed by their state to provide. By mid-September, H.R. 2654 had already gained 90 co-sponsors. For more information, visit www.HR2654.org. To register for Engage 2022, visit www.acatoday.org/Engage.

Megan Drury, Student

Austin Ehmke, Student

Matthew Essington, DC

Nathaniel Hinrichs, DC

Wade Jensen, DC

Marissa Kline, DC

Anthony Moody, DC

Kasey Oliver, DC

Devon Rasmussen, DC

January 13, 2022

Cornhusker Marriott

Lincoln, Nebraska

March 10-13, 2022

Embassy Suites La Vista

La Vista, Nebraska

August 18-21, 2022

CHI Health Center Omaha

Omaha, Nebraska