Oklahoma Chiropractic Board Limits IMEs

  By Ronald E. Bergman, DC

 

     Tired of being unfairly IMEd? In Oklahoma we did something about it! In 1999 the Oklahoma State Chiropractic Association was able to pass the “Oklahoma Chiropractic Practice Act: Disciplinary Action for Violation of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practice Act”. This law has been very beneficial to the chiropractors in Oklahoma, as several reviewers (IMEs) have immediately stopped reviewing claims. This is because our new law puts their license in jeopardy.

      Last year HB 1809 became law. This new law allows the Board of Chiropractic Examiners to impose disciplinary penalties against a chiropractic physician for violating any provision of the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, by willfully aiding or assisting an insurer, or an administrator, to deny claims which under the terms of the contract are covered services and are medically necessary.

      There were several attempts to change this law and put the Insurance Commissioner in charge instead of the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. In Oklahoma, the Board Members are not IMEs. Of course in some other states, members of the Chiropractic Boards are IMEs. In such cases, this would be a conflict of interest.

      We suggest that other state associations get a copy of our Oklahoma HB 1809 and adopt similar legislation.