| Background
There is important legislation (S-565)
which would seek to expand the scope of practice for chiropractors.
The bill is poised for a vote by the full Senate, and then will head
to the Governor’s desk. Your calls are needed today!
Issue
This legislation has been in the
works for 5 years. It would expand the scope of practice of
chiropractic medicine beyond adjusting the articulations of the
spinal column. During earlier committee hearings, we testified that
even though bill is somewhat scaled down, our concerns about its
ramifications still remain.
The bill would expand the scope of
practice of chiropractic medicine under the law beyond adjusting the
articulations of the spinal column to include an individual's
extremities. Under the bill, the practice of chiropractic
medicine would include, but not be limited to, the reduction of
chiropractic misalignment, as well as the examination, diagnosis,
analysis, assessment, adjustment and treatment of joints and soft
tissue and the ordering and administration of physical therapies and
rehabilitative and strengthening exercises.
The language in the bill clearly
states:
- A licensed chiropractor shall
have the right in the examination of patients to use the
neurocalometer, X-ray, and other necessary instruments solely
for the purpose of diagnosis or analysis. No licensed
chiropractor shall perform endoscopy, or prescribe, administer,
or dispense drugs or medicines for any purpose whatsoever, or
perform surgery as requires cutting by instruments or laser
excepting adjustment of the articulations of the spinal column
or extremities.
- Use methods of treatment
including chiropractic practice methods, physical medicine
modalities, rehabilitation, splinting or bracing consistent with
the practice of chiropractic, nutrition and first aid and may
order such diagnostic or analytical tests, including diagnostic
imaging, bioanalytical laboratory tests, and may perform such
other diagnostic and analytical diagnostic tests including
reagent strip tests, X-ray, computer-aided neuromuscular
testing, and nerve conduction studies, and may interpret evoked
potentials;
- Sign or certify temporary or
permanent impairments and other certifications consistent with a
chiropractic practice such as pre-employment screenings. A
chiropractic physician may use recognized references in making
his determination; and
- Provide dietary or nutritional
counseling, such as the direction, administration, dispensing
and sale of nutritional supplements, including, but not limited
to, all food concentrates, food extracts, vitamins, minerals,
herbs, enzymes, amino acids, homeopathic remedies and other
dietary supplements, including, but not limited to, tissue or
cell salts, glandular extracts, nutraceuticals, botanicals and
other nutritional supplements; provided the chiropractor has
successfully completed a course of study concerning human
nutrition, consisting of not less than 45 hours from a college
or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting
agency recognized by the United States Department of Education
and approved by the board.
- Should a chiropractor, at any
time during the examination has reasonable cause to believe
symptoms or conditions are present that require diagnosis,
analysis, treatment, or methods beyond the scope of
chiropractic, shall refer an individual to a practitioner
licensed to practice dentistry, medicine or surgery in this
State or other appropriate licensed healthcare professionals.
Action Needed
We urge you to call your New Jersey
State Senators, and ask them to oppose S-585, when it comes before
them on in the Senate. A vote is expected either January 11 or
January 12 – so make your call today! To find your New Jersey State
Senator, go to
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.
For more information, contact
Beverly Lynch at
Blynch@Blynchassociates.com or call 609-392-7553.
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