Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
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e-mail: info@fclb.org   www.fclb.org 

"Protecting the public and serving our member boards by promoting excellence in chiropractic regulation."

Texas Diamond Jubilee - celebrates 75 years of regulation

Paul Carmona, Chief of the Consumer Protection Division for the State of Texas, opened the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards 2001 Annual Conference with a fitting quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, "Morality can't be legislated, but behavior can be regulated." The importance of high standards and excellence in regulation and licensure was at the forefront of educational sessions.

The FCLB's highest record attendance of 191 seemed fitting for a celebration of 75 years in protecting the public by the regulation of the chiropractic profession. Attendees represented jurisdictions in Canada, United States, and Mexico. Most have been appointed by governors to chiropractic boards in their state or province. Associations, colleges, and interested constituents also participated in the five-day conference held April 4 - 8, 2001 in San Antonio, Texas.

As the FCLB looked back on 75 years as an association of chiropractic regulatory boards, the licensing and disciplinary challenges of the new millennium were strongly apparent. E-regulation is exploding across all licensed professions. A few examples:

• Boards of today could vastly streamline the application process for new and experienced doctors by accessing various credentialing databases. A more uniform application (a model was proposed) could assist this process and focus on information legitimately in the interest of public protection.
  
  

• Practice is occurring in many new settings, and regulation needs to address these situations promptly and fairly. Everything from e- practice to travel-to-treat was discussed, with the complex issues of regulatory jurisdictional authority at the forefront.
  
  

• The public and media interest in information is causing boards to re- evaluate what information needs to be readily accessible, including having a website presence. Whether or not the entire text of final disciplinary orders should be accessible on the Internet is under close scrutiny in many jurisdictions.
  
  

• Managed care representatives addressed both the need to notify boards of the conclusions of their investigations and whether reporting to state, federal or professional databases creates barriers to doctors participating in health care organizations.

A particularly noteworthy moment occurred when Allstate's special investigations manager, Steve Englert, from New York offered to help create a new relationship between boards and insurance companies, where appropriate information could be more readily exchanged to protect the public.

In addition to the regular educational conference, a pre- session summit meeting hosted by the FCLB brought together the leadership for regulation, testing and accreditation. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the Council on Chiropractic Education explored candidly such topics as timing of exams, criminal history of applicants for licensure, educational standards, institutional stability in light of fluctuating enrollments, and administrative barriers to candidates. The meeting is expected to reconvene next year, with the guest list expanded to include the college presidents.

In order for the FCLB to complete numerous future service projects, adequate funding is critical to fulfill the FCLB mission. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners delivered the first of four generous annual installments of $250,000 to offset the Federation's general operating expenses. "All federations depend on their testing arms for support, and we are most fortunate to have a particularly open and mutually supportive relationship with NBCE," said Dr. David Brown, FCLB Immediate Past President.

A surprise 75th anniversary gift was delivered by Dr. Louis Sportelli, president of the NCMIC Insurance Co., who announced that NCMIC will fund a compilation of the history of regulation, to be authored by Dr. Joseph Keating.

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