b'CODING Update ComplianceBy Dr. Jordan Kovacs TM NUTRITIONUpdateANJC President LEGALHappy Spring ANJC!I always struggle to come up with a topic of what to writeWhats Inside:ANJC NewsANJC Leadership ANJC News!in these letters. This issue is no different.For inspiration, I decided to see what type of topics Dr. Steve Clarke, our immediate past president, wrote in his last fewPresidents LetterPage 3 NUTRITION issues of this publication. LEGAL EASEOpioids, poor documentation issues in our profession, and continuing roadblocksANJC LeadershipPage 4for people to access chiropractic care. I guess the more things change, the more they stay the same.I recently facilitated a joint meeting of our legislative, legal, insurance and public relations committeesExecutive Directors Page 5REHAB Update Updateto galvanize our efforts for the next few years. These topics were prevalent. ANJC ScholarshipsUnfortunately, opioids continue to be an epidemic.According to the American Medical Association, More than 40 states have reported increases in opioid-related mortality as well as ongoing concerns for those with a mental illness orFeatured Articles:substance use disorder.This issue underscores the need to remove barriersCHIRO Assistto evidence-based treatment for those with a substance use disorder.How interesting that while the AMA advocates for evidence-based treatment, carriersLegal Ease Page 6LEGAL Q&Awill continually overlook chiropractic as the treatment of choice for musculoskeletal Executive Directors Update Legal Q&APage 7pain.The ANJC will continue to center public outreach on the message that patients should choose chiropractic first for these conditions. Page 82020 ANJC AWARDSDocumentation is the topic everyone hates to read about, and Ill admit my eyesLegislative Update glaze over when its the topic of discussion.The latest OIG report for Medicare stated that chiropractic error rates remain high at 37%.Other carriers use thisCoding UpdatePage 9report to find the low hanging fruit when it comes time to do audits.This isPage 10Legislative Updatesomething we all have to do better.Documentation will be that proverbial risingInsurance Update INSURANCE Update INSURANCE Updatetide that lifts all ships.The ANJC is committed to continuing to provide coding and documentation training. Technique UpdatePage 12 TECHNIQUE UpdateWhile it might not be the most sought after demographic, there is no denying that the largest roadblock to chiropractic services is for children with Medicaid. Rehab UpdatePage 14 With the adoption of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), it is estimated that about 20% of all NJ residents have Medicaid, and 50% of the MedicaidMedicare UpdatePage 15system is composed of children.The Medicaid system has become a mashup of MedicareQ&AMedicare Updategovernmental and individual managed care carriers administrating the differentSports UpdatePage 18 OUR HEALTHplans, many with restrictions on treating children.That is an awful lot of people who do not have access to chiropractic care.The ANJC leadership is committedOur SponsorsPage 20to trying to advance our profession forward in this area.Additionally, Workers Compensation is an area we will continue to pursue.The misconception is that we are not in the system. That isnt true, the direction of patient care is dictated by the carriers.ANJC will be working to meet with individual carriers to facilitate referrals to chiropractors. So, while some things change, the ANJC leaderships commitment to advancing chiropractic in New Jersey will stay the same.www.njchiropractors.com I 3'