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********RECENT LEGISLATION ISSUES********
TO READ THE FULL SENATE BILL FOR S-0745 go to: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/query.exe?first=DOC&querytext=care&category=Legislation&session=ALL&conid=0&result_pos=4080&keyval=1190745
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Bill S745 UPDATE from our Chairman
May 5, 2011
On behalf of the Palmetto State Chiropractic Association, I would like to give everyone an update on Bill S745 that was recently introduced by Senator Jake Knotts, along with Senators Land and Matthews. The bottom line is, due to our diligence, along with many individual chiropractors across the state that called in to express opposition; this Bill is “essentially dead.” I say “essentially dead” because it is in the Senate Medical Affairs Committee with absolutely no plans to ever meet on this Bill. (That is what I am being told from Senator Harvey Peeler’s office, the Chairman of the committee, and Senator Knotts himself who I have spoken with personally.) I want to publicly thank Senator Thomas’ office for their investigation into this Bill and their help in having it buried in committee never to rise again, or so I am told.
It is important to know that the Bill is “essentially dead” and not “completely dead.” This is common in these committees because once a Bill is sponsored and read into the General Assembly, and then referred to committee; it must stay there until it is voted on or until the next session begins at which time it will be completely dead. That means it is tucked away in a drawer, with other Bills that no one wants to discuss, until it can be officially discarded. So until that time, we will have to keep our eyes open to make sure that “essentially dead” becomes really “completely dead.” The PSCA is dedicated to doing just that.
This begs the question of how did this piece of Legislation get introduced in the first place. For those of you who do not know what this Bill would do, well let’s just say it would change the entire landscape of chiropractic in The State of South Carolina, and not for the better. It would essentially allow for DCs to inject substances, both natural and pharmaceutical, into people’s bodies. It would also give a designation of Advanced Practice Chiropractic Physician to those who would be able to do these procedures. The PSCA is vehemently opposed to taking our profession in this direction. So how did this Bill get introduced in the first place? Well, I asked that question to Senator Knotts and his reply was a constituent of his asked him to sponsor this Bill. In his words, he figured IF it was a good Bill then it would be voted on and if it wasn’t a good Bill it would be discarded. This is the answer that I received when I spoke with him personally.
I think this is a wake-up call to all chiropractors in our State. There is a national trend to move chiropractic more and more towards a medical model of scope and practice. This is NOT something that the “straights” have dreamed up. It is a reality that there is a push to create an “Advanced” designation that would allow for prescription rights. That is why it is more important than ever to join the PSCA. If you believe that chiropractic is a non-drug, all natural, subluxation centered profession, then the PSCA is the association that you need to belong to. We would love you to renew your membership or join for the first time.
Yours in health,
George A Auger, DC
Chairman
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April 21, 2011
Dear Doctors,
Some of you may or may not be aware that legislation (S0745) was introduced to the General Assembly concerning the practice of chiropractic in the State of South Carolina. Unfortunately, this Bill would significantly and negatively change the landscape of chiropractic as we know it. A similar situation was attempted in the State of New Mexico and was soundly defeated.
The Palmetto State Chiropractic Association (PSCA) has been taking an active role to see that this Bill never comes to a vote. The Bill could allow for the creation of an Advanced Practice Chiropractic Physician who would be able to administer and prescribe multiple drugs and other substances. Since our inception we have been a drugless profession and now even this is under attack by a minority of people. This is unfortunately what happens when you lose sight of what is the solid foundation and focus of chiropractic, the detection and correction of vertebral subluxations. When you lose sight of this, anything and everything will start to creep into our profession altering the fundamental basis for who we are and why we exist as a profession. The PSCA is dedicated to keeping our focus on straight chiropractic (the location and detection of vertebral subluxation)!
We will keep you apprised of the situation as more information unfolds. As for now, know that the PSCA is working diligently to promote and protect the practice of chiropractic in the State of South Carolina.
Sincerely,
George A Auger, DC
Chairman
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URGENT MEMO:
From: George A Auger, DC
Chairman, PSCA
To: All Chiropractic Doctors in South Carolina
Re: Proposed Legislation:
S 0745 General Bill, By Knotts, Land and Matthews
Dear Doctor:
It has come to the attention of the Palmetto State Chiropractic Association (PSCA) that there is a Bill, introduced to the South Carolina Legislature, which would greatly affect the practice of chiropractic in our State. In fact, this Bill is very similar to the Bill that was recently defeated in the State of New Mexico.
There are some, in our profession, who would like to take our drugless profession in a totally different direction. The addition of a chiropractic classification of doctor called: “Advanced Practice Chiropractic Physician,” is an attempt to bring chiropractic closer than ever to the practice of medicine. This new certification of chiropractor would be able to (among other things):
prescribe, administer, and dispense amino acids, bioidentical hormones, caffeine, dietary supplements, enzymes, epinephrine, gerovital, glandular products, herbal medicines, homeopathic medicines, live cell products, minerals, over-the-counter drugs, oxygen, procaine, protomorphogens, sarapin or its generic, sterile saline, sterile water, vapocoolants, and vitamins.
The PSCA sees this action as a direct assault on the uniqueness and foundational principles of our great profession. It is our position that not only does this duplicate what is already provided by medical physicians, but this goes against every principle that has been held by chiropractors for over a century.
CALL TO ACTION!!!
We need your help. Please contact your State Senators and Representatives to let them know that you are opposed to Bill S-0745 and would like them to stop it from promulgating any further. If you do not know their names or contact information, then visit www.palmettostatechiropractic.com. Here you will find a link to the contact information for all your State Legislators. SECOND, and very important, join the PSCA. We need your financial support and the more members we have the better and more forceful we can communicate our message to the State Legislators! Can we all count on you?!?!
Yours in health,
George A Auger, DC
Chairman
PS To read the full Senate Bill go to: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/query.exe?first=DOC&querytext=care&category=Legislation&session=ALL&conid=0&result_pos=4080&keyval=1190745