September 26, 2019 | Thursday
In this issue...

- RESULTS for Shawn Steel PI Survey

-Acupuncture Instead of Opioids

-DC Sentenced for Insurance Fraud

-ACE Tip: Be Aware!
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Patients who see acupuncture need fewer opioids
Researchers provided proof that shows an association between opioid prescriptions and acupuncture training when managing patients with chronic non-cancer pain.

The researchers discovered that family physicians (FP) trained in acupuncture prescribed fewer "strong" opioids such as oxycodone and fentanyl than did FPs without training. And, in fact, those with more advanced acupuncture training prescribed far fewer opioids overall after than they did before their training. 

Unfortunately, most family doctors have zero experience with acupuncture. Medical doctors are advised to seek acupuncture referrals for their opioid dependent patients as the best practice.
"Research continues to highlight that nonpharmacologic treatments such as acupuncture may provide benefits to some patients," said Julie Wood, M.D., M.P.H., AAFP Senior Vice President for Health of the Public, Science and Interprofessional Activities. "Given the effects of the ongoing opioid epidemic on pain management, nonpharmacologic options are important in helping patients manage pain."

This research is a significant development that meets the opioid crisis. 

For a copy of this article contact johntawlian@shawnsteel.com .
San Mateo Chiropractor Sentenced for Insurance Fraud
Benjamin Darrow 49 was sentenced by Judge Raymond Swope to serve 6 years and 4 months for formal probation. Darrow must serve 1 year in prison. Also, he must pay $877,000 in restitution for insurance fraud charges to a “food allergy test” he billed to more than 250 patients.

The California Board of Chiropractic Examiners is seeking to revoke his license. 

After two days in trial last May, Darrow plead “no contest” to 3 criminal charges: insurance fraud, unlicensed practice of medicine, and illegal markup of laboratory charges. 

The local DA said the tests that Darrow performed between 2012 and 2015 were not designed for insurance coverage because the tests were not proven effective when testing for food allergies. 

Darrow claimed he was performing the test onsite although he was actually sending blood samples to an outside laboratory. He paid the lab $600 for each test, then charged insurance companies $3,000 per test. 

Restitution is to be paid to Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Insurance and Cigna.
RESULTS - Shawn Steel PI Survey
PI ATTORNEYS
ACE TIPS
Continuing education is important to all DCs. Be aware of anyone claiming that there is one trick that works on every PI case or that taking a hardline approach to PI cases is the way to get your bill paid (it can be, but not in every case). 

Be aware of attorneys who tout their number of years of experience and number of trials as their main qualifications to speak to you (those things are good, but they don’t mean that they haven’t made a long career out of screwing chiropractors). But mostly, be aware of anything that sounds too good to be true. PI is hard, but when it’s integrated into a well-diversified practice and done correctly, it can be very rewarding. 

That said, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to PI and anyone looking to sell that brand of PI to you likely has an ulterior motive.

Feel free to email me at AlexanderEisner@shawnsteel.com .
SHAWN STEEL LAW FIRM