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ChiroClasses Action Regarding Corona Virus In Iowa

3-30-2020 - UPDATE. 

Government has acted.  For the current biennium you may receive ALL of your required Continuing education through "Distance Education".


CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE IOWA CHIROPRACTIC LICENSE RENEWAL SEMINAR


3-26-2020 - UPDATE.

Good Morning Attorney General Miller,

At the outset please accept my thanks for your efforts during this crisis. This email is requesting clarification and guidance in regard to continuing education for Iowa Licensed Doctors of Chiropractic. 

Part of the current administrative rule regarding required chiropractic continuing education reads as follows: ""At least 20 of these hours shall be earned by completing a program in which an instructor conducts the class by employing a traditional in-person, classroom-type presentation and the licensee is in attendance in the same room as that instructor." 

As you know, Governor Reynolds Proclamation suspended the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code 151 (Chiropractic), particularly "to the extent they impose requirements for in-person continuing education as a condition of professional license renewal".

As a provider of continuing education for Iowa Licensed Chiropractors, our organization (ChiroClasses) is fielding dozens of calls from doctors in regard to the effect of this proclamation, as I imagine your office is as well.   Our organization stands ready to assist your office in disseminating accurate information in regard to this issue.

Our organization was planning a "LIVE" class to meet the continuing education requirements of Iowa Licensed Chiropractors, as we have done in Iowa for more than the last 25 years. Instead, due to the crisis, this was cancelled and switched to a distance education format Teleseminar on April 4 & 5, 2020, with replays available for those who cannot attend on those dates. Additionally, a number of doctors are signing up and taking existing distance education programs (from our organization as well as many others) every day. In the past, our live class has had up to 300 participants, and we expect a large number of Iowa Chiropractors to be in attendance for the distance education classes this year as well.     

I am seeking guidance from your office, as the chiropractic board has responded to us only that they are waiting for your office to reply. 

While it appears obvious, we would like a definitive determination in regard to the distance education classes being applicable toward the live education requirement for chiropractors during the period covered by the proclamation.  The chiropractic board is holding a meeting on April 8, 2020, and plans to address this issue, but that date will be after many hundreds of doctors have taken distance education classes, and after our planned Teleseminar class.  

Any assistance and guidance that you can provide navigating through this crisis is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

JS Ferezy, DC

3-25-2020 - UPDATE.

The following communication was sent to the Iowa Board of Chiropractic:

Good Morning Chiropractic Board Executive Reynolds,

First, I want to thank you for taking and returning my calls over the last few weeks.  As you know, Governor Reynolds suspended the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code 151, particularly "to the extent they impose requirements for in-person continuing education as a condition of professional license renewal".

As a provider of continuing education for Iowa Licensed Chiropractors, our organization is fielding dozens of calls from doctors in regard to the effect of this proclamation, as I imagine your board is as well.   Our organization stands ready to assist the board in disseminating accurate information in regard to this issue.

ChiroClasses is planning a Teleseminar on April 4 & 5, 2020, with replays available for those who cannot attend on those dates. Additionally, a number of doctors are signing up and taking existing distance education programs (from our organization as well as many others) every day. In the past, our live class has had up to 300 participants, and we expect a large number of Iowa Chiropractors to be in attendance this year as well.     

While it appears obvious, I am seeking guidance from the board in regard to distance education CEU's being applicable toward the live education requirement for chiropractors during the period covered by the proclamation.  I see that the board is holding a meeting on April 8, 2020, and plans to address this issue, but that date will be after many hundreds of doctors have taken distance education classes, and after our planned Teleseminar class.  

Any assistance and guidance that you can provide navigating through this crisis is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

JS Ferezy, DC

Chiroclasses.com  



3-22-2020 - UPDATE 2.

The governor has acted. See pertinent portion of the proclamation issued this day. 

SECTION FIVE. Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6) and Iowa Code § 135.144(3), and in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code chapters 80A, 88A, 88B, 89, 89A, 90A, 91C, 99D, 99F, 100C, 100D, 101A, 103, 105, 124, 126, 135, 136B, 136C, 147, 147A, 147B, 148, 148A, 148B, 148C, 148E, 148F, 149, 151, 152, 152A, 152B, 152C, 152D, 153, 154, 154A, 154B, 154C, 154D, 154E, 154F, 155, 155A, 156, 157, 158, 159, 169, 192, 206, 272, 272C, 321, 441, 455B, 459B, 481A, 502, 522B, 535B, 542, 542B, 543B, 543D, 544A, 544B, 544C, and any provisions of the Iowa Administrative Code implementing those chapters, to the extent they impose requirements for in-person continuing education as a condition of professional license renewal or impose continuing education deadlines or requirements that are unable to be satisfied due to this Disaster Emergency. Suspension of these provisions shall extend through the duration of this Proclamation and any future extension of this suspension. I hereby direct all regulatory agencies or boards governed by these provisions to provide additional guidance to licensees regarding the effect of these suspensions.

3-22-2020 - UPDATE.

This Notice of Claim will be sent to appropriate government officials on 3-23-2020.

Notice of Claim.pdf


3-20-2020 - UPDATE.

This morning, the following notice was sent to Stare Representative Keenan Judge and State Senator Schneider

My frustration with this situation is rapidly turning to anger. Not at you, but at the repeated failure of government to act expeditiously on important issues.  I have been watching the Iowa Public Health Department website, and I did not see any mention of Gov. Reynolds press conference yesterday.  I did watch the conference this morning, and it was an insufficient rehash, to put it mildly. While closing schools and taking other steps that cause massive alterations in daily activities for hundreds of thousands of Iowans, they cannot seem to move on a simple one sentence change in a rule that leaves tens of thousands of doctors (all 19 health boards, not just chiropractic), hotels, colleges, airlines, etc. hanging in the balance for days on end.  These doctors are being asked to go to work and be in contact with potentially infected patients, while wondering if their licenses will continue to be valid.

To add insult to injury, there are no studies to my knowledge that show that "LIVE" education is superior in any way to "Distance Education".  In fact, the opposite is true.  It appears that the rule regarding "LIVE" education is only to insure that State Associations are able to continue to profit off of continuing education classes. While my own company profits off of this, I have been an outspoken critic of this rule for many years and I would be happy to provide you with data and articles which illustrate this point.

At this time I am in consultation with my legal counsel regarding preparation of a "Notice of Claim" to be sent to the Governor, Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General each of the Board members of the Chiropractic Board as well as the Chiropractic Board Executive regarding financial injury and potential physical harm for their failure to act on this rule. Postponing the deadline is a possible alternative action, but will have a tremendous and costly ripple effect regarding re-scheduling hotels, speaker commitments, doctors schedules and the boards biennial cycle.

Can you please send me a better contact for the governors office, as the email portal does not seem to be getting a reply. Your continued assistance is greatly appreciated.

This morning I sent the following correspondence through the Governors portal. 

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Over a week ago I asked the Iowa Board of Chiropractic, your office, as well as the chiropractic board (Department of Health) and my state representative and senator to act on a proposal that would suspend the administrative rule which requires "LIVE" class continuing education and allow a Distance Education option for our Iowa Chiropractors and other licensed health professionals.  As it stands, the state is requiring doctors to physically attend packed classes for dozens of hours, at the same time that large gatherings are forbidden, or lose their license to practice. Our office is fielding dozens of calls from doctors, but we have no answer for them. The hotel where the seminar is held is also contacting us daily and other continuing education classes are being cancelled each day.  I plan to send a "Notice of Claim" to the Governor and other responsible parties for the damages this inaction has caused to date. I fully expect a prompt and satisfactory reply.    You may Email your reply to drferezy@chiroclasses.com

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I apologize for the tone of this correspondence, and I realize you are doing everything that you can.  However, I am sitting on my hands for days on end, when making preparations for the hundreds of doctors of chiropractic that depend on our organization stay twisting in the wind.  That is simply unacceptable to me and I plan to take whatever action I can to quickly rectify this situation. 

JS Ferezy, DC

3-19-2020 - UPDATE.

Chiroclasses exact language regarding recommendation for the "LIVE" CE requirement to be waived has been forwarded to the office of Governor Reynolds for consideration by the staff of Representative Judge.  Also, the Iowa Chiropractic Board (along with 18 other health related boards) has made a similar request of the AAG's office.  We are waiting for a proclamation from the Governors office. If the "LIVE" requirement is waived, we intend to offer a "Distance Education" alternative for our seminar attendees.  Stay safe and return to the website frequently for updates. 


3-17-2020 - UPDATE 3

Representative Kenan Judge called me again today. He and his staff have been in contact with the governors office, and they are specifically going to ask that the issue with our required "LIVE" classes be addressed.  We are hoping for a definitive response tomorrow or later this week.  Representative Judge is still the only member of government who has responded, and he is personally been on top of this and doing everything that he can. He should be commended for his dedication to his position and his considerable efforts to help our profession.

3-17-2020 - UPDATE 2

Representative Kenan Judge called me today and is still attempting to get a definitive answer regarding waiving the "LIVE" class requirement or delaying the June 30 CEU deadline. I again telephoned the IA Chiropractic Board and left a detailed message on their answering machine.  Hopefully, with the help of Rep. Judge, we will have some answers very soon.


3-17-2020 - UPDATE

Representative Kenan Judge  (IA House) was the only one who has replied to ChiroClasses Contact.  He stated that a bill to advance the power for the governor to alter Administrative Code is being put together. He was not sure whether or not the IA board of Chiropractic has the authority to waive the "LIVE" requirement (although they initiated it) now that it is Administrative Code. He is having his staffers research that and promised to get back to us as soon as he has an answer.  The good news is that new cases in South Korea have fallen and are now being outpaced by recoveries.  That means that the arc (in South Korea) in on the way down, and we can hope the same will follow soon in the USA.  We will continue to post daily updates so you may keep abreast of the class status as well as actions of the Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado Chiropractic Boards.


3-16-2020 - We want you to know that we are working diligently on your behalf in light of the Corona Virus emergency. As of this moment All ChiroClasses Chiropractic License Renewal Classes are scheduled to be conducted as planned.  However, last week we contacted the Iowa Board of Chiropractic about waiving the "LIVE" requirement and allowing ChiroClasses to use an alternative Distance Education format for the program. As of this morning we have no word about that so we have again contacted the Chiropractic Board as well as the Iowa Department of Public Health, the office of Governor Reynolds, as well as our State Representative and Senator regarding this issue. 

We will begin contacting the Nebraska and Colorado Chiropractic Boards as we draw a bit closer to those dates.

Below is a copy of the message we have sent this morning and embedded is our contact to the Iowa Board of Chiropractic:

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Dear Representative Judge and Senator Schneider and Governor Reynolds:

I am an Iowa Licensed Chiropractor in your district who provides required Continuing Education (CE) for Iowa Licensed Chiropractors, and I am seeking your assistance in regard to the Iowa Administrative Rules for Continuing Education for Iowa Licensed Chiropractors. This rule  requires completion of CE by June 30, 2020 and states the following: 

"At least 20 of these hours shall be earned by completing a program in which an instructor conducts the class by employing a traditional in-person, classroom-type presentation and the licensee is in attendance in the same room as that instructor.

Last week I asked the Iowa Board of Chiropractic to suspend this rule and allow a Distance Education option for our Iowa Chiropractors.  The contact was both by email and by telephone, and I have not received a reply in regard to this issue. My organization, ChiroClasses, is receiving dozens of calls about this and this morning, but we cannot offer any help because of the failure of the Iowa Board of Chiropractic to reply. I sent a follow up email to the Iowa Board of Chiropractic, which I have copied for you below.   

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Last week I sent the following message, and followed it up with a telephone call to the Board Executive, Ms. Susan Reynolds:

Dear Board Members, Our organization, ChiroClasses, is holding a seminar in mid April, 2020. In past years, this class has had several hundred attendees. In light of the corona virus outbreak, it may be unwise to have such a large group gathering. However, as you are aware, IA licensed doctors must complete their CEU "Live" requirements by the end of June. Cancellation of the class would put a great number of Iowa Chiropractors at risk of non-compliance with board CEU requirements. Therefore, I am requesting guidance from your board. I can attempt to perform the classes in a "distance education" format, if the board would allow the "Live" CEU's requirement to be waived for this biennium. Please reply as soon as possible, since getting this format change set up and notifications sent to the doctors will be both very costly and time consuming. Thank you for your anticipated prompt reply. JS Ferezy, DC

To date I have not received any reply. In light of the situation, I expect some form of reply, and the lack of that is quite disconcerting.  I again ask that the "LIVE" requirement for Continuing Education Classes be waived for this biennial cycle. That would allow every Iowa Chiropractor, who are on the front lines of caring for the Iowa citizenry, to get their continuing education requirement from the rich supply of Distance Education content that is available.   Each day that this decision is delayed puts an unnecessary burden Iowa licensed chiropractic doctors, and causes greater difficulty in producing new Distance Education Content.

Please reply to this eMail.

JS Ferezy, DC

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At this time I ask for your assistance in getting a reply from the Iowa Board of Chiropractic so that I may begin proper planning and execution for alternatives to a "LIVE" class. I thank you in advance for any assistance that you may offer in this regard.

Most Sincerely,

Joseph S. Ferezy, DC

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Be assured, we will keep you in the loop as soon as we have a reply.

You can help us by contacting the Iowa Board of Chiropractic, your state Senator and Representative, the governors office, and the Iowa Department of Public Health.  Together we can bring this issue, which is easily solved, to the forefront of their attention. Contact information is below.

Iowa Board of Chiropractic:

Susan Reynolds - (515) 281-7689

Your State Legislators:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find

Governors Office:

https://governor.iowa.gov/contact

and/or 515-281-5211

Iowa Department of Public Health:

https://idph.iowa.gov/Contact-Us

and/or (515) 281-7689


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