The Industrial Insurance Chiropractic Advisory Committee (IICAC) was formed by the Washington State Legislature in 2007. Chapter 51.36 RCW authorizes the IICAC to “..advise the department on matters related to the provision of safe, effective, and cost-effective chiropractic treatments for injured workers.”

The IICAC currently:

• Develops evidence-based trainings and printed or web-based resources for chiropractors to assist them in providing high quality care for injured workers, and
• May be involved in providing input and review on department policies and guidelines that may impact chiropractic care.

Background

Prior to the 2007 legislation, a precursor committee known as the Chiropractic Advisory Committee (CAC), worked closely with the department for nearly 30 years:

• Assisting with provider education,
• Resolving claims problems,
• Advising on chiropractic quality of care issues,
• Developing and overseeing the chiropractic consultant and IME training programs, as well as
• Advising the department on policies related to chiropractic care of injured workers.

CAC members, contributed to, and reviewed many workers’ compensation and department publications to assist doctors in caring for injured workers to avoid long term disability issues.

Membership

The Industrial Insurance Chiropractic Advisory Committee has 9 members who practice in Washington state. Members are appointed by the Director who considers nominations submitted by recognized, statewide chiropractic groups such as the Washington State Chiropractic Association. The current IICAC members are:

Michael Dowling, DC (Chair)
William Pratt, DC (Vice-chair)
Robert Baker, DC
Clay Bartness, DC
Linda DeGroot, DC
Lissa Grannis, DC
J.F. Lawhead, DC
Michael Neeley, DC
Ron Wilcox, DC

Daniel Hansen, DC (consultant)

RCW's, WAC's, and Bylaws

• RCW 51.36.150 Authorizing the IICAC
• WAC 296-20-0100 for IICAC
• IICAC Bylaws (57 KB PDF)
  
• RCW 42.30 - Open Public Meetings Act

Meetings

IICAC Meeting notices are published in the Washington State Register and repeated below. Meetings are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30).

Agendas and meeting minutes are posted here:

Public Comment

Procedures for Observing and Providing Input

Industrial Insurance Chiropractic Advisory Committee (IICAC) meetings are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30) and members of the public are invited to attend. Anyone may attend full IICAC meetings and provide written or oral comments on matters being addressed. The public may attend full committee meetings without giving L&I or the IICAC advance notice.

Oral Comments:

Interested persons who wish to give oral comments must sign in at the meetings and give their name, who they represent, and contact information. Interested persons wanting to give a presentation with audiovisual materials and handouts are requested to provide copies to the Department at least 2 weeks in advance. Presentations will be limited to 3 minutes.

Written comments:

Draft work products that impact department policy will be posted on the IICAC web pages in advance of IICAC meetings for review by interested parties. Written comments received at least 2 weeks prior to IICAC meetings will be made available to the committee.

Drafts for Public Comment

None at this time...

Responses to Public Comment

• Summary Table of Public Comments with Responses - Options for Documenting Functional Improvement in Conservative Care

Submit Public Comment

Chiropractic Consultant and IME Programs

Chiropractic Consultant Program

To participate in the Chiropractic Consultant Program:
Doctors of Chiropractic with 5 years of active practice in good standing, with at least 2 of them in Washington state, may take additional clinical and workers compensation-specific training. Once certified, DCs on the chiropractic consultant list can perform second opinion consultations for attending doctors to assist evaluation and care recommendations when a worker’s recovery is not meeting expectations.

Information & Requirements for becoming a chiropractic consultant

Chiropractic Independent Medical Examiner Program

Chiropractors with at least two years experience as chiropractic consultants, who have also taken the L&I Chiropractic IME Seminar may apply to become an independent medical examiner (IME). IME doctors are called on by the department or self-insured employer to provide an independent assessment of the patient’s status, including rating for any permanent impairment.   

Requirements and IME Provider Application Form

Practice Resources for Chiropractors

Articles by IICAC members

IICAC members frequently write articles regarding common workers’ compensation issues for publication in the Washington State Chiropractic Association (WSCA) journal “The Plexus” and are available at the WSCA website.

Upcoming continuing education seminars

Information on upcoming seminars can be found here.

IICAC occupational health practice resources

• Functional Improvement Resource (620 KB PDF) Functional Scales (558 KB PDF).
• Conservative Care Options for Work-Related Epicondylitis (504 KB PDF).
• Active Rehabilitation of Work-Related Low Back Conditions (256 KB PDF).
• Conservative Care Option for Work-Related Mechanical Shoulder Conditions: 2010 IICAC Occupational Health Practice Resource (371 KB PDF).
• Conservative Care Options for Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) 2009 IICAC Occupational Health Practice Resource (371 KB PDF).

Additional department resources and publications

• Attending Doctors Handbook (F252-004-000).
• Attending Provider's Return-To-Work Desk Reference (F200-002-000).
• Return-To-Work Resources for Employers.
• Medical Examiners' Handbook (F252-001-000).
• Medical Payment Policies and Fee Schedules.
• Coverage Policies and Guidelines.
• Useful forms and publications for managing claims.

Contact Information