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Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
The MAC will be sending urgent emails regularly as new information related to the COVID-19 pandemic becomes available. Yesterday, we reported on the
Governor’s latest Executive Order No. 2020-21 (which went into effect on March 24, 2020). All information we send can also be found on our website.
Following our report yesterday, we were inundated with questions, so today we are sending responses to some of the myriad of questions we received in the hope of providing as much clarity as possible. We are also monitoring all efforts being undertaken by the Federal and State governments, including congressional efforts to help business owners and employees. Watch for regular updates on our website and emails as they become available.
Please remember, we are
NOT a regulatory body with authority to make any legal orders. We are working hard to provide all facts and make appropriate recommendations. Our recommendations are from the MAC as our opinion on best practices during this crisis and to help doctors follow the legal directives.
Q: How do we interpret the Governor’s Order that requires it be “construed broadly to prohibit in-person work that is not necessary to sustain or protect life?”
A: It is the position of the MAC that chiropractic physicians are considered “Essential Critical Infrastructure workers in healthcare/public health.” In light of this broad language
contained in the Governor’s Order, it is the opinion of the MAC that you need to utilize your clinical judgment regarding what chiropractic care is necessary to follow this broad requirement. What care is needed to help keep patients from the dangers of going to emergency rooms because of pain and other serious issues, and/or away from dangerous opioids, is important for the doctor to determine. Also, the doctor should seriously consider if a staff person is necessary for the provision of the care.
Q: Do I have to close my practice?
A: It is our opinion that, based on the Governor’s recent Executive Orders, and the CISA Memorandum dated March 19, 2020, that chiropractic physicians are
considered “critical infrastructure workers” in health and public health. The Governor has not ordered you to shut your practices at this time, or specifically limited your ability to provide services. So, the decision to close or not close your office, is in your hands. But, again, we highly recommend that you undertake all good faith efforts to comply with the order as proof of your compliance. Simply put, do not engage in “marketing” or other public inducement efforts that appear to be taking advantage of this serious health crisis!
Q: What do I need to consider if I decide to remain open.
A: We recommend you follow the Governor’s Order to treat all patients with the broad
directive of care to “sustain or protect life.” And, as a licensed health care provider, you determine what this care should include to help keep patients from the overloaded emergency rooms and the dangers of contracting the virus or using life-threatening drugs. The directive is broad, so your clinical judgment is key to how your care will keep patients safe and healthy.
Q: What other precautions must I take?
A: The MAC highly recommends (and the Order requires) that you follow CDC guidelines for safety of all your staff and patients. This information is available on our website.
Q: What about my staff?
A: Again, you are required to also be sure and follow suggested safety and prevention precautions for all your staff. The MAC recommends you also allow your staff to make personal decisions about their continuing to work. You also must determine if a staff person is critical to you performing services under the Governor’s Order. We recommend a written agreement if a staff person decides to keep working with you. We don’t yet know what type of financial assistance may be available to you or your staff, but we are working hard to be sure you will be included in any help the government makes available.
Q: What about my massage
therapist(s)?
A: Again, the MAC strongly recommends you should follow safety and prevention precautions to the highest level. And, allow all your employees/contractors to make their own decisions about continued employment. The MAC recently recommended that you not continue providing massage unless you decide it’s necessary for the care of the patient under the broad directive of the recent Governor Order. We highly suggest you seriously consider if massage is an essential service to help you “sustain or protect life.” We’ve recently been told by several malpractice carriers that you may not be covered if you continue to utilize massage therapists in your practice. Again, that’s not officially in a government order, but is our best recommendation.
Q: Do I have to give my employees documentation to carry with them if they are continuing to work with me?
A: We have not seen a directive for essential health care workers to have this type of documentation, but, again, you may want to consider it along with all your efforts to protect employees. You’ll want to check out the tools available on our website.
For a pdf copy of this document, CLICK HERE.
Disclaimer: The Michigan Association of Chiropractors is a professional association advocating for the
rights of chiropractors and their patients across the state of Michigan. We are NOT a state agency or regulatory body. We are merely informing our membership regarding what they are allowed to do during this difficult and confusing time.
The information we provide during this pandemic is derived in conjunction with our governmental relations and legal experts, developed after examination of all official releases of information from the State of Michigan and in consultation with said experts and representatives from state government. Please refer to our emails and website for the latest information, free from speculation and the rumors currently circulating in the wake of official state actions.
Rest assured that we will continue to advocate for the profession at the highest levels, with the health and well-being of you and your patients, as well as the overall stability of the health care system, foremost in our efforts.
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ChiroHealthUSA Webinars
ChiroHealthUSA is offering a number of free webinars to answer questions they are getting from chiropractors across the country in response to the coronavirus pandemic. These webinars cover such topics as SBA Disaster Relief, tax credits and rebates for chiropractors, strategies for COVID-19 response, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and more. These webinars will be recorded and available to view after the live
presentation. The webinars for this week are below: - SBA Disaster Relief/Tax Credits & Rebates for Chiropractors. Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 2:00pm. CLICK HERE or more information or to register.
- Strategy for Your COVID-19 Response. Thursday, March 26, 2020, at 2:15pm. CLICK HERE for more information or to register.
- COVID-19: What Employers Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Friday, March 27, 2020, at 1:00pm. CLICK HERE for more information or to register.
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