Mark Stagnone | Oppose SB641

Dear Chairman Layon, I'm writing you this morning regarding SB641 relative to licensure requirements for chiropractors. I am the past president and current board member of the New Hampshire Chiropractic Association and had hoped to testify today in opposition to this legislation but am unable to attend . Please consider this letter as written testimony. The NHCA Board of Directors recently voted to oppose this legislation. We are the oldest chiropractic organization in New Hampshire, dating back to the early 1900's, of which I have been a member for 40 years. We have concerns regarding this legislation. Chiropractors have worked hard to elevate the educational standards related to our profession over the past several decades. This has included the formation of organizations such as the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Through their efforts we have been able to elevate educational standards across the country and even enabled our own State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to eliminate certain aspects of testing, such as in person examination, a requirement when I received my license to practice in the State of New Hampshire. This legislation effectively eliminates that component of evaluation with no replacement. Proponents of this legislation will argue that federal standards set by the Department of Education for the accreditation of Chiropractic Colleges satisfies the necessary standards for chiropractors. I disagree. These organizations establish "minimum standards" for academic programs. They do not ensure that an institution is living up to standards set, or that their graduates have achieved a level of competence consistent with excellence in practice. There is without a doubt variation in quality and competence in the institutions providing Chiropractic degrees. These testing programs are essential toward ensuring the individuals seeking licensure in New Hampshire are of high caliber. Passage of this legislation may encourage individuals hoping to avoid this testing to seek licensure in New Hampshire whereas we will be the only state in the country that has eliminated this requirement. I do not believe this serves the residents or the Chiropractic profession well in the State of New Hampshire. It is my hope that you will recommend further study in regards to this legislation. Sincerely, Mark W. Stagnone, D.C. Londonderry, NH 603-738-7306