CIN-BAD

CIN-BAD
The Chiropractic Information Network/Board Action Databank

The only interjurisdictional chiropractic board action database! In an effort to fulfill the FCLB mission of protecting the public by promoting excellence in chiropractic regulation, CIN-BAD protects the public while serving member licensing boards.

Since 1993, the core element of CIN-BAD began with the board actions information. It is a comprehensive warehouse of information on public actions taken by chiropractic regulatory licensing boards and/or exclusions from Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services with regard to individual chiropractors. It is maintained by the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards as a service to its member boards, to the health care community, and to the general public.

The CIN-BAD database receives information from two primary governmental sources:
The member licensing boards of the FCLB voluntarily report public actions taken by their board which have an impact on the licensure status of individuals. The public actions by the licensing boards include, but are not limited to, actions such as revocation or suspension of a license, probation or limitations on practice, and fines. The restoration of a license, and the removal of limitations on practice are also reported by the boards. Leading the way in comprehensive reporting, the licensing boards in Colorado, Michigan and Minnesota have reported all public board actions dating back to the 1950s.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of the Inspector General releases, on a monthly basis, updated lists of health care organizations and practitioners who have been excluded from financial reimbursement under several government programs. The FCLB extracts from this list all information related to chiropractors.

Data from these two sources is combined into a unified, searchable database. All information on a single practitioner is combined into a single, comprehensive report where all reporting codes are spelled out, and headings are clearly defined, making the report easily read and understood. Name searches are performed on a list that includes all known name variations for each listed individual. This sample report (requires Adobe Reader) illustrates the content and format of reports from the CIN-BAD database. The database has numerous features that make it reliable, versatile and convenient for its users, however it does NOT include malpractice settlements, accusations which have not been resolved by board actions, or board actions that are not a matter of public record.

Direct, on-line access to the database is limited to representatives of the member licensing boards of the FCLB, and to organizations which have purchased subscriptions to CIN-BAD. Members of the general public, or organizations that need only occasional reports, may choose to have the FCLB staff conduct a Query (requires Adobe Reader) of the database for them.

The information resources on CIN-BAD assist in the efficient and accurate licensing and credentialing of chiropractors through a password-protected internet site. These resources are available to:

• member boards of the FCLB at no cost
• subscribing health care and college organizations at an economical credentialing cost
• public individual queries at a nominal fee

The National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC) has generously funded the development of the CIN-BAD system.

FCLB member boards, representing chiropractic licensing agencies in the United States, Washington DC, plus the US territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam, several Canadian provinces and Australian states currently voluntarily report some or all public board actions to the CIN-BAD system. Action dates range from 1954 to current, most within the last 10 years.

The FCLB staff maintains the data regularly through data entry and a careful staff proofing process to assure users that correct data has been entered as reported by chiropractic licensing boards.

Member chiropractic boards enter public chiropractic board actions online through a secure system. The FCLB staff verifies that the information is accurate before it goes live. The FCLB prides itself on "human" proofing procedures to continue the integrity of the CIN-BAD database.

HOW CAN CIN-BAD HELP WITH QUALITY CREDENTIALING?
What is quality credentialing? In a sense, it is assuring that your health care organization or agency has researched all available sources of information to effectively make an informed decision on the applicant chiropractor.

Credentialing doctors of chiropractic is similar to credentialing any other health care provider -- however, the resources and criteria are different. Chiropractic boards have different requirements for education, scope of practice, continuing education requirements, etc. Therefore, it is important to review the criteria for jurisdictions where the chiropractor is licensed. Many chiropractors hold licenses in different jurisdictions.

Since 1996, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recognized CIN-BAD as an "acceptable source" for agencies to check for chiropractic board actions as part of credentials verification processes. This NCQA recognition means that health care and credentialing organizations that want to meet NCQA standards can check once with CIN-BAD instead of making separate requests of all licensing boards.

CIN-BAD's ever-expanding databases are tremendously significant to regulatory boards, chiropractic colleges, health care organizations, law enforcement, and the public. One may ask, "Why should I use CIN-BAD when I can just call the jurisdiction where the DC is licensed?" Some chiropractors with disciplinary history may not fully disclose all of the states in which they are licensed or have had board actions. Your organization does not want to jeopardize the health and safety of patients. It is always best to check CIN-BAD's interjurisdictional databases as well as call the licensing board.

HOW CAN I QUERY CIN-BAD?

If you only have a few names to query from the CIN-BAD system, you may elect to have the Federation staff check the database for you at a cost of $26 per individual name. The information which is returned will include a full report on every individual in the database who might reasonably be considered a match with the requested name, date of birth, and/or social security number (US) / social security identification (Canada), or a validation report if no match is found.

You may request access to fill out and pay for a CIN-BAD query and the FCLB staff will complete Section C (validation if the name is or is not in CIN-BAD).

We will respond via fax or email, usually within 24 hours (3 business days), to your query request.

If you plan to query more than 20 DCs in a year, please see on online subscription section to learn more about unlimited online agency queries rather than staff-conducted queries.

HOW CAN I SUBSCRIBE TO CIN-BAD? 

Subscribers pay an annual access fee which covers: account set-up, user training, and unlimited queries.

Agencies that will have internal use of the CIN-BAD reports for their files (i.e. MCOs, PPOs, etc) are charged a $550 annual access fee. Agencies that plan to re-sell the information (i.e.CVOs) pay a $1550 annual access fee.

Benefits of an online subscription are:

• Instant access - no waiting for a reply;
• Subscribers select who has access to agency usage reports vs. simple query privileges;
• 60 minutes of annual telephone technical support if users need initial guidance on how the database works. You'll find CIN-BAD is very user-friendly;
• Tips and credentialing guidelines as well as communication about regulating the chiropractic profession;
• The most important benefit is in knowing that your organization has credentialed chiropractors to protect both the public and your own stakeholders.

Subscribers who find a report on CIN-BAD should immediately contact the licensing board that reported the action. Subscribers should always find out the whole story before making any decision which could ultimately affect the career of a licensed doctor of chiropractic

Dated verification reports necessary for credentialing files can be generated confirming that a name search was unsuccessful -- the user simply hits the print button in their preferred browser. The fact that an individual is not listed in the database is important for many of the users of the database. This report allows users to place a document into their files which confirms the search.

Chiropractic colleges use CIN-BAD for admissions, pre-ceptorship and post-ceptorship programs and peer review. If you are affiliated with a college and would like to receive unlimited online access for a discounted fee, please contact the FCLB office for a college agreement.