Mission, Vision, & Values

The Iowa Chiropractic Society (ICS) is the only organization in the state that is for doctors by doctors of chiropractic working to advance and protect the profession. As your trade association, we know that you’re not just running a business. Your work, day in and day out, improves the quality of life and the health trajectory of each patient in your care. ICS is dedicated to the service and success of our members, our profession, and the quality of life of our patients.

Simply put, we are your source for solutions to make your practice thrive so you can do what you do best – providing outstanding patient care.

Mission

Dramatically increase the number of Iowans experiencing improved quality of living through chiropractic care.

Vision

The Iowa Chiropractic Society is known for bringing Iowa chiropractors together in a united front to significantly increase utilization of chiropractic care.

Values

Respect for distinctions across practices. Unity as an aligned body focused on advancing the chiropractic profession and protecting the wellbeing of Iowans.

Our Board

The members of our board of directors are thought leaders who have made a significant contribution to our society. Each and every one of them brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.

Our Staff

Iowa Chiropractic Society staff are responsible for carrying out the board of director's mission. If you have any questions please contact us.

Our Experts

Casey Alesch

Attorney - BrownWinick Law

Casey M. Alesch is an associate attorney at BrownWinick. Casey has a general practice including, but not limited to, litigation, health care, and employment and labor law. She is active in BrownWinick’s Health Care and Labor and Employment practice groups.

Casey’s goal is to understand her clients’ business and every challenge they’re facing. She strives to be the client’s trusted advisor by providing practical, results-driven guidance to ensure the best possible outcomes. Maintaining a high level of activity within BrownWinick’s Health Care, Labor and Employment and Medical Malpractice groups, Casey remains on the leading edge of industry updates to ensure her clients are informed.

Casey’s approach to working with clients is to listen to their goals, frame the legal issues that might be involved, and work efficiently to find a solution that fits the client’s needs. No matter what strategy is decided upon to pursue, Casey works collaboratively to help navigate her clients through the process and ensure they feel completely informed.

Prior to joining BrownWinick as an associate, Casey was a law clerk for BrownWinick. Casey is a member of both the Polk County and the Iowa State Bar Associations, the Polk County Women Attorneys and the American Health Law Association. While at law school, Casey served on the Moot Court Board as Competition’s Director and authored the Supreme Court Day problem in 2019.

Shayan Sheybani, D.C.

ICS Medicare/Medicaid Advisor

Dr. Sheybani has served as the Medicare and Medicaid Advisor for ICS since November 2015. A 1993 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic with a master’s degree in Business Administration from St. Ambrose University, Dr. Sheybani is the Executive Director of Clinical Operations at LIFE University.

Dr. Sheybani has years of service in a variety of community service and leadership roles. He is a fellow with the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists and served the academy as an examiner. Dr. Sheybani is also a fellow with the International College of Chiropractors. He is certified in healthcare compliance from the Health Care Compliance Association and he is currently serving the profession as a representative on Medicare Jurisdiction 5 Wisconsin Physician Services Government Health Administrators Contractor Advisory Committee. In this role, he serves as the co-chair for the committee for the State of Iowa. Additionally, Dr. Sheybani is a committee member on the Professional Affairs Healthcare Advisory Committee for the American Public Health Association on American Specialty Health.

Dr. Sheybani assists ICS members with:

Answering Medicare and Medicaid questions, and providing guidance.
Providing regulatory updates for members via direct communication or DC Take 5
Conducting web presentations at district meetings
Providing assistance with compliance-related questions such as HIPAA and ACA 1557.
Working with WPS GHA, Medicaid MCOs’, and ACA to resolve Medicare and Medicaid issues for providers.

Carrie Kuennen

ICS Insurance Advisor

For more than 15 years, Carrie Kuennen has worked with ICS in multiple capacities. Since 2008, Ms. Kuennen has served as the ICS Insurance Consultant. With more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare revenue cycle, she has a wide range of experience in healthcare billing and best practices. Her experience ranges from chiropractic office manager, provider relations representative for a large Midwest regional health plan, Director of Business Office for a local physician/hospital group, and now as Director of Revenue Cycle Management for Mom's Meals, a nationwide home-delivered meal provider that serves Medicare and Medicaid patients. Ms. Kuennen also provides customized, individual training to chiropractic offices and staff. She is a long-time member of the Hawkeye Chapter of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management and is currently serving on the board as the Chapter President. Ms. Kuennen is originally from Oelwein, Iowa and graduated from Hawkeye Community College. She has earned multiple continuing education certificates, including certification as a Certified Revenue Cycle Executive, as well as multiple professional awards for her work in Revenue Cycle. Ms. Kuennen is married, has two boys, and lives in Ames, Iowa.

Carrie assists ICS members with:

Answering billing questions for healthcare billing, including, but not limited to commercial plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and MCOs
Assisting members with questions regarding best practices
Providing guidance in training of clinic staff
Answering questions regarding credentialing and enrollment with payers

Matt Fitzgerald

ICS Lobbyist

Fitzgerald, Smith and Associates (FSA) is a team of experienced government affairs professionals who have been working with the ICS since 1986 to advance legislation working with the Iowa General Assembly. In addition to extensive, sometimes decades-long, relationships with Iowa’s legislative leadership and Governor Reynolds and her administration, our team includes former elected officials who understand the politics and advocacy campaign tactics that often drive the policy that happens under Iowa’s golden dome.

FSA has a strong bipartisan makeup with years of experience at the Iowa statehouse. Jerry Fitzgerald is a former state legislator and Democratic House Majority Leader who established this firm in 1985. Maggie Smith-Fitzgerald has 19 years of lobbying experience and has led many successful efforts on behalf of a wide range of clients. Matt Fitzgerald possesses six years in the lobby and over 15 years of grassroots organization experience. Jeff Smith, who is entering his fifth year with FSA, is a former Republican member of the Iowa House who served as an Assistant Majority Leader. Following his legislative role, he spent two years as the President/CEO of the Iowa Taxpayers Association before joining the FSA team. FSA brings over 65 years of experience in the Iowa State Capitol; our reputation of hard work, integrity and solution-oriented advocacy is known and respected throughout the Capitol.

“History has proven in every state where more than one association exists progress not only stands still, but it loses ground. History has also proven that where chiropractors were divided, and then unite, the profession moves forward within the state.”

~ Dr. R.E. Ulrich, Member of the ICS Steering Committee

History

The chiropractic profession was founded in the state of Iowa. As the home state for the profession, we take pride as the leader in chiropractic and our shared history. Iowa has a rich foundation in chiropractic, marked by key historical events that have helped shape ICS. Dating back to September 1895, Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer gave the first recorded chiropractic adjustment in Davenport, Iowa. Since then, four of the early schools of chiropractic that have shaped the profession began in Iowa including the Palmer College of Chiropractic, National University of Health Sciences, Universal College of Chiropractic, and the American School of Chiropractic.

For years two societies, the Iowa Chiropractors Association and the Chiropractic Society of Iowa—each affiliated with its respective national organization—represented chiropractic physicians in Iowa. Over time, it became evident that a single professional society was needed. In the early 1960s, the two associations formed a joint committee to explore the feasibility of creating one society so that all Iowa chiropractors had one unified voice.

On March 15, 1964, Charter Day for the newly formed Iowa Chiropractic Society was held at the Hotel Savory in Des Moines. The new constitution was adopted, applications were signed, and officers were selected to sign the charter. There were 140 chiropractors in attendance. ICS opened its doors as a new state organization on June 7, 1964, with 194 founding members. See the DC Take 5 2020 Commemorative Issue celebrating 125^th anniversary of the chiropractic profession for more on the history of ICS.

ICS History

2020 Commemorative Issue

Today, the Iowa Chiropractic Society (ICS) remains an association founded on the premise that a unified chiropractic voice in Iowa improves chiropractic for patients, doctors, and the community. The ICS provides member benefits from being part of the physician database on the website to the promotion of chiropractic care in Iowa to providing quality continuing education through seminars and recorded training. The ICS meets regularly around the state in the form of districts that ensures communication and participation will be all-inclusive for every ICS member.

Every journey begins with but one step. There has been a great stride taken in Iowa. It won’t be long until the vast majority will be working together.”

~ Dr. Ronald O. Masters, ICS President
Reprinted from The Journal of the Iowa Chiropractic Society, July 1965

Districts

ICS is more than just your trade association. We are your professional family guiding and supporting you along your professional journey. Comprised of 10 districts, the ICS has a presence in each community across the state. Our districts are the connection to your local chiropractic community. The ICS community provides opportunities to:

· Network with other DCs in your area

· Obtain CE hours and training at your district meetings

· Learn more about the latest member benefit

· Get up to date on ICS headquarters

· Build relationships with policymakers by participating in your local legislative social and

· Connect with other DCs at your district’s social events

Each District has a Director, President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. Contact membership@iowadcs.org to get connected with your district and join them at their next meeting!

Committees

Your involvement and your voice are critical to the work of ICS. Our committees provide hands-on support working with members, planning events, connecting with legislators and influencing policymakers. Make an impact on your profession by joining a committee today!

Membership Committee

This is our most vibrant committee! This committee works to keep a pulse on member interests and needs, seeks new benefits that are valued by our members, welcomes new members to ICS, and is integral to the foundation of the organization. Consider joining our Membership Committee and have a broad impact across the entire state! The committee Chair is Dr. Lauri Wondra.

Pro/CE Committee

Do you have an interest in coordinating events and helping plan important educational opportunities? The Pro/CE Committee is a very active committee within ICS and is charged with ensuring our doctors have opportunities to receive pertinent and interesting educational experiences for continuing education. Join the Pro/CE Committee and help us plan for our biggest events of the year! The committee Co-Chairs are Dr. Courtney Carmichael-Schwartz and Dr. Mike Powell.

Legislative/PAC Committee

We can’t maintain a strong profession if we don’t protect it. This committee is charged with protecting our profession and ensuring our doctors can provide quality care to their patients through advocacy. This committee influences public policy at the local, state and federal levels and keeps our members informed of key policy issues impacting the profession. This committee works closely with our lobbyist and helps shape policy that serves in the best interest of DCs – making a major difference in every DCs practice. Consider joining the Legislative/PAC Committee and leave a legacy that positively impacts all DCs! The committee Co-Chairs are Dr. Chris LoRang and Dr. Jordan Schmidt.

Insurance Relations Committee

The Insurance Relations Committee represents a wide array of issues related to insurers, Medicaid and Medicare insurance. The purpose of the committee is to protect and defend members for parity and equity with reimbursements. This committee works with insurers on strategy, communication and education surrounding chiropractic services. The committee Chair is Dr. Sean Delahunt.

For more information on how to join a committee, email staff@iowadcs.org.

Partners & Sponsors

The valuable partnerships we have with our Sustaining Partners, affiliate members, and sponsors make our Lunch & Learns, webinars, networking opportunities and our events possible.

Sustaining Partners

ICS Sustaining Partners are organizations dedicated to growing with ICS and advancing the profession. Our partners are committed to the growth of the association and to the profession. These valuable partnerships are designed to provide resources to our members throughout the stages of their professional journey. We’re proud to partner with our Sustaining Partners, bringing our members the best in the industry so you can be the best physician to your patients.

ICS thanks our Sustaining Partners for their generosity and their continued support and dedication to ICS and the profession.

ICS SUSTAINING PARTNERS

PLATINUM SPONSOR

NCMIC was founded in 1946 by chiropractors who weren’t satisfied with their insurance options. We’ve never strayed far from that spirit, always striving to do the right thing for our customers and our community at every opportunity, even if it means paving the way.

Whether it’s malpractice insurance, business insurance, credit card processing, equipment loans, or any of our other financial and insurance products, we provide customers with the thoughtful solutions they need to grow their businesses.

Learn more at www.ncmic.com.

GOLD SPONSORS

Lincoln Savings Bank Voted #1 Bank in Iowa by Forbes

With Lincoln in our name, you can assume a rich history ... and you’d be right. But the future is just as important to us. Offering modern-day banking to help businesses grow, and customers protect what they’ve worked so hard to build. And embracing the power of technology – combined, these qualities will be our guide. At Lincoln Savings Bank (LSB) our commitment is real, and we’re all in. To learn more about us, visit: MyLSB.com or find us on Facebook. Member FDIC

Video Introduction

Contact us if you’d like to become a Gold Sustaining Partner at staff@iowadcs.org.