Two Iowa chiropractors sanctioned over patient-billing issues

The Iowa Board of Chiropractic has taken disciplinary action against two practitioners for alleged ethics violations related to their billing practices.

The board alleges that in June 2023, it received a complaint about chiropractor Jennifer Welch that claimed Welch had entered into some unspecified type of health care agreement and failed to provide the complainant with accurate information on “the program’s payment provisions.”

According to the board, Welch’s health care agreements with patients were not compatible with the requirements of Iowa law — although the board has not publicly disclosed precisely how the agreements were deficient.

The board also alleges Welch refused to provide a patient with records and test results without first being paid.

Welch was charged with violating regulations related to health care agreements and with violating administrative rules that bar chiropractors from refusing to transfer patient records due to the nonpayment of fees.

Welch is no longer practicing in a clinical setting, the board alleges, and has indicated she intends to let her license expire in June of this year. She agreed to accept a warning from the board, which is chaired by chiropractor Lauri Wondra of Wondra Chiropractic in Fort Madison.

Board settles with second chiropractor

In a separate matter, the board alleges that in October 2023, it fielded a complaint alleging that chiropractor Jason Bradley of North Liberty had entered into a health care agreement with a patient and failed to provide the patient with accurate information on payment provisions.

The board issued no citation, warning or penalties in the case, but entered into a settlement agreement that gives Bradley 90 days to come into compliance with Iowa laws and regulations.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was unable to reach Welch and Bradley for comment.

This article first appeared in the Iowa Capital Dispatch.