The MAC is extremely fortunate to have many dedicated doctors who donate their time and efforts to furthering our agenda and chiropractic in our state. The doctors who make up the MAC Insurance Relations Committee are an extremely talented group dedicated to ensuring that chiropractic remains covered in insurance policies across Michigan.
Chaired by Dr. Robert Markle of Bay City and overseen by Executive Committee member Dr. Lisa Olszewski of Chelsea, the MAC Insurance Relations Committee is charged with monitoring the policies of companies selling health insurance in Michigan, giving particular attention to insurance policies as they deal with patient access to chiropractic services. The Committee has developed “liaison relationships” with major insurance carriers in the state to facilitate communications and foster improved understanding between these parties.
The Insurance Relations Committee also works in conjunction with the Education & Programs Committee to develop seminars and presentations such as our popular Insurance seminars. The Committee also works with the Public Relations Committee in developing MAC brochures on topics like Michigan’s auto no-fault and workers compensation systems.
The other members of the MAC Insurance Relations Committee are:
The Committee is staffed by MAC Insurance Director Carl Alden.
A 1994 Palmer graduate, Dr. Robert Markle of Bay City has served on the MAC Board of Directors since the inception of the organization. During the MAC’s first two years (2007-2008), Dr. Markle served on the Board’s Executive Committee as Director of Internal Affairs, a position in which he acted as liaison between the Executive Committee and the Insurance Relations Committee.
Dr. Markle also currently serves as a member of the MAC Government Relations Committee. He has served his state association in a number of ways over the years, including as President of MAC District 5 and as acting as a sergeant-at-arms at MAC conventions. His wife, Dr. Sandra Markle, is also a chiropractor.
As insurance companies continue to discriminate against doctors of chiropractic and their patients, it becomes more and more essential that we cultivate and develop strong relationships with complex systems such as Medicare, Medicaid, Auto No-Fault, and Workers’ Compensation to ensure that the chiropractic viewpoint is properly represented.
Dr. Christopher Dolecki of Lake Orion serves as the MAC Liaison to Medicare, serving on the Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee. Members of this committee represent the opinions of the chiropractic profession with regard to decisions about Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) and contractor policies.
Dr. Dolecki also currently serves the MAC as Vice President, overseeing the Government Relations and Legal Affairs committees. In 2009, Dr. Dolecki was named MAC “Chiropractor of the Year” for his “outstanding leadership, service and dedication” in the fight to bring Michigan’s chiropractic scope of practice into the 21st Century. As (former) Co-Chair of the MAC Government Relations Committee, Dr. Dolecki was a driving force behind the MAC’s legislative strategy to restore our scope, a strategy that was ultimately successful when Governor Granholm signed the new law in January 2010.
A 1985 graduate of Life, Dr. Dolecki has been licensed to practice in Michigan since 1985. Prior to entering Life, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University.
Dr. Dan Greene of Prescott serves as the MAC Liaison to Medicaid. He also serves as Director of the MAC’s WorkSafe Program, which trains hundreds of small-industry workers throughout the state in the prevention of workplace injuries. Currently, more than 100 DCs provide this free training across Michigan. Numerous doctors have received positive media coverage from the Ohio border to the Upper Peninsula for their efforts. The safety training through WorkSafe is available to manufacturing and nursing home industries with up to 100 employees. To date, the program has trained more than 8,000 Michigan employees.
A Logan grad, Dr. Greene has also earned a BS in Physical Education at Wayne State University. While at Wayne State, he worked as a student athletic trainer with most varsity sports.
Palmer grad Dr. Robert Levine of Farmington Hills also serves on the MAC Board of Directors, representing District 3 (Oakland County). He also chairs the MAC Ethics, Professional Conduct & Peer Review Committee, the body charged with two very important tasks:
Palmer graduate and nationally renowned speaker and lecturer Dr. Kenneth S.J. Murkowski of Jackson has served chiropractic in numerous statewide and national positions, including as Chair of the ICA Insurance Relations Committee and as Chairman of the ACA Committee for the World Health Organization.
He has been a member of the postgraduate faculty at nine different chiropractic colleges over the course of his career. He is currently on the postgraduate faculty of Cleveland, Life, Logan, New York, Northwestern, Palmer and Parker, as well as the Physicians Academy and the American Disability Evaluation Research Institute. He holds chiropractic licenses in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas.
A Palmer graduate, Dr. Kirk Titze of Lansing serves as the MAC Liaison to Michigan’s Workers’ Compensation System. He succeeded MAC President Dr. Dennis Whitford of Mt. Pleasant on the Workers’ Compensation Health Care Services Advisory Committee. This important committee is responsible for reviewing rules and regulations pertaining to health care benefits and services under Michigan’s Workers’ Compensation System. He serves as one of the committee’s five members from the provider community.
Also a graduate of Michigan State, Dr. Titze has served as official chiropractor (2001-2010) for the Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing, treating such musicians as Gladys Knight and the Pips, Pat Benatar, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jethro Tull, and Journey. He also served as official chiropractor for numerous LPGA events, treating such golf luminaries as Annika Sorenstam, Beth Daniel, Jan Stephenson, and more.