What Is Up With Insurance And Chiropractic Care?
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by Dr. Mark A. Snow
In 1969 the American Medical Association was found guilty, in a court of law, of conspiracy for trying to wipe out the Chiropractic profession. The conspiracy continues today.
Chiropractic began as a cash for service type of business. Insurance companies would not recognize chiropractic as a viable health care profession. Chiropractors did very well in this business model however. People got results, and they were willing to pay for it. The number of people seeing chiropractors sky rocketed. This of course cut into the pockets of the medical profession, hence the conspiracy.
In the late 1970's, and early 1980's the medically owned and operated insurance companies started to allow chiropractors to panel with their companies. After their admission into the private insurance sector, the chiropractic profession was quickly and easily made into insurance junkies. Claims were paid quickly, and generously. Patients also began to rely on their insurance companies to pay for their chiropractic care. Again, the number of visits to chiropractors grew, and people loved it. They got great care, great results, and at no additional cost.
In the mid 1990's, things began to change. First, insurance companies began to restrict what codes chiropractors could use, herding them into a tight coral. Then they began reducing reimbursement on those codes and continuing to eliminate codes narrowing the options. They also started to increase deductibles, and co-pay amounts making it more expensive for the consumer.
People were not used to paying for their chiropractic care anymore. They had become acclimated, and it was foreign and uncomfortable to have to start laying out the cash for their chiropractic care. Consequently, people stopped going to the chiropractor, and because the chiropractic profession as a whole had become so dependant on the insurance companies, this reduction in payments caused thousands of chiropractors to go belly up.
Today, it is necessary for chiropractors to return to somewhat of a cash basis for practice in order to survive. Many chiropractors refuse to become panelled with insurance companies, but are willing to bill the insurance for whatever out of network benefits the patient might have. The balance of the care is paid for in cash by the patient.
Medicare has paid for chiropractic for years, however it has not been on even keel with the medical profession. At first, medicare would require X-rays to be taken in order to diagnose a subluxation, which is what chiropractors treat. The problem is that medicare will not pay for a chiropractor to perform an examination or X-rays. Chiropractors practice physical medicine, which means that they typically use modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, traction, etc. Medicare will not pay a chiropractor for these services. Medicare greatly limits the amount that a chiropractor can charge for the services that they do cover, which is only an adjustment. Because medicare is a federally funded program, it is difficult for chiropractors to treat any patient who is on medicare on even a cash basis and be profitable.
If socialized medicine is introduced into this country, it will most likely follow the medicare model. This will be a mortal blow to the chiropractic profession. The medical profession is still trying to wipe out the chiropractic profession by covertly limiting the chiropractor's ability to make a living.
Chiropractic began as a cash for service type of business. Insurance companies would not recognize chiropractic as a viable health care profession. Chiropractors did very well in this business model however. People got results, and they were willing to pay for it. The number of people seeing chiropractors sky rocketed. This of course cut into the pockets of the medical profession, hence the conspiracy.
In the late 1970's, and early 1980's the medically owned and operated insurance companies started to allow chiropractors to panel with their companies. After their admission into the private insurance sector, the chiropractic profession was quickly and easily made into insurance junkies. Claims were paid quickly, and generously. Patients also began to rely on their insurance companies to pay for their chiropractic care. Again, the number of visits to chiropractors grew, and people loved it. They got great care, great results, and at no additional cost.
In the mid 1990's, things began to change. First, insurance companies began to restrict what codes chiropractors could use, herding them into a tight coral. Then they began reducing reimbursement on those codes and continuing to eliminate codes narrowing the options. They also started to increase deductibles, and co-pay amounts making it more expensive for the consumer.
People were not used to paying for their chiropractic care anymore. They had become acclimated, and it was foreign and uncomfortable to have to start laying out the cash for their chiropractic care. Consequently, people stopped going to the chiropractor, and because the chiropractic profession as a whole had become so dependant on the insurance companies, this reduction in payments caused thousands of chiropractors to go belly up.
Today, it is necessary for chiropractors to return to somewhat of a cash basis for practice in order to survive. Many chiropractors refuse to become panelled with insurance companies, but are willing to bill the insurance for whatever out of network benefits the patient might have. The balance of the care is paid for in cash by the patient.
Medicare has paid for chiropractic for years, however it has not been on even keel with the medical profession. At first, medicare would require X-rays to be taken in order to diagnose a subluxation, which is what chiropractors treat. The problem is that medicare will not pay for a chiropractor to perform an examination or X-rays. Chiropractors practice physical medicine, which means that they typically use modalities such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, traction, etc. Medicare will not pay a chiropractor for these services. Medicare greatly limits the amount that a chiropractor can charge for the services that they do cover, which is only an adjustment. Because medicare is a federally funded program, it is difficult for chiropractors to treat any patient who is on medicare on even a cash basis and be profitable.
If socialized medicine is introduced into this country, it will most likely follow the medicare model. This will be a mortal blow to the chiropractic profession. The medical profession is still trying to wipe out the chiropractic profession by covertly limiting the chiropractor's ability to make a living.
About the Author
Dr. Mark A. Snow is a practicing chiropractor at West Valley Family Clinic, in West Valley City, Utah. Dr. Snow is a 15 year veteran of natural medicine. His website is http://www.westvalleyfamilyclinic.com/
Learn more about Insurance : http://www.topofbusiness.net
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