At the annual meeting of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners on May 3, 2002, NBCE President Peter Ferguson,DC, reported to state delegates that the board would not implement computer-based testing at this time. Dr. Ferguson's report reflected a recommendation by the NBCE's computerization and executive committees that computerization be delayed until testing technology can truly provide improved test delivery methods. The recommendation of the committees was unanimously approved by the full NBCE Board of Directors.
The computerization committee met over a two-year period. Vernon Temple,DC, and Jerry Blanchard,DC, served as co-chairmen. Other committee members included Drs. Peter Ferguson; Frank Hideg; James Badge; and Kenneth Padgett. Advisors to the committee were Drs. Gerard Clum, president and CEO of Life Chiropractic College-West, and Cynthia Vaughn, president of the Texas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Dynamic Chiropractic Editor/Publisher Don Petersen participated as an observer.
The computerization study included a full review of the current testing procedures. The committee examined the impact of testing on the state boards; trends in chiropractic college enrollment; future cost projections; and test designs of paper and pencil exams vs. computerized exams. The committee concluded:
The NBCE asserts it will maintain open lines of communication with all constituencies. The computerization committee, noting that circumstances may change, said that computerized testing would be reconsidered in the future.
Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
With estimates showing over 30 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy – and a significant portion underdiagnosed – it’s increasingly likely that chiropractors are already treating these patients. What’s missing is structured recognition, comprehensive management and targeted tools to slow progression, improve function and support systemic health.
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, with 487 additions, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services performed on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes. While no changes affect the common spinal or extraspinal codes most frequently used by DCs, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for comorbidities, referred pain, or trauma cases.
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