Our worst fears are now coming true, is how ACA President Michael Pedigo, DC, reacted to the news that Blue Cross will no longer cover chiropractic under its Senior Secure Plan in Northern California. "We have been warning the profession for some time now that the new Medicare+Choice regulations could seriously threaten chiropractic. This is another concrete example of chiropractic services being dropped from a Medicare managed care plan."
The new Medicare+Choice regulations (Medicare's managed care plan) resulted in the ACA filing a lawsuit on Nov. 12, 1998 against the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). The new Medicare managed care plan does require that seniors have access to manual manipulation of the spine, but that care may be provided by any physician. It does not require a chiropractor.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announced it will handle the ACA lawsuit against HCFA, rather than the federal section of the Department of Justice, an indication to Dr. Pedigo that the government is "bringing in the big guns."
HCFA was required to respond to the lawsuit by Jan. 12, but the shift in jurisdiction of the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office has resulted in that office requesting and getting a 30-day extension to reply to the lawsuit.
"Chiropractic in Crisis: Back to the Courtroom," a free audiocassette on the background of the lawsuit is available from the ACA (800) 986-4636. ACA General Counsel George McAndrews details the particulars of the lawsuit, which he calls the most critical issue facing the profession since the Wilk case.
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
