In a landmark development, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reached a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve antitrust claims brought by health care providers, including chiropractors. The lawsuit accused BCBS of dividing the nation into exclusive regions and limiting competition, which resulted in lower reimbursements for providers. Although BCBS denies any wrongdoing, the company agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy litigation – and you can get a piece of the pie.
Preying on the Elderly?
While the number of spine surgeries has been on the increase, this is especially true for those 65 years and older. Consider the trend for low back surgery between 1979 and 1992:
Number of Low Back Surgeries per 100,000
1979 | 1992 | |
Adults Under 65 | 113 | 152 |
Adults 65 +Over | 51 | 188 |
SOURCE: Ciol MA, Deyo RA, Howell E, Kreif S. An assessment of surgery for spinal stenosis: the trends, geographic variations, complications, and reoperations. J Am Geriatr Soc 44:285-290, 1996.