Safe Sex Discussion Part of Chiropractic Care?
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. Consider these excerpts from a recent article in the American Medical News:1
"The United States has the world's highest rate of STDs. Five of the 10 most common diseases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1995 were sexually transmitted.Sexually transmitted diseases are 100% preventable. As a portal-of-entry health care practitioner, is this something you should be discussing with your patients as part of their efforts to maintain their health?"More than 25 infectious organisms are transmitted sexually. And about 12 million new STD cases a year are reported to the CDC, with a quarter occurring among adolescents.
"'We estimate that one in four Americans has or has had a sexually transmitted disease, and that most of the people who have them are unaware of it.' For example (Edward W. Hook, III, MD, director of the Jefferson County Department of Health's STD control program) said, about 2% of Americans when surveyed will say they've had genital herpes. But when blood tests are performed on a representative sample of Americans, 22% test positive."
Reference
1. STDs: a hidden epidemic. American Medical News. December 9, 1996.
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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