When an MD is armed only with a prescription pad, the treatment regime for the common cold is fairly predictable. Consider how 1,439 patients in 2,144 medical encounters were treated for the common cold:
Antibiotics Prescription Only -- 32%
Symptomatic Medication Prescription Only -- 6%
Antibiotics and Symptomatic Medication -- 28%
Never Filled the Prescription -- 35%
While over one-third of the patients never bothered to get the antibiotic prescriptions filled, the 60 percent who did contributed to what the authors describe as a misuse of antibiotics by MDs, which, conservatively, is a $37.5 million annual expenditure in the U.S.
SOURCE: Mainous AG, Hueston WJ, Clark JR. Antibiotics and upper respiratory infection. J Fam Pract 1996; 42:357-361.
On Oct. 21, 2025, a judge in Florida issued a groundbreaking decision in Complete Care v State Farm, 25-CA-1063. It concerns a fact pattern that many chiropractic doctors have faced wherein an insurer, such as State Farm or Allstate, decides to simply stop paying all claims submitted by a healthcare provider.
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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.
Southern California University of Health Sciences has entered into an agreement with Pacific College of Health and Science whereby PCHS’ San Diego and Chicago campuses – including students, faculty, staff, and academic programs – will join SCU effective May 2026, pending regulatory approval. Founded in 1986 as Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, PCHS is not only the largest acupuncture / herbal medicine school in the U.S., but also offers integrative health curriculum in holistic nursing and massage therapy.
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