The High Cost of Medical Practice
The number of malpractice cases has been spiraling upward at an unprecedented rate, and medical doctors are feeling the crunch. The following quote demonstrates that the AMA has been compiling data on malpractice costs:
"The median medical malpractice award last year rose 40% over 1994 returning to the record setting half-million dollar level of 1993. In addition, juries awarded million dollar awards in 35% of the cases, which is up from 27% in 1994.One wonders to what extent this trend will affect the chiropractic profession."Despite the high-dollar awards, 70% of all claims filed against physicians never result in any payment to the plaintiff, according to the Physician Insurers Assn. of America. In addition, 80% of the cases that go to trial are won by the defendant.
"Long odds, however, haven't stopped patients from filing suit. Lawsuit filings against physicians are up by 11.4% since 1993, according to the American Medical Assn."
Reference
Personal Injury Awards Rise. Business Insurance, January 8, 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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