Financial pressure, enrollment declines and institutional challenges are emerging at several U.S. chiropractic colleges. Life Chiropractic College West's and Life University's struggles may be the most talked about but appear to be part of a larger story. And with recent USDE requirements threatening to hamstring federal student financing for DC degree programs, chiropractic education is facing questions for which it has no immediate answers.
| Digital ExclusiveGrowth of Managed Care
Managed care enrollment in the United States is growing at an unprecedented rate. The number of Americans enrolled in preferred provider organizations (PPOs) increased by more than 32 percent in 1993. The number enrolled in health maintenance organizations (HMOs) increased by over 9 percent.
HMOs
1992 -- 38.8 million enrollees
1993 -- 42.3 million enrollees
PPOs
1992 -- 58 million eligible enrollees
1993 -- 76.6 million eligible enrollees
SOURCE: 1. InterStudy
2. American Association of PPOs