Chiropractic Clout
As hospitals, insurance carriers, managed care organizations, other health care providers, and even venture capitalists are scrutinizing the chiropractic profession, they eventually discover our extensive patient database. While they may never become proponents of chiropractic care, they may be starting to see the chiropractic profession as the key to a new source of potential patients.
A statement made in a recent issue of The Back Letter1 acknowledges this reality:
"With an estimated patient base of 10-20 million Americans, chiropractors wield considerable economic power."Cost-effectiveness and efficacy are more important than ever, and as health care reform continues, economic issues will more than likely continue to override philosophical biases and barriers.
1. U.S. hospitals granting clinical privileges to chiropractors in record numbers, The Back Letter, 1995 (5):51.
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.
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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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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