When comparing different types of health care programs, one must always consider how "patient friendly" it is. A recent comparative survey found these discrepancies between Fee for Service and Managed Care:
| Complaint | Fee for Service | Managed Care |
| Not getting treatment you and your doctor thought was necessary | 13% | 22% |
| Unable to see specialist when needed one in past year | 15% | 21% |
| Unable to get needed diagnostic tests in past year | 17% | 24% |
| Care not appropriate or correct for situation | 5% | 12% |
| Not able to get appointment without waiting a long time | 7% | 17% |
| Not able to see doctor without waiting a long time at office | 18% | 26% |
| Doctor did not explain what he/she was doing | 6% | 12% |
| Doctor did not tell when and how to take medications at home | 4% | 10% |
Until managed care becomes more patient friendly, it won't be the health care provider of choice for most patients.
SOURCE: Survey conducted by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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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