It's in the Contract
The December 6, 1993 issue of the American Medical News features the article, "Illinois Blues: If you sign a contract, you follow guidelines." The quotes below from the article are indicative of the position insurance carriers are beginning to take regarding practice guidelines.
"Practice guidelines just gained a new foothold that could eventually propel them into a bigger role in the workaday world of most physicians.Dr. Widen further stated: "Ultimately, we want to get to the point where all utilization management is based on practice guidelines.""In what it calls the first such move by an insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will make adherence to clinical practice guidelines a part of its contract with physicians.
"'Spelling out our expectations in the contract reinforces that we are serious about guidelines and believe that they will reduce variations in practice and help control costs,' said Arnold Widen, MD, vice president and corporate medical director."
The day is probably coming when all health care providers will be expected to abide by some kind of practice guidelines.
This brings the issue of chiropractic guidelines into a much sharper focus. The upcoming review by the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters (CCGPP) of the Mercy Guidelines becomes even more important for the profession.
You became a chiropractor to serve people, not an insurance company. You deserve to run a business that aligns with your values, supports your family and lights you up. Cash-based care isn’t just a pricing model – it’s a philosophy rooted in freedom, trust and respect for your patients and for yourself. Here's why - and how - to do it.
Troy University, a public university in Alabama boasting a 138-year history (1887) and current enrollment topping 14,000 students, has announced it has received program approval from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for a new doctor of chiropractic program – only the second at a public university in the U.S. Approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is pending.
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At this very moment in history, the public is awakening. They’re questioning what they’ve been told about health – what they eat, how they think, how they manage stress, and what they’ve been prescribed. The recently released MAHA Report is a clarion call for transformation. As the public seeks answers beyond pills and procedures, chiropractic is poised to offer something more: whole-being care.