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.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
