In early January, American Chiropractic Association officials met with members of President Clinton's transition team to lay the foundation for future lobbying efforts to assure equitable chiropractic inclusion in any health care plan the new administration proposes.
Richard Miller (ACA vice president of Government Relations), and Michael Hogan (asst. director), along with Jerome McAndrews, D.C. (vice president of Professional Affairs), introduced evidence that chiropractic care can and should play a role in reducing costs and increasing access to primary care in any future health care delivery system.
Arnold Ciancuilli, D.C. (president of NCMIC and FCER board member), and health economist Dr. Miron Stano (noted author of many chiropractic cost-effectiveness studies) were also present to lend their support for chiropractic.
Transition team members Atul Gawande (deputy director for health policy), and Bruce Fried (director of health policy outreach) were apprised of studies and information which show chiropractic has taken the necessary steps toward developing a consensus on standards of care, peer review, and outcomes research.
"Our basic point to get across was that DCs ought, for a variety of reasons, be the provider of first choice, at least for a range of conditions that we treat most effectively," said Richard Miller.
Other topics of concern to chiropractic were discussed, including the core-benefit package, managed competition, and possible ways to prevent "gatekeeper discrimination" against DCs due to lingering bias or ignorance.
Michael Hogan said, "While no immediate solutions were adopted, this meeting will serve as a starting point for a productive dialogue with the new administration. These people are likely to have continuing influence, while the debate over how to reform the system wrangles on."
At the request of the transition team, the ACA helped form a coalition among non-MD provider groups which met January 13 at the presidential transition headquarters in Washington, D.C. Among those present were members of the American Nurses Association, American Psychological Association, American Optometric Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, and American Academy of Physicians' Assistants.
"While there was a diverse group with varying levels of membership and varying levels of training, the message was clear," said Mr. Hogan. "We are part of the solution to the problems of cost containment and access, and you (the new administration) must assure that the market works in a fair and open way."
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?
