The National Governors' Association (NGA) drafted and signed a health care reform/cost-containment policy position February 1, during its Washington, D.C. meeting. The NGA's plan is quite similar to the approach that President Clinton endorsed during the campaign.
The policy endorses NGA's version of managed competition, which would set up large purchasing cooperatives made up of individuals and employers who would negotiate for health care coverage from large provider networks or super-HMOs.
Ominously, the NGA's plan calls for the development of a core benefits package "comparable with those now provided by the most efficient and cost-effective" HMOs, which, of course, do not currently provide chiropractic coverage. The policy states that "there may be some state or regional variations in the basic benefit package," but these would have to be approved by a national health care board created by the NGA. Unfortunately, the plan does not indicate whether these national health care board members would be elected or appointed, or on what basis members would be chosen.
Another provision under the NGA's plan puts limits on tax deductions for health insurance, meaning that any benefit not included in the core benefits package, such as chiropractic care, would be subject to full taxation.
Also, the NGA supports federal minimum standards which would include "limitations on the variation in rates that different individuals and groups charge." This is to regulate health insurance applying to both "nontraditional insurance mechanisms" like ERISA and Multiple Employee Welfare Arrangements (MEWA) plans, as well as the newly formed health insurance purchasing cooperatives.
On the positive side, the plan recommends federally organized outcomes research to support the development of national practice guidelines. One component of this research would be devoted to primary and preventative care. The plan also recommends expanded federal support of primary and preventative care such as health screenings, childhood immunizations, and prenatal care.
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?
