As health care moves ever more into the realm of managed care, chiropractic finds itself faced with the important challenge of making inroads into the huge HMO market. While some notable success has been achieved by the individual efforts of DCs getting chiropractic inclusion in some HMOs (e.g., see "New Mexico's Leading HMO to Open Chiropractic Facility" in the May 10, 1991 issue of "DC), a broader means to that end is the legislative route.
One piece of legislation of interest is taking place in Louisiana. Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards signed into law June 18th legislation that becomes effective August 20, 1992, requiring HMOs to provide chiropractic care _if_ an enrollee with a neurologic orthopedic condition necessitates referral that falls under the scope of chiropractic.
Prior to this legislation, such coverage was optional for HMOs.
Dr. Donald Marx, legislative chairman of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana assessed the legislation: "We realized going in that the proposed legislation would not be a panacea with respect to chiropractic's inclusion in HMOs. But it opens a door previously closed to us, and in so doing, offers many HMO enrollees a chance to return to the chiropractic care they prefer."
The bill was filed by Representative Glen Ansardi and drew vital support from Senator Gerry Hinton, D.C., chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Dr. Marx pointed to the efforts of many practitioners "who carried out the grassroots portion of our campaign."
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?
