Time to Eliminate Unethical Business Practices
Dear Editor:
I was just reading the article about ethics from Dr. Sportelli in the latest issue (Dec. 16, 2008 DC: "What's the Difference Between Greed and Ethics?"), and I am bothered by one major problem with our industry and how your journal affects it. I believe that something has to be done to rid chiropractic of all the unethical business practices that work on the fear of chiropractors and patients.
We need to police ourselves, but this includes accepting a little pain by not taking monies from questionable organizations. Please remember that it is important to not allow our trade journals (including DC) to accept funds from these unethical sources. Our industry is good and could be great if we checked at the door our use of fear in reaching the goal of selling chiropractic to patients.
We need to be honest with ourselves and the science behind chiropractic. Honestly, I am embarrassed to show a patient that I read the trade journals (including DC). They are all filled with ads about how to make more money without working hard. This gives us a very bad image. Please realize that this article in your journal makes your company look a little hypocritical.
Bob Benaderet, DC
Long Beach, Calif.
Letters to the Editor should be submitted to editorial@mpamedia.com. Please include your name, degree(s) and city/state in which you practice.
Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
With estimates showing over 30 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy – and a significant portion underdiagnosed – it’s increasingly likely that chiropractors are already treating these patients. What’s missing is structured recognition, comprehensive management and targeted tools to slow progression, improve function and support systemic health.
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, with 487 additions, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services performed on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes. While no changes affect the common spinal or extraspinal codes most frequently used by DCs, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for comorbidities, referred pain, or trauma cases.
| Digital Exclusive