With the nation reeling from the fungal meningitis scare caused by tainted steroid injections administered for back pain, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress has issued a position paper on drug-free back pain management. The position paper, "A Safer Approach to Long-Term Relief From Back Pain: Understanding the Role of Chiropractic Care as the First Option in Providing Drug-Free, Non-Invasive, Effective Back Pain Management," highlights the meningitis crisis as "the latest in a series of major issued associated with different forms of pain medication" as a backdrop for recommending drug-free options such as chiropractic care.
The foundation's position paper has received significant media coverage, beginning with the Baltimore Sun, which reported the paper's conclusion in a Nov. 5, 2012 front-page article. Within a week, syndicated versions of that article appeared in other media outlets spanning 12 states. As of press time, the foundation hopes to boost exposure of the position paper – and the value of chiropractic care – even further by distributing a print advertorial, social syndication and TV public-service announcement nationally.
"As the public begins to re-examine the safety of more commonly used invasive care approaches, chiropractic care becomes an attractive conservative, drug-free, evidence-based choice," said Kent Greenawalt, foundation chairman. "Accompanied by our advertising campaign in USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, the goal is to encourage individuals to try chiropractic before undergoing invasive surgery, taking prescription medications or epidural steroid injections."
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.
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