It seems to take Congress a little longer every year, but doctors of chiropractic and other health care providers who treat Medicare patients can rest easy (for now), semi-secure in the knowledge that they have again avoided dramatic fee reductions just as they were about to take effect. This time around, the reduction-saving provision is included in the "fiscal cliff" legislation (H.R. 8 – The American Taxpayer Relief Act) passed by the House and Senate on Jan. 1, 2013 and signed by President Obama the next day. Delayed for one year is the 27 percent fee cut that technically took effect Jan. 1, as well as an approximately 2 percent additional reduction until the end of February. The 2 percent cut is one of a series of so-called "sequestration" cuts that would have taken effect automatically on Jan. 1, 2013, and will take effect as of March 1 if Congress does not act to postpone the cuts again or approve a longer-term solution.
For the past decade or more, Congress has intervened – often at the 11th hour – to ward off impending reductions in Medicare provider fees. While 2012 was no different, it represents a disturbing trend that likely generates more angst than security. After all, congressional action at the last minute, in the face of drastic reimbursement cuts, is little comfort to health care providers forced to "wait it out" and hope for the best.
The solution, as has been proposed by more than a few health care stakeholders, is to rethink the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, Medicare's method of calculating provider fees. Much-criticized (undoubtedly because of the annual reduction scenario providers face each year), the formula ties Medicare physician reimbursement (the Medicare Fee Schedule) to the U.S. gross domestic product, modifying provider payments annually. Since 2002, the formula has dictated that health care providers receive less for reimbursable services.
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?
