Initial findings from the Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Study of Americans provide insight into U.S. adults' experiences with pain and their perceptions of and opinions regarding pharmaceutical vs. conservative pain management, particularly opioids.
"Americans Prefer Drug-Free Pain Management Over Opioids," a Gallup brief based on specific findings from the 2017 survey, is now available; the complete Gallup-Palmer report, analyzing data gathered February-March 2017, will be released in October. Here's a sampling of the findings outlined in the brief:
Pain is an ongoing issue for Americans: "About one in four adults in the U.S. (27%) have seen a healthcare professional for significant neck or back pain in the last 12 months. More than half of those adults (54%) have had an ongoing problem with neck or back pain for five years or more."
Nearly eight in 10 (78 percent) of Americans "prefer to try other ways to address their physical pain before they take pain medication prescribed by a doctor." However, pain medications are still widely used: "Among those who have had ongoing neck or back pain for less than 12 months, seven in 10 have taken a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as Advil®, aspirin or Aleve®, to manage the pain, and 45% have taken acetaminophen, such as Tylenol®. One in four of these new neck or back pain sufferers say they took an opioid for pain management."
For managing back / neck pain, chiropractic is perceived as "very effective" by 29 percent of Americans – higher than prescription pain medication (22 percent), back surgery (15 percent) and self-care (9 percent). Only physical therapy (41 percent "very effective") scored higher.
Americans also perceive chiropractic as safer than prescription and OTC medication and back surgery for neck / back pain: 33 percent "very safe," vs. 23 percent for OTC medication, 12 percent for prescription meds and 6 percent for surgery. (By comparison, 68 percent perceive PT as "very safe.")
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?
There has long been an attempt by those who are not legitimate doctors of chiropractic to usurp the title of chiropractor from those who have earned their degree from an accredited chiropractic program. This generally happens in countries where the local doctors of chiropractic have yet to pass legislation requiring a degree from an accredited institution. The result is essentially two chiropractic professions. Nowhere is this danger more pronounced than in Japan.
Effective Sept. 1, 2024,UHC/Optum is requiring prior authorization for the following services delivered in office and outpatient hospital settings, excluding services in the home: Medicare-covered chiropractic services (when billed with the AT-modifier), as well as physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech therapy (ST).
