DCs 10x More Expensive Than MDs or DOs?

The NBCE's Claim to Fame

Contrary to almost all other research, doctors of chiropractic are 10 times more expensive than MDs and DOs ... in one respect: when they serve as directors on a national board of examiners.

According to its tax return in the pre-COVID year of 2019, each member of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) worked approximately one hour per week (52 hours for the year). Yet one director was paid more than $80,000 for that one hour per week, while another director was paid less than $24,000.

The total paid to NBCE directors was $465,050. With 11 director positions, (recognizing that some directors are voted on and off the board each year), this works out to an average of $42,277 per director or $813 per hour ($42,277 divided by 52 hours of service = $813 per hour).¹

Contrast this with the National Board of Medical Examiners, which also has 11 director positions. These directors work between three and four hours per week, and are paid between $1,000 and $14,591. These medical directors were paid a total of $44,670, which works out to $4,061 per director position.²

The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners has 22 director positions. They worked between one and four hours apiece per week, with some directors accepting no compensation – even though one reportedly worked an average of three hours per week for the board. The highest paid director received $25,390. The osteopathic board's total reportable compensation was $90,258; an average of $4,103 per director.³

NBCE board members essentially get paid to travel. For some reason, the board believes there must be at least one board member at every test site on every campus, even though Parts I, II and III are computerized and the NBCE pays as many as 10 local proctors to be on site each day.

In 2019, the NBCE paid almost $1.5 million to proctors and other exam personnel, in addition to the cost of its board members' travel expenses and per diem. In many cases, board members don't travel to local chiropractic colleges, but rather are paid to visit distant cities of their choosing.

Director test travel is in addition to international, national, district and other meetings, which are often held in vacation locations. NBCE board members also get paid per diem to sit in on conference calls.

Sadly, the only people who can reduce the travel and per-diem expenses are the directors themselves. The $465,050 paid to directors in 2019 equals 21 percent of the Part II revenue for that year. When combined with the associated travel expenses, this percentage would be much higher; perhaps as much as 50 percent.

The NBCE delegates can propose a bylaws change that would eliminate the unnecessary travel and reduce the directors' per diem. Then it would be up to the board members themselves to either respond to the delegates' wishes ... or ignore them.

Had "Dire Straits" frontman Mark Knopfler written a theme song for this situation, it might sound something like this (see if you recognize the tune):

Now look at them chiros, that's the way you do it
You get to travel for the NBCE
That ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Money for nothin' and your trips for free

Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it
Lemme tell ya, them guys ain't dumb
Maybe get a blister ordering more wine at dinner
Maybe get a blister, on your bum

Get your money for nothin' (I wanna fly, I wanna fly)
And your trips for free (I wanna fly NBCE)
Get your money for nothin' (I wanna fly, I wanna fly)
And your trips for free (I wanna fly NBCE)

Money for nothin', trips for free.

References

1. National Board of Chiropractic Examiners full filing 990 for 2019.
2. National Board of Medical Examiners full filing 990 for 2019.
3. National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners full filing 990 for 2019.  

Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/ wrblog. You can also visit me on Facebook and Twitter (donpetersenjr, @donaldpetersen).