Chiropractic Health Care month in Illinois

 October, 2021 has been designated as Chiropractic Health Care Month in Illinois. Every year two million Illinois residents visit chiropractic practices. 

LEGISLATION PASSED ADDING CHIROPRACTIC TO MEDICAID

 Illinois coverage for chiropractic care was discontinued eight years ago. Recently a bill containing a provision to re-instate chiropractic coverage to Illinois the Illinois Medicaid program as been passed and is expected to be signed by the governor. A plan will now be formulated by the Health and Family Services to be sent for federal approval.

LEGISLATION PASSED ADDING CHIROPRACTIC TO MEDICAID

About the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project

The WHO in collaboration with several research organizations including Harvard and John Hopkins have published a series of studies showing that musculoskeletal disorders are the number-one cause of disability worldwide with low back disorders #1 and neck disorders #4.
These studies provide indisputable evidence that musculoskeletal conditions are an enormous problem in all parts of the world and need to be given the same priority for policy and resources as other major conditions like cancer, mental health and cardiovascular disease.

 https://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/about/en/?fbclid=IwAR2qIAYqGVNtJL2D3A_bRHGJgHYCYm85SsvvwC33l1jFMYAt8bu9So5JBkI

Chiropractic Care Significantly Reduces Risk of Opioid Prescribing

Study from the March issue of Pain Medicine Journal using claim data from three states found that patients with spinal pain who saw a chiropractor had half the risk of filling an opioid prescription.
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain

U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that spinal/ osteopathic manipulation was the was the most common recommended complementary health approach by family and other primary physicians.
Would you be surprised to know that I have received patient referrals from well over 100 medical physicians of many specialities?
U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches

More Payers Backing Chiropractic Care in 2020

This article from a website for the managed care industry states that many insurance plans including the military plan Tricare will be increasing coverage for chiropractic care after many studies now showing it reduces costs, reduces surgeries, and reduces opioid prescriptions.
Are you so surprised that this has taken so long?
Chiropractic care is becoming a method more recognized as a way to better treat patients and avoid pharmacological pain management methods.

More Payers Backing Chiropractic Care in 2020

Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctors of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Appraisal of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic Under Missouri Medicaid.

This is another in what is now a long list of studies showing cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. It looked at the Missouri Medicaid system and estimated adding chiropractic care would annually save the state between $14 and $49 million dollars by providing better outcomes for reduced costs, decrease utilization of surgery, and reduced use and abuse of opioids.
Why do you think some states including Illinois do not cover chiropractic care in their Medicaid programs?
Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctors of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Appraisal of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic Under Missouri Medicaid.

MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic, adolescent, elite tennis players.

I ran across this study on asymptomatic elite tennis players with an average age of 17 years old. The study scanned 33 teenagers and only 5 had normal scans! The scans revealed multiple abnormalities in the rest including disc degeneration, joint arthritis, disc bulges, and stress fractures.
Partly due to studies like this and current imaging guidelines, I now order much less imaging than in the past. Unfortunately many doctors rely too heavily on imaging studies. MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic, adolescent, elite tennis players.

Back pain one of leading causes of disability

It is easy for some who have never had a severe or chronic back disorder to think it is not a serious problem, maybe because back disorders do not kill anyone...well at least not directly. The reality is that low back and neck disorders are the 2nd most common cause of disability in the developed countries after ischemic heart disease, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study published in the Lancet.
Does this surprise anyone?How Back Pain Took Over the WorldB

JAMA Study: Opioids No Better Than Nonopioids in Improving Pain-Related Function, Intensity for Chronic Back Pain, Hip/Knee OA

Another comparison study showing no differences in long term outcomes using opioids vs non-opioid drugs for chronic back pain, hip/knee osteoarthritis.
I have seen several of these comparison studies showing no better outcomes in the opioid groups. Does this surprise anyone?JAMA Study: Opioids No Better Than Nonopioids in Improving Pain-Related Function, Intensity for Chronic Back Pain, Hip/Knee OA

High rate of disabililty after senior patients leave the hospital

We now have overwhelming evidence of the benefits of activity and I spend much time encouraging more activiity for my patients. This Kaiser Health News article references a study showing that one-third of patients age 70 and older leave the hospital more disabled than when they arrived because many times they are restricted from getting out of bed.
Can you imagine how much disability this creates?
‘Fear Of Falling’: How Hospitals Do Even More Harm By Keeping Patients In Bed

9 Risk Factors for Developing Sciatica

I have had many patients with more severe sciatica (leg pain from a pinched nerve in the low back) tell me with a straiight face they wished someone would cut their leg off! It can be more severe than back pain because it is a form of nerve pain.
You can decrease your risk of sciatica by working on the nine factors discussed in this article.

9 Risk Factors for Developing Sciatica

VA Study Finds Chiropractic Linked to Lower Opiate Usage

A recent Veteran's Administration study published in the Pain Medicine Journal found that veterans who received chiropractic treatment had a significantly lower usage of opiates after their chiropractic visits compared to non-chiropractic patients.
Opioids can sometimes be beneficial, but in some cases other treatments can be more appropriate. Do you think it would be beneficial to get veterans better access to chiropractic and other non drug treatments?

VA Study Finds Chiropractic Linked to Lower Opiate Usage

Medicare: Patient Access to Chiropractic

Medicare has always only had partial coverage for chiropractic services. Last week a bipartisan bill was been introduced in the House of Representatives named The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2019 (H.R. 3654), and it would allow Medicare beneficiaries access to all of the chiropractic profession’s non-drug approaches to pain management.
If you think this would be beneficial for Medicare beneficiaries, please follow the link below to send a letter of support to your representative.
https://www.acatoday.org/…/Legi…/Medicare/HR3654-Take-Action

For chiropractor George Billauer, the soccer stars have aligned

Story about Dr. George Billauer who has been the team chiropractor for the US soccer team for 27 years and has also worked with professional baseball and hockey teams and professional boxers.
Do you see chiropractic care as beneficial for sports teams?
For chiropractor George Billauer, the soccer stars have aligned

To Combat Opioids, Missouri Medicaid Opens Access to Chiropractic

Missouri has announced that access to chiropractic services and other non-drug pain treatments will now be made available in the state's Medicaid program to help diminish the use of opioids and provide relief for those suffering from chronic pain. 
Illinois cut out coverage of chiropractic services a number of years ago. Do you think it might be a good idea to reinstate chiropractic coverage here in Illinois?To Combat Opioids, Missouri Medicaid Opens Access to Chiropractic

3 Times a Chiropractor Can Make You Feel Better—and 9 Things They Cannot Help

Article from Men's Health on chiropractic treatment helping many back conditions, sports injuries, and migraines. No compelling evidence that it helps with non-musculoskeletal conditions. 
Would you agree?
3 Times a Chiropractor Can Make You Feel Better—and 9 Things He Should Never Even Attempt

A New Prescription for Back Pain

Chiropractic is a profession, not a treatment. Although it is most known for spinal manipulation (adjustments), most doctors of chiropractic (DC's) use a variety of treatments including soft tissue manipulation, mobilization, exercise therapy, and sometimes multidisiplinary rehabiliation.

A New Prescription for Back Pain

Alternative treatments for chronic pain without opioids

Missouri Governor Mike Parson recently signed a bill allowing chiropractic care to be covered under Medicaid. Research shows that the Medicaid population is prescribed opioids at a disproportionately high rate compared to the general population and those areas where patients have access to chiropractic have decreased opioid prescription rates.
Do you think it would be beneficial for Illiinois to again cover chiropractic care under Medicaid?Alternative treatments for chronic pain without opioids

CHIROPRACTIC CARE & THE OLYMPICS: HOW DCS HELP OLYMPIC ATHLETES REACH PEAK PERFORMANCE

Doctors of chiropractic have been working on US Olympic teams since 1980.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE & THE OLYMPICS: HOW DCS HELP OLYMPIC ATHLETES REACH PEAK PERFORMANCE