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

The Nordic Maintenance Care program

These results from the recently published Nordic Maintenance Care study showed that patients that received regular chiropractic maintenance care had less days with bothersome low back pain over 52 weeks pain than patients who were just treated when they had pain episodes.
The Nordic Maintenance Care program

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

Expanding the VA Chiropractic Residency

The Veteran's Administration has operated a chiropractic residency program at five VA hospitals since 2016. They are now expanding the program to five more hospitals. This will give these DC's skills to practice in hospital and other medical settings.
Do you see benefit in chiropractors treating patients in the hospital?
https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php…Expanding the VA Chiropractic Residency

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.

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

Do Epidural Steroid Injections Help Lower Back Pain?

This is a recent review study from the Annals of Internal Medicine of 30 previous epidural steroid injection studies. It showed only mild temporay benefit overall and no benefit for spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine).“ESIs are high cost, low value health care,” said Terri Lewis, Ph.D, who is an expert of rehabilitation medicine.
Do you think it would be rational to use more conservative treatments for these patients such as chiropractic and/or physical therapy?

http://nationalpainreport.com/do-epidural-steroid-injections-help-lower-back-pain-8827256.html

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

http://www.momtastic.com/pregnancy/741011-how-to-get-relief-from-sciatic-pain-in-pregnancy-without-using-medications/

Yes, chiropractors and physical therapists treat pregnant woman...for sciatica and many other lumbar and spine disorders. Chiropractic care is especially valuable in this setting as the desire to limit the mother and child from x-ray radiation exposure, drugs, injections, and other dangerous treatment options is shared by all providers.
Many women who are referred to me by obstreticians are surprised that chiropractors treat pregnant woman. 
Have you heard of this?
http://www.momtastic.com/pregnancy/741011-how-to-get-relief-from-sciatic-pain-in-pregnancy-without-using-medications/

Lower Back Pain Relief: Treatments That Really Work

A new article in Readers Digest entitled "Lower Back 
Relief Treatments That Really Work" recommends chiropractic care, physical therapy and several other conservative professions and treatments.
Do you think these are good recommendations?
Lower Back Pain Relief: Treatments That Really Work

5 Common Causes of Neck Pain (and How Chiropractic Can Help)

The neck is the second most common area that I treat. I have recently had two patients that could hardly rotate their necks. Makes driving rather difficult.
Hear is an article on 5 common causes and predisposing factors.
His anyone had severe neck pain?
5 Common Causes of Neck Pain (and How Chiropractic Can Help)

What Does Research Reveal About Chiropractic Costs?

To date approximately 30 studies have looked at the cost of including chiropractic care and/or spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) within workers’ compensation, other healthcare delivery systems or multi-disciplinary clinics. The available evidence consistently shows that patients with low back and neck pain who are treated by chiropractors have either similar or lower costs than those seeking care from other providers.
Does this surprise anyone?
What Does Research Reveal About Chiropractic Costs?

New report warns of widespread ineffectiveness of lower back pain treatments

Good Morning America recently ran a segment concerning the 3 papers just published in the Lancet medical journal. These papers state that much of the treatment of low back pain is not based on current research and is ineffective. The papers analyzed the evidence and recommends as a first line activity, superficial heat, spinal manipulation (94% of which is performed by chiropractors), massage, and acupuncture. 
Does this sound like good recommendations to you?

New report warns of widespread ineffectiveness of lower back pain treatments

House Introduces Bill to Expand Chiropractic Access to Military Retirees, Families

A bill introduced last week in the House of Representatives and would expand access to chiropractic services to military retirees, dependents and survivors through the Department of Defense TRICARE health program.
It would also establish, in the wake of the nationwide opioid crisis, an important non-drug option for pain management in the program.
Do you think this would be beneficial for the military and their families?
House Introduces Bill to Expand Chiropractic Access to Military Retirees, Families

7 Ways To Prevent Lower Back Pain

Noninvasive, Non-drug Treatment for Chronic Pain Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research

The US Dept of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Qualtity and Research (ACQH) has released the draft of a report that assesses evidence on noninvasive, non-drug treatments for common chronic pain conditions. It states that exercise, acupuncture, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, mind-body and mindfulness practices and psychological therapies may improve function or pain outcomes for specific chronic pain conditions.
Do you see more use of the above treatments helping with the opioid crisis in our country?
Noninvasive, Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review

What Patients Love About Chiropractic: NHIS Survey

Findings from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, "the most recent source providing data on the use of complementary health care approaches by adults in the United States," The survey showed that 24% of Americans have received chiropractic care and that 90.3% said it helped with their problem. 
Do you know of any other types of treatment with a 90% satisfaction rating?

What Patients Love About Chiropractic: NHIS Survey

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic

Ever have questions about the chiropractor profession? Here is an article with information about education, licensing, scope of practice, effectiveness and safety, insurance coverage, and other issues concerning the profession.
Do you have any questions concerning the chiropractic profession?

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic