Research Shows Chiropractic Care May Reduce Medicare Spending For Spinal Conditions
Healthcare spending is a big topic for everyone, especially when it comes to Medicare. While chiropractic care is more accessible than ever and encompasses a variety of cost-effective treatments and services, Medicare currently only covers chiropractic adjustments. But can this single service reduce overall costs? According to research, YES!
A 2019 study examined the impact of “accessibility to chiropractic care” on spine-related healthcare spending for over 84,000 Medicare beneficiaries who moved at least once between 2010 and 2014. By comparing spending data before and after these moves, researchers assessed how shifts in proximity to chiropractic vs. medical offices affected Medicare expenses.
The findings were clear: beneficiaries who moved to areas with lower access to chiropractic care saw slight increases in spine-related costs, particularly for imaging and testing. While individual savings may seem modest, they add up quickly across thousands of beneficiaries. The researchers concluded “the cumulative effect could be quite large given the prevalence of spine conditions among older adults. Thus, it is conceivable that CMS is recapturing a portion of the payout for coverage of chiropractic care.”
Another study from 2015 showed that regions with high access to chiropractic saw 8% fewer primary care visits for back or neck pain than areas with low access to chiropractic care. This saves not only money but also primary care doctors’ time, allowing them to focus on patients with needs that are outside of the scope of chiropractic care.
For many types of back and neck pain, chiropractic has been proven safe and effective. Savings from reduced imaging, testing, and primary care visits all help Medicare allocate resources more efficiently. Therefore, it is important that Medicare beneficiaries are aware of their chiropractic benefits and have access to chiropractic care.
The Tennessee Chiropractic Association supports nationwide legislative efforts to ensure Medicare beneficiaries access to the chiropractic profession’s broad-based, non-drug approach to pain management and to update the Medicare statute that has limited beneficiary access to chiropractic services for over 50 years. The legislation adds no new benefits; it simply allows Medicare beneficiaries access to the profession’s broad-based, non-drug approach to pain management and musculoskeletal health. Learn more at www.tnchiro.com/articles/tcapressreleases/tca-initiative-supporting-important-national-medicare-bill , including how you can reach out to Congress in support of this important legislation.
SOURCES:
Davis MA, Yakusheva O, Liu H, Tootoo J, Titler MG, Bynum JPW. Access to chiropractic care and the cost of spine conditions among older adults. Am J Manag Care. 2019 Aug 1;25(8):e230-e236. PMID: 31419099; PMCID: PMC6699757.
Davis MA, Yakusheva O, Gottlieb DJ, Bynum JP. Regional Supply of Chiropractic Care and Visits to Primary Care Physicians for Back and Neck Pain. J Am Board Fam Med. 2015 Jul-Aug;28(4):481-90. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2015.04.150005. PMID: 26152439; PMCID: PMC4512163.