Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic!!

Groundbreaking Chiropractic/ Workers' Compensation Report Published (one of many)

The study considered two questions:

1. Does chiropractic play a significant role in driving the escalating costs in the Texas workers' compensation system?

2. Is chiropractic a cost-effective treatment option within the state's workers' compensation system?

"To answer these questions, the national research/consulting firm MGT of America was hired to review more than 70 articles and published studies on the cost and effectiveness of chiropractic care. The firm also analyzed data on approximately 900,000 workers' compensation claims filed from 1996 to 2001."

Among the firm's findings:

if a worker received at least 75 percent of his or her care from a Chiropractor, the total cost per claimant decreased by 1/4 as compared to the rest of those treated by Medical Doctors and Physical Therapists.

If the chiropractor provided at least 90 percent of the care, the average cost declined by more than 50 percent.

1. Therefore the answer to the first question is a definate NO, Chiropractic doesn't play a role in increasing compensation costs, it lowers them significantly.

2. Answer to question two above is yes, Chiropractic care is more cost effective treatment option for workers compensation than other forms of care.

Interesting to note is that if the cost of drugs where included in this study. The percentage of costs related to chiropractic care would have been even lower!!!

"The firm reached two noteworthy conclusions:
Chiropractic's medical costs are the lowest in the state's workers' compensation system. The existing body of research indicates that chiropractic is a cost-effective means of treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, the firm noted.

1. Chiropractic care is associated with lower medical costs and more rapid recovery in the overwhelming majority of studies concerning chiropractic care and workers' compensation costs.

Data from the study also clearly linked increased use of chiropractic care with lower costs relative to lower back injuries.

2. Chiropractic cannot be blamed for the state's rising workers' compensation costs. "