The Foundation for
Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to
raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, points to data from Optum, a global entity that works to improve
the delivery, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care, which concludes
that spinal manipulation is the single service that -- if not included during
management of a non-surgical spinal episode -- will lead to higher total
episode costs. Optum data, which covered a two year span, projected a total
savings of $1.3 billion had its reported 14.7 million non-surgical spinal
episodes begun with chiropractic care.
“Musculoskeletal conditions
rank amongst the costliest in health care and are a top concern for all
stakeholders – patients and payers, alike,” states Gerard Clum, DC,
spokesperson, F4CP. “Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) provide evidence-based,
cost-effective care, which includes spinal manual care appropriate for the
management of these conditions and other health concerns.”
In the U.S., DCs deliver over 94 percent of spinal
manipulations and, according to Optum records, when spinal manipulations occur
within the first 10 days of a spinal episode, results include:
- Reduced
overall episode costs
- Lower
frequency of imaging, injections, prescription medications and surgery
Experts at the F4CP
assert that when chiropractic care precedes other options, specifically medical
or surgical interventions, costs per episode are reduced by 40 percent.
Furthermore, chiropractic care is connected with favorable clinical outcomes
and high patient satisfaction scores.
“Chiropractic care advances the
opportunity for optimal outcomes across care delivery, quality and cost,” says
Dr. Clum. “In fact, according to research published in Spine, patients
experiencing low back pain who first visited a DC versus a surgeon were over 40
percent less likely to experience surgery.”
Excited about the potential of
emerging reports to positively impact our nation’s population, Dr. Clum
concludes, “The Optum data further validates the value of chiropractic care and
acceptance of the rising trend: chiropractic first, medicine second and surgery
last.”
About the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress
A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for
Chiropractic Progress informs and educates the general public about the many
benefits associated with chiropractic care. To learn more about the Foundation,
visit
www.yes2chiropractic.com or call
866-901-F4CP (3427).