Health Care Reform

A Health Care System in Transformation: Making the Case for Chiropractic

By Frank M. Painter|January 17, 2015|Health Care Reform|

A Health Care System in Transformation: Making the Case for Chiropractic

SOURCE: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2012 (Dec 6);20(1):37 ~ FULL TEXT

Richard Brown

The Lansdown Clinic,
High Street,
Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 1AU,
United Kingdom.

There are a number of factors that have conspired to create a crisis in healthcare. In part, the successes of medical science and technologies have been to blame, for they have led to survival where lives would previously have been cut short. An informed public, aware of these technological advances, is demanding access to the best that healthcare has to offer. At the same time the burden of chronic disease in an increasing elderly population has created a marked growth in the need for long term care. Current estimates for expenditure predict a rapid escalation of healthcare costs as a proportion of the GDP of developed nations, yet at the same time a global economic crisis has necessitated dramatic cuts in health budgets. This unsustainable position has led to calls for an urgent transformation in healthcare systems. This commentary explores the present day healthcare crisis and looks at the opportunities for chiropractors as pressure intensifies on politicians and leaders in healthcare to seek innovative solutions to a failing model. Amidst these opportunities, it questions whether the chiropractic profession is ready to accept the challenges that integration into mainstream healthcare will bring and identifies both pathways and potential obstacles to acceptance.

Keywords: Chiropractic, Healthcare transformation, Healthcare reform

From the Full-Text Article:

Background

A need for transformation in healthcare systems throughout the globe has long been recognised [1-3]. Social reform, improvements in living conditions and the positive impact of public health initiatives have all conspired to enhance quantity and quality of life [4]. As the baby boomers of the post World War Two era move into their twilight years enjoying a range of activities that would have left their ancestors aghast [5], western societies have experienced a steady increase in the size of the ageing population as communities dance, jog, cycle and gyrate their way into their eighties and nineties [6].

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Improving Our Nation’s Health Care System

By Frank M. Painter|November 27, 2014|Health Care Reform|

Improving Our Nation’s Health Care System: Inclusion of Chiropractic in Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Accountable Care Organizations

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: J Chiropractic Humanities 2014 (Dec); 21 (1); 49–64

William C. Meeker, DC, MPH,
R.W. Watkins, MD, MPH,
Karl C. Kranz, DC, JD,
Scott D. Munsterman, DC,
Claire Johnson, DC, MSEd

President,
Palmer College of Chiropractic West,
90 E Tasman Dr,
San Jose, CA 95134
+1 408 944 6005

Objective This report summarizes the closing plenary session of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges Educational Conference—Research Agenda Conference 2014. The purpose of this session was to examine patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations from various speakers’ viewpoints and to discuss how chiropractic could possibly work within, and successfully contribute to, the changing health care environment.

Discussion The speakers addressed the complex topic of patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations and provided suggestions for what leadership strategies the chiropractic profession may need to enhance chiropractic participation and contribution to improving our nation’s health.

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Chiropractors as Primary Spine Care Providers: Precedents and Essential Measures

By Frank M. Painter|December 16, 2013|Health Care Reform, Primary Care|

Chiropractors as Primary Spine Care Providers: Precedents and Essential Measures

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2013 (Dec); 57 (4): 285–291

W. Mark Erwin, DC, PhD, A. Pauliina Korpela, BSc, and Robert C. Jones, DC APC

Assistant Professor, Divisions of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto Western Hospital, Scientist, Toronto Western Research Institute ; Associate Professor, Research, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.

Chiropractors have the potential to address a substantial portion of spinal disorders; however the utilization rate of chiropractic services has remained low and largely unchanged for decades. Other health care professions such as podiatry/chiropody, physiotherapy and naturopathy have successfully gained public and professional trust, increases in scope of practice and distinct niche positions within mainstream health care. Due to the overwhelming burden of spine care upon the health care system, the establishment of a ‘primary spine care provider’ may be a worthwhile niche position to create for society’s needs. Chiropractors could fulfill this role, but not without first reviewing and improving its approach to the management of spinal disorders. Such changes have already been achieved by the chiropractic profession in Switzerland, Denmark, and New Mexico, whose examples may serve as important templates for renewal here in Canada.

Keywords: primary care, spine, chiropractor

Introduction:

Between 1999 and 2008 the mean inflationary adjusted costs for ambulatory neck and/or back pain in the United States increased by a factor of 95%. [1] According to the study by Davis et al the largest proportion of increased costs are associated with specialty visits rather than primary consultations, clearly indicating that spine care places a tremendous burden upon the health care system. [1] Davis et al make recommendations with respect to cost containment for spine-related disorders which are similar to those put forth by Maniadakis and Gray ten years ago; and many of these revolve around reducing the reliance on specialty management. [2] A number of professionals with diverse backgrounds (chiropractors, massage therapists, physical therapists, osteopaths, and physicians) care for spinal pain patients. However unlike some other health care professions that have focused upon the management of condition-specific maladies, no one group has chosen to do so for certain aspects of the spine patient. Perhaps lessons learned from other condition-specific professions such as optometry and podiatry could provide important guidance in this regard.

Precedents for Professional Growth and Development:

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The Coming Changes in Health Care: What DCs Need to Know

By Frank M. Painter|December 12, 2013|Health Care Reform|

The Coming Changes in Health Care: What DCs Need to Know

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: Health Insights Today

Interview with Gerard Clum, DC

by Daniel Redwood, DC

Gerard W. Clum, DC, was the first president of Life Chiropractic College West, holding office from January 1981 through January 2011. Dr. Clum has served on the board of directors or as an officer of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), the International Chiropractors Association (ICA), the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), the Chiropractic Summit and the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC).

He is now Presidential Liaison for External Affairs at Life University and director of The Octagon, a think-tank sponsored by Life University. In addition, he serves as a consultant and expert witness in matters related to chiropractic practice/care. He has been recognized as “Chiropractor of the Year” by ICA, “Man of the Year” by Dynamic Chiropractic and as one of the top five leaders of the chiropractic profession in a Dynamic Chiropractic readers’ poll. He has lectured throughout the world and has been recognized and honored for his efforts over the years by international, national, state and local groups. He can be reached at gerrycdc@aol.com.

In recent years, Dr. Clum has spoken to numerous employer, insurance and health industry groups on behalf of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, providing powerful, fact-based presentations on the positive effects chiropractic inclusion can bring to both new and traditional forms of health care delivery. He is among the most knowledgeable people in the profession on issues related to the Affordable Care Act and the potential for chiropractic participation in the new entities (Patient Centered Medical Homes and Accountable Care Organizations) being developed as part of health reform.

What recent trends and changes in the health care landscape are most likely to affect present and future chiropractors?

The most immediate changes that are underway involve the refinement of the rules and regulations associated with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The roles of Congress and the president are complete, to some degree. Once the legislation is passed and signed, it’s turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or other government agencies, to begin the process of implementing the legislation. And as we all know, sometimes things get implemented differently than they were conceived by the legislators who passed them.

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Healthcare Reform: Implications for Chiropractic

By Frank M. Painter|December 9, 2013|Health Care Reform|

Healthcare Reform: Implications for Chiropractic

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: ACA News ~ December 2013

By James J. Lehman, DC

Earlier this year, Daren Anderson, MD, and I discussed healthcare reform, primary care teams and the integration of chiropractic services into the healthcare system as valuable members of the medical team with ACA News readers. [1] Since that time, the government of the United States was shut down for 16 days in an attempt to delay healthcare reform and defund the Affordable Care Act. [2] Yet the Health Insurance Marketplace is open with the task of finding quality health coverage for Americans through private companies. [3] Affordable Care Act funding continues as the law of the land. [4]

What follows is information regarding healthcare reform and suggestions for those chiropractic physicians interested in joining the healthcare delivery systems of the 21st century as valuable members of healthcare teams within coordinated care organizations.

Healthcare Reform

Healthcare reform is not a new concept. In the late 1800s, 11 industrial nations developed social/national insurance. Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president, unsuccessfully supported progressive healthcare reform during 1912.

Former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole (R) expressed his concerns regarding our healthcare crises more than 40 years ago. Subsequently, he supported healthcare reform with Sen. Tom Daschle (D), urging “the joint leadership to get together for America’s sake.” [5]

President Bill Clinton introduced the Health Security plan on Sept. 23, 1993. One year later, healthcare reform died a quiet death. [6]

President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) and the Health Care Education and Reconciliation Act (H.R. 4872) — together known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — on March 23, 2010.

Affordable Care Act

The government promulgates the notion that the ACA will provide Americans with better health security by putting in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will:

Expand coverage;
Hold insurance companies accountable;
Lower healthcare costs;
Guarantee more choice; and
Enhance the quality of care for all Americans. [7]

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My Co-Insurance? What’s That?

By Frank M. Painter|August 13, 2013|Health Care Reform|

My Co-Insurance? What’s That?

The Chiro.Org Blog

SOURCE: J Health Econ. 2013; 32 (5): 850-862 [Epub ahead of print]

Forbes Magazine interviews George Loewenstein, a Professor of Economics and Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, about a study he just published in the September Journal of Health Economics.

Researchers looked at two surveys of Americans, between the ages of 25 and 64, who had private health insurance coverage. Among their findings, they uncovered that only 14% of those interviewed had an understanding of the most basic insurance concepts of “deductible, copay, co-insurance and out-of-pocket maximum.”

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