Interesting insights

Each year, Chiropractic Economics publishes the results of our exclusive fees and reimbursements survey. Last year, in the issue reporting the survey results, the headline to my editorial message read, “Disturbing insights.”

I selected that headline because, although the survey showed modest increases (2.9 percent) in fees for the year, overall reported reimbursements had declined 4.7 percent. That was not good news.

This year, the survey showed a modest recovery. Average fees rose 4.7 percent, and average reimbursements rose 2.5 percent — not enough to make up lost ground, but at least they didn’t go backward.

I found three statistics especially interesting, however:

• More integrated healthcare practices. This year, 56.7 percent of respondents said they had a licensed massage therapist, a physical therapist, or a medical/osteopathic doctor as part of their practice. This is up from 52.6 last year.

My take on the increase is that more doctors are focusing on wellness care as well as rehabilitation. Both of these establish long-term relationships with patients.

• Big increase in franchises. According to survey results, 5.7 percent of respondents have a franchised practice. Last year, only 0.3 had a franchise.

In the area of the country where I live, a number of dental-practice franchises, as well as walk-in medical clinic franchises, have sprung up. Perhaps chiropractic practices will be joining the franchising trend.

• Cash-only on the rise. In 2005, 11.7 percent of practices were cash-only. This year, it rose to 21.1! That’s quite an increase.

With payers tightening up their reimbursements rates and doctors having to fight to get claims paid, it comes as no surprise to me that the number of cash-only practices has grown so much in a year. Consumer-driven healthcare may be contributing to this trend too.

As we look at these (and the other) statistics, it’s important to keep in mind that surveys are just snapshots. They cannot give the full picture of a practice nor a profession. Put together a number of these snapshots, though, and you begin to see a bigger picture.

That said, we’ll be watching statistics for integrated healthcare, franchises, and cash practices carefully in the future. They may represent a bandwagon you’ll want to get on.

Until next time,

Linda Segall, Editor-in-Chief