November 2003

Insurers’ concerns about chiropractic: cost and quality

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The relationship between chiropractic and insurers is changing, Pat Jackson, vice president of the office of professional development and research for the American Chiropractic Association, told the convention of 150+ attendees at the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations. She identified a number of trends in healthcare:

• Mindset change. “The majority of insurers don’t look at doctors of chiropractic with suspicion any more,” said Jackson. They no longer have a legitimacy concern about chiropractic — only a concern about cost and quality of care.

• Wellness movement. Wellness is starting to be taken seriously, she said, pointing out that two major insurers, AETNA and CIGNA, are moving toward an emphasis on wellness.

• Information wanted. “Insurers are hungry for information,” said Jackson. Although in the past, they didn’t want information about chiropractic, now they are seeking it out. Some hire doctors of chiropractic to help solve claims problems; others are actually putting chiropractors into policy-making positions.

Jackson said that ACA has prepared and distributed to insurers a “Claim Adjuster Index,” a resource guide designed to inform claims adjusters about chiropractic services and doctors of chiropractic.

• Clinical integration. Integrating chiropractic into medical treatment is become the expected way of doing business, said Jackson.

Jackson said, “The value of chiropractic is debated at the wrong place and time and with the wrong people — at the claims stage. The solution [for better working relationships] is to have discussion between the two professions t the policy level. The need for both groups must be at the forefront and realize you can’t get everything.”

She urged COCSA delegates, “Get rid of abuse and fraud and unite. Leave differences at the door.” Then, she said, progress will be made with insurers.

Jackson was one of several presenters on a panel that discussed “Bridging the gap between insurers and chiropractic.”

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