2017 Archives - Page 4 of 15 - Chiropractic Economics

6 steps to getting referrals from medical doctors

Adria Schmedthorst October 9, 2017

Marketing Matters Building relationships with medical doctors who can refer patients to you is by far one of the most affordable ways to grow your practice. It costs nothing up front, but does require an investment of your time to nurture that connection and create a referral network that will last. While many chiropractors resist the idea of working with their medical counterparts, let’s take a look at the numbers. In any given year, 12 to 14 percent of the adult population in the U.S. will visit a medical doctor for back pain.

The fallacy of goal setting

Josh Wagner October 6, 2017

Personal Growth Many DCs are taught that setting practice goals is not only useful but essential to achieving success. Unfortunately, this concept doesn’t always produce the intended result. While having a vision for the future plays a strong role in reaching your goals, the way you enact that vision can make all the difference for experiencing the inner fulfillment and happiness that you desire. How many times have you set out to achieve a goal, struggled to reach it, and then, once you accomplished it, felt satisfied and proud of yourself for only a day?

Syndrome X: the next frontier in chiropractic

Todd G. Singleton October 5, 2017

Wellness Approach The first time you hear it, “syndrome X” sounds a like a villain in a comic book. While it’s actually another way of saying “metabolic syndrome,” it is every bit as pernicious as it sounds. It’s also more pervasive than you might think, affecting nearly 35 percent of adults in the U.S. That’s more than one third of all adults. It’s about as prevalent as the common cold or acne. Statistically speaking, this means that at least one third of your patients are experiencing metabolic syndrome, putting them at risk for heart attack and stroke.

What to know about deductibles, copays, and hardship rates

Kathy Mills Chang, MCS-P October 4, 2017

Practice Central Recently, a chiropractor contacted us looking to get his compliance and HIPAA programs in order. In the process, he asked for an analysis of his profitability, because it was not what he thought it should be. During the conversation, he casually mentioned that he never collects copayments and deductibles. “Never?” we asked. “Never!” he replied. Stunned by his response, we asked him why not. He replied that no one else in the area did, and that if he started, he feared that his patients would desert his practice. Gulp!

The science behind the rise of CBD topicals

Jospeh Rosenblatt October 3, 2017

Clinical Concerns Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, is emerging as one of the most exciting natural alternatives used to treat a wide range of common conditions, and for good reason. Up until recently, it was the psychoactive component of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which received most of the attention for its medicinal benefits, as well as its ability to produce psycho- tropic effects. Now, with medical marijuana gaining ground across the country, researchers are discovering the amazing properties of additional cannabinoids.

Are you missing the natural way to adapt to stress?

Terry Lemerond October 3, 2017

Research Results Recommending an adaptogen can be the perfect answer for your patients dealing with physical and mental stress. Adaptogens, a class of herbs that help the body adapt to stress, include many botanicals like ashwaghanda (shown upper left) and rhodiola (shown upper right) that are safe, natural, and backed by clinical research. While adaptogens have been used medicinally for thousands of years, we are still learning about these unique medicinal plants. Most experts agree that the effects of adaptogens involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammation, and various gene pathways.

Advice to DCs whose patients take opioids

Judy Weightman September 27, 2017

Feature Ninety-five million Americans have used prescription painkillers in the past year, about four times as many as in 1999. Sadly, these drugs are extremely easy to misuse: More than 1,000 people a day are treated in emergency departments for not using them as directed, according to the CDC. And 91 people die every day from an opioid overdose. Even worse, the numbers just keep rising: the CDC reports a 72 percent increase in the number of deaths associated with synthetic opioids.

Be smart when navigating the insurance and Medicare markets

Diane M. Barton September 20, 2017

Legal Ease Chiropractors are trying to bring more money into their practices by figuring out how to legally and ethically squeeze every penny out of Medicare (and other insurers), while still following strict regulations. The Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is touted as the biggest thing in Medicare since the birth of Medicare itself because it promises to put more money in the pockets of chiropractic providers treating Medicare patients.

Investing in the market shouldn’t be a gamble

H. William Wolfson, DC September 19, 2017

Money Management Despite the pundits’ predictions of a Donald Trump presidential win destroying the stock market, the exact opposite occurred. As CNN Money put it, “After an overnight selloff on election night, the stock market welcomed Trump with a bang as the Dow soared 257 points the day after the election.” Eventually, the Dow Jones Industrial Average would surge more than 1,400 points between the election and the end of the year.

Cash vs. insurance: Do you really have to choose?

Miles Bodzin September 15, 2017

Practice Central There’s no such thing as a “cash-only practice,” yet you hear it all the time. Doctors say, “I collect cash only, so I don’t have to deal with the headaches of insurance.” It’s understandable—insurance can be a pain to deal with. Not to mention the sky-high deductibles and copays these days. And even if you take insurance, most of your patients are likely paying out of pocket. A strict definition of a cash-only practice is one that doesn’t bill insurance nor one that accepts Medicare, Medicaid, workers’ compensation, or personal injury cases.

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2017

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