This article shares how reaching out to a DC before trying a medical provider can help patients reduce their healthcare costs, largely by lowering their need for other treatments. It also shares how to quantify the value of chiropractic care, putting it into numbers.
Of people who’ve had neck or back pain in the previous 12 months, 62% sought care from a medical doctor, while 53% pursued chiropractic care, according to a Gallup survey commissioned by Palmer College of Chiropractic. One recently published systematic review suggests those who consult with a DC first may experience two benefits: reduced healthcare services and lower costs.
Costs of medical intervention versus chiropractic care
Chiropractic and Manual Therapies published a review on March 6, 2024 to determine costs associated with spine pain management based on whether patients consulted with a DC first or if they initially reached out to a medical professional.
Forty-four studies were analyzed during the review and consisted of 26 cohorts, 17 cost studies and a randomized controlled trial. Three investigators evaluated the studies for risk of bias, with those included determined to be of high or acceptable quality. What did they find?
Patients consulting with a DC as their initial healthcare provider had substantially lower costs. Ten studies reported patients’ overall costs were lower with chiropractic care, with six studies citing lower costs per episode of care. Two studies also found that engaging in chiropractic care resulted in lower long-term healthcare costs.
Reduced costs due to reduced services
Six studies in this review looked specifically at patient costs when a DC was the first care provider used. Generally, this resulted in lower downstream costs for patients. Underlying the reduced costs was a lower need for other healthcare treatments.
Researchers noted when chiropractic care was pursued, patients often required fewer downstream health services, including:
- Less diagnostic imaging. Fifteen studies found less diagnostic imaging used with chiropractic care, especially with advanced imaging technologies such as MRIs.
- Fewer opioid prescriptions. Eleven studies connected chiropractic care with a lower number of opioid prescriptions, both those dispensed by a healthcare provider and scripts filled by patients.
- Fewer surgeries. Eight studies reported that chiropractic care was associated with fewer surgeries for spine-related musculoskeletal pain.
- Fewer hospitalizations. Seven studies found patients engaged in chiropractic care experienced fewer hospitalizations.
- Reduced injections. Five of the studies reviewed noted patients under chiropractic care underwent fewer injection procedures.
- Lower rate of referrals. Five studies linked chiropractic care with a lower rate of referrals to specialists.
- Reduced emergency visits. Two newer studies found chiropractic care was associated with fewer visits to the emergency room.
Quantifying the value of chiropractic care
Although research such as this validates the value of chiropractic care, according to the Gallup survey, 63% still seek medical care first for neck or back issues. Getting patients to consider seeing a DC first can be furthered by ensuring they understand the financial benefit this care offers.
One way to achieve this goal is to quantify how much patients can save. According to a report by Palmer, The Case for Chiropractic: How Chiropractic Benefits Patients and Insurers, the average total cost of a low-back injury is $15,884. When patients receive 75% of their care from a DC, this cost reduces by 23% to $12,202. If they receive 90% of their care from a DC, they’ll see a 52% reduction in costs, taking this number to $7,632.
Even if the patient has insurance, they also often have co-pays and deductibles. Reducing the healthcare services needed for musculoskeletal issues lowers these expenses, providing a financial benefit.
It can also be helpful to share with patients what types of issues a DC can treat. Help them understand the value of chiropractic care beyond saving them money. Let them know why they should think of you first when they need care, and how making you their initial healthcare provider can save them money and reduce the number of further treatments needed.
Final thoughts
Saving money is just one of the potential benefits of a patient choosing a DC as his or her primary healthcare provider for treating musculoskeletal pain. Patients who use chiropractic care first are also likely to need fewer services and treatments, as well as decrease their chances of having surgery, taking prescription drugs, visiting the emergency room or being hospitalized.
