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Integrating chiropractic care into health care system will reduce overall costs

A paper presented at the 1999 World Federation of Chiropractic Bi-Annual Assembly reports that integrating chiropractic care into the health care system will lower overall costs. The paper was authored by Pran Manga, Ph.D. of the University of Ottawa  in  Ottawa, Canada.

 

According to Manga, "Chiropractic care is a cost-effective alternative to other professions' management of neuromusculoskeletal [NMS] conditions. It is also safer, increasingly accepted by the public as reflected in the growing [use] and high patient retention rates and there is much and repeated evidence that patients prefer chiropractic over other forms of care for the more common musculoskeletal conditions. The integration of chiropractic into the health care system should serve to reduce health care costs, improve accessibility to needed care, and improve health outcomes."

 

Manga also found that when studies compare the cost of chiropractic care with other disciplines "it is essential to include and [add up] all relevant treatment costs for the entire episode of illness or injury." A problem in some cost effectiveness studies, Manga says, is that the entire cost of the medical care is not included in the study. "Medical management is a lot more complex and costly involving one or more (and frequently repeat) prescription drugs, referrals to other caregivers including specialists and physiotherapists, several diagnostic tests, diagnostic imaging and sometimes hospitalization as well."

 

Since chiropractors tend to do most of the work themselves in the care of their patients, "the cost of chiropractic care [reported in studies] is likely to be all inclusive and accurate, whereas the cost of medical management of NMS cases is more likely to be understated." s