(RICHMOND, B.C., 27
October, 2004) - An article in the October, 11, 2004, edition of the
AMA’s prestigious Archives of Internal Medicine, provides dramatic
evidence that the care for chronic back pain and neuro-musculoskeletal
problems, by doctors of chiropractic, rather than medical doctors,
is less costly and more effective.
The article cited that
back pain accounts for more than $100 billion in costs each year in
the United States, the second-leading reason for all visits to
doctors. Similar Canadian studies have confirmed that one third of
all visits to health professionals are for spine and related
conditions.
Authors of the report
titled Comparative Analysis of Individuals With and Without
Chiropractic Coverage, consisted of several MDs, chiropractic
doctors, and scientists. The study focused on the 4-year history of
1.7 million members of a California managed health plan, only
700,000 of whom had added chiropractic benefits. The study concluded
that if all members of the plan had chiropractic coverage, total
health care costs would drop by 12 percent and the plan would save
$47.5 million per year. This would be the result of less utilization
of hospital beds, drugs, surgery, x-rays and, most important,
speedier recovery.
“This confirms what our
profession has said for years: before we start worrying about
‘doctor shortages,’ we should ensure that we match the right doctor
with the right problem,” said Dr. Jim Cooper, president of the
British Columbia Chiropractic Association. “We respect and admire
the medical profession within the areas of their expertise and
request only that they pay attention to fellow health professionals
who have superior skills and knowledge in certain areas.”
The AMA article reported:
“Access to managed
chiropractic care may reduce overall health care expenditures
through several effects, including (1) positive risk selection;
(2) substitution of chiropractic for traditional medical care,
particularly for spine conditions; (3) more conservative, less
invasive treatment profiles; and (4) lower health service costs
associated with managed chiropractic care. Systematic access to
managed chiropractic care not only may prove to be clinically
beneficial but also may reduce overall health care costs.
The authors said that a
comprehensive study of scientific literature demonstrates that
chiropractic spinal manipulations have superior results than
“conventional treatment” and that not one study suggests results
“substantially worse.” Irrespective of insurance coverage variances
for chiropractic care and sometimes greater costs to patients,
“there is significantly higher patient satisfaction compared with
patients who receive conventional treatment.”
-240-288Among the
authorities cited by the authors is a celebrated Canadian report
authored by health economist Professor Pran Manga of the University
of Ottawa, and several associates, for the Ontario Health Insurance
Plan, in 1993. Dr. Manga, who played a key role in the evolution of
the Canada Health Act, said he studied 400 research projects
worldwide, all of which confirmed superior outcomes from
chiropractic, and “not one” demonstrating effectiveness of
conventional treatment. Dr. Manga revised his numbers in 1998 and
calculated that Ontario would likely save $548 million per year if
it more effectively utilized chiropractic care. Extrapolated
nationally, that would have meant a 1998 saving of $2.2 billion.
Manga’s findings in
Ontario were reviewed and confirmed by a blue ribbon panel chaired
by the late Tom Wells, a respected cabinet minister in previous
governments, and a panel of public policy and scientific experts.
Among Dr. Manga’s most
vociferous criticisms of health management in Canada today, is that
governments fail to understand the language of the Canada Health
Act. The “comprehensive” clause was designed to ensure that the most
appropriate professional provides care, not exclusively medical
doctors and hospitals. If a specific condition is covered by the
Act, the plan was designed to pay the fees of any licensed,
regulated professional who provides the treatment.
“We applaud the AMA and
the Archives of Internal Medicine for the integrity and intellectual
honesty of publishing these findings,” Dr. Cooper said.
“Unfortunately, in Canada, the medical associations have somehow
invented monopolistic language - ‘core services’ - which they, and
the politicians they’ve hoodwinked, seem to view as synonymous with
the words ‘medical doctor’ and ‘hospital’. This has never been the
case.”
The BCCA president
described the ‘doctor shortage’ as a myth. “If we respected all of
the accomplished professionals within health care, including MDs,
chiropractors, nurse practitioners, optometrists and many others,
and then asked ourselves how can we make the best use of each
talent, astonishing results would be realized in better and speedier
care, lower costs and patient comfort.”
- 30 -
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Dr. Jim Cooper, Penticton, B.C, 250-492-2755
OR Dr. Don Nixdorf, Executive Director
BC Chiropractic Association
#125-3751 Shell Road
Richmond, BC, V6X 2W2
Phone: 604-270-1332 Fax: 604-278-0093
E-mail: info@bcchiro.com
Web:
www.bcchiro.com
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