Chiropractic panacea?

Healthcare reform is all the rage these days. Nobody really knows what is going to happen. Therefore, the professionals are struggling and grasping at a straw. Some think that there is a panacea for the chiropractic industry that is facing many dangerous trends, health care reform being just one of them.

That panacea is called the “Medical Home Model.” I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with this, however, as I interpret it, there are two issues that will be discussed in a minute. But first let’s understand what it is.

This program has been signed into law in Iowa. The premise behind it is better communication between DC and other health care providers. That’s good! Allows DCs to be primary care physicians. I’m not sure what that means; I have classified my DC as not just my primary care physician, but my only physician for the past seven years.

The philosophy is to promote the well-being of the patient by treating the entire body, including the mind and spirit. That is a great philosophy that I agree with as my DC has been providing this for me and my family for the past seven years. The way this will happen is with DC working hand in hand with MDs.

The idea behind why this is the panacea for DCs is that with the electronic health records (EHR) system that the government requires you to have, MDs will work with you and refer patients to you and vice versa. After all, you’ll already be working “hand in hand” with them.

My question is, “Why is a doctor who doesn’t see the benefit of chiropractic suddenly going to start sending you referrals just because you’re connected to the EHR?”

Here are the two concerns I see with this model:

1. This model wants you to work hand in hand with the MDs. I have no problem with this. I would love for doctors to see and understand the good that chiropractic does for people. However, one of the main concerns of bringing 40 to 50 million new patients into the system is how the system can handle the new influx of patients.

Here comes the medical home model that wants to involve chiropractors. I think the long-term outcome of this program is to make DC the new physician assistant. We already know there is a shortage of nurses and other providers. You are the perfect solution with the trends you face.

2. The second concern I see with this program, once healthcare reform is passed, is what will happen if there is a government sponsored plan (which is the case right now)? You have just committed your practice to becoming more dependent on government insurance. Now you have the chance to play the same game as Medicare and Medicaid of having the government tell you how much it will pay you for your services. Currently, Medicare only pays 71 to 81 cents on the dollar. Is that what you want?

Now I’m not telling you to avoid this program, I’m sure there are benefits to using it. However, I encourage you to study it with an open mind and ask lots of questions before getting deeply involved with it. Maybe if this were the only dangerous trend facing the chiropractic industry, it would solve all your problems. NO! However, there are other things you need to worry about to make this program your panacea.