How safe and effective is Chiropractic Care for Seniors?

Studies show Does Medicare cover chiropractic care? What about other services and charges?

Studies show

Older Medicare patients with chronic low back pain and other medical problems who received spinal adjustments from a chiropractic physician had lower care costs and shorter episodes of back pain than patients in different treatment groups. Patients who received a combination of chiropractic and medical care had the subsequent lowest Medicare costs, and patients who received medical care only incurred the highest costs.

READ MORE:   Weeks et al. (2016), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

“This study provides evidence of a protective effect of chiropractic care against 1-year declines in functional and self-rated health among Medicare beneficiaries with spine conditions, and indications that chiropractic users have higher satisfaction with follow-up care and information provided about what is wrong with them.”

READ MORE:   Weigel et al. (2014) Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics

Researchers analyzing the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of chiropractic utilization in the U.S. general population found that “Back pain and neck pain were the most prevalent health problems for chiropractic consultations and the majority of users reported chiropractic helping a great deal with their health problem and improving overall health or well-being.”

READ MORE:   Adams et al. (2017) Spine

What about other services and charges?

At Pairmore & Young: Synergy Chiropractic, our doctors are in-network providers with Medicare and the common Medicare supplemental policies. As you may know, chiropractic adjustments have been covered by Medicare for some time now. Medicare and most Medicare Supplement Plans cover chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy.

What about other services and charges?

We follow the limiting charge guidelines for all services rendered to Medicare Beneficiaries. If we need to perform services that are not covered by Medicare or your other insurance policy in our office, we follow the Medicare limiting charge guidelines for all fees. Unfortunately, Medicare does not pay for the required examinations to prove medical necessity, clinically necessary spinal x-ray studies, or physiologic therapeutic modalities done in this office.

Thankfully legislation has been introduced in Washington DC to have these essential services covered in our office, which will make it more convenient for patients to get the care they need in one place.

To find more evidence supporting chiropractic services, visit the World Federation of Chiropractic’s  Reading List.