Chiropractic Health Benefits Can Pay Off For Employers

Offering chiropractic health care benefits to employees can save companies money in the long run by reducing hospitalizations and expensive diagnostic procedures, according to a study sponsored by American Specialty Health of San Diego, the results of which were published in the October issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study consisted of a four-year retrospective claims data analysis comparing more than 700,000 health plan members with a chiropractic benefit, and members of the same plan that lacked the benefit. Researchers found that members with chiropractic insurance coverage incurred a 41% reduction in hospitalizations for back pain, and a 32% reduction in back surgeries.

Back pain patients with chiropractic coverage were also far less likely to need expensive tests and procedures than those without the benefit, researchers concluded. They found that members with the benefit incurred a 37% reduction in the use of CT/MRI scans, and a 23% reduction in x-ray use, the study found. Moreover, the cost of treating each episode of back pain was 28% less for employees with chiropractic coverage than for those without.

"This study demonstrates that chiropractic coverage can be a powerful cost containment tool for employers and health plans that are struggling to keep the lid on escalating costs," said George DeVries, president and CEO of American Specialty Health.