Considering Chiropractic Care in Medicare
Let’s face it. When given the choice between a chiropractor and an M.D., many people have been choosing chiropractors during the past few years. They have given many reasons – more cost effective, no drugs, helpful for specific conditions involving the back, legs, neck, muscles and more.
All of the reasons make sense – especially to people who consider chiropractic care to bring the best results for them. Unfortunately, chiropractic care has not been a real priority as far as Medicare goes. That is, however, a situation that is changing.
This week, representatives from state and local chiropractic associations and colleges, health professionals and consumer organizations came together in Washington, D.C., and met with individual doctors at the first National Conference on the use of Chiropractic Care in Medicare.
The conference addressed the demands being put on Medicare, including the fact that it will not be long before over 80 million people will be served by the system. They discussed the fact that now is the time to make adjustments and changes so that Medicare can grow with its beneficiaries.
The conference was important enough for three members of the House of Representatives including Senator Ben Cardin, spoke about differing ways to adjust the program to meet current and future demands. The congressional speakers discussed the difficulty of dealing with limited funding and trying to make sure that they are distributed fairly, especially as the population receiving Medicare benefits continues to grow.
ICA President John C. Maltby, D.C. stated that it would take a great deal of cooperation between beneficiaries, doctors, chiropractors, congress and Medicare to ensure that chiropractic care takes its rightful place in the Medicare system.
Though the conference is a first step, it is a huge step and may very well lead to more choices and improved services for Medicare recipients.
