Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 27, Issue 7 , Pages 442-448 , September 2004

An Evaluation of Medical and Chiropractic Provider Utilization and Costs: Treating Injured Workers in North Carolina

  • Shawn P. Phelan, DC

      Affiliations

    • Private practice of chiropractic, Wake Forest, NC
    • Corresponding Author InformationShawn Phelan, DC, 123 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587
    • ,
  • Richard C. Armstrong, DC

      Affiliations

    • Private practice of chiropractic, Cary, NC
    • ,
  • David G. Knox, DC

      Affiliations

    • Private practice of chiropractic, Fuquay-Varina, NC
    • ,
  • Michael J. Hubka, DC

      Affiliations

    • Associate Professor, Southern California University of Health Sciences, and Private practice of chiropractic, Pasadena, Calif
    • ,
  • Dennis A. Ainbinder, MD

      Affiliations

    • Private practice of chiropractic, Los Angeles, Calif

Received 12 February 2003 ,Revised 8 May 2003

References 

  1. Williams DA, Feuerstein M, Durbin D, Pezzullo J. Health care and indemnity costs across the natural history of disability in occupational low back pain. Spine. 1998;23:2329–2336
  2. Webster BS, Snook SH. The cost of compensable low back pain. J Occup Med. 1990;32:13–15
  3. Nelson WJ. Workers' compensation: coverage, benefits and costs, 1990-91. Soc Secur Bull. 1993;56:68–74
  4. Spitzer WO, Le Blank FE, Dupis M. Scientific approach to the assessment and management of activity related spinal disorders. A monograph for MDs: report of the Quebec Task Force on Spinal Disorders. Spine. 1987;12:1–9
  5. Hashemi L, Webster BS, Clancy E. Trends in disability duration and cost of workers' compensation low back claims (1988-1996). J Occup Environ Med. 1998;40:110–119
  6. Bergemann BW, Chichoke AJ. Cost effectiveness of MDs vs. chiropractic treatment of low-back injuries. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1980;3:1143–1147
  7. Assendelft WJ, Bouter LM. Does the goose really lay golden eggs? A metholodigical review of workmen's compensation studies. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1993;16:161–168
  8. Jarvis KB, Phillips RB, Morris EK. Cost per case comparison of back injury claims of chiropractic versus MDs management for conditions with identical diagnostic codes. J Occup Med. 1991;33:847–852
  9. Carey TS, Garrett J, Jackman A, McLaughlin C, Fryer J, Smucker DR. The outcomes and costs of care for acute low back pain among patients seen by primary care practitioners, DCs and orthopedic surgeons. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:913–917
  10. Johnson MR, Schultz MK, Ferguson AC. A comparison of chiropractic, MDs and osteopathic care for work-related sprains and strains. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1989;12:335–344
  11. Nyiendo J. Disabling low back Oregon workers' compensation claims. Part II: time loss. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991;14:231–239
  12. Nyiendo J. Disabling low back Oregon workers' compensation claims. Part III: diagnostic and treatment procedures and associated costs. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1991;14:287–297
  13. Greenwood JG. Work-related back and neck injury cases in West Virginia. Orthop Rev. 1985;XIV:51–63
  14. Johnson WG, Baldwin ML, Butler RJ. The costs and outcomes of chiropractic and physician care for workers' compensation back claims. J Risk Insur. 1999;66:185–205
  15. Deyo RA, Cherkin D, Conrad D. Cost, controversy, crisis: low back pain and the health of the public. Annu Rev Public Health. 1991;12:141–156
  16. Smith M, Stano M. Costs and recurrences of chiropractic and MDs episodes of low-back care. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997;20:5–12
  17. Carey TS, Evans AT, Hadler NM. Acute severe low back pain. A population-based study of prevalence and care seeking. Spine. 1996;21:339–344
  18. Triano JJ, Hansen DT. Chiropractic and quality care, are they mutually exclusive?. J Neuromusculo Sys. 1999;7:25–33
  19. Faciszewski T, Broste SK, Fardon D. Quality of data diagnoses of spinal disorders in administrative databases. A multicenter study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997;79:1481–1488
  20. Jarvis KB, Phillips RB, Danielson D. Managed care pre-approval and its effect on the cost of Utah worker compensation claims. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997;20:372–376
  21. Deyo RA, Taylor VM, Diehr P, Conrad D, Cherkin DC, Ciol M, et al. Analysis of automated administrative and survey databases to study patterns and outcomes of care. Spine. 1994;15(Suppl 18):2083S–2091S
  22. Faciszewski T. Spine update. Administrative databases in spine research. Spine. 1997;22:1270–1275
  23. Tacci JA, Webster BS, Hashemi L, Christiani DC. Health care utilization and referral patterns in the initial management of new-onset, uncomplicated, low back workers' compensation disability claims. J Occup Environ Med. 1998;40:958–963

 This work was funded by a grant from the North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

PII: S0161-4754(04)00127-7

doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.06.002

Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
Volume 27, Issue 7 , Pages 442-448 , September 2004

Article Tools