Chiropractic Saves Costs, Says Health Insurer

The Illinois Chiropractic Society passed along the following exciting commentary on a "white paper" from OptumHealth, which is a major health insurer in Peoria:

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A recent study released by OptumHealth, titled “Conservative Spine Care: The State of the Marketplace and Opportunities for Improvement,” indicates there is a cost benefit in cases where patients begin care with a chiropractic physician.  

The study indicated that orthopedic conditions are their #1 cost category, surpassing cardiology, gastroenterology, and oncology.  However, from “an episode-based perspective, chiropractors are the most cost-efficient health care  providers for the initial management of low back pain.”

Additionally, OptumHealth’s release indicates that patients who have the greatest risk of an unfavorable outcome should seek care from a chiropractic physician (see page 4).  In fact, treatments from a chiropractic physician are more closely aligned to the recommended treatment guidelines for low back pain, thus resulting in “more favorable  solutions at more reasonable costs.”

Find the study here.