A Post Medicare Demonstration Study Survey of Medicare Patients

1
A Post Medicare Demonstration Study Survey of
Medicare Patients Of Iowa Doctors of Chiropractic
Who Participated in the Study and Of Iowa Doctors
of Chiropractic Who Did Not Participate Researc
h conducted by Wayne Henry Zemelka, D.C. Kevin
Wapelhorst, B.S., D.C. Sarah J. Mesick, B.S.,
D.C. ZWM 04-2008
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79 of Chiropractic patients classify their
complaint as BACKACHE.
3
The lower back is treated in 93 of the patients,
and 59 of the patients have their shoulders
adjusted also. Chiropractic care can not be
limited to spinal treatment only.
4
With 59 or almost 2/3rds of patients seeking
care from their Chiropractor first, it is evident
we are their PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS for many
problems, including backaches.
5
When you combine full relief with moderate
relief, 100 of the Chiropractic patients felt
relief with their care.
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34 of moderate to full relief was felt by
patients under Medical care for the same
conditions. 34 versus 100, the patients tell
the story as to where they received greater
relief.
7
Many of the patients received ancillary
procedures within the Chiropractors office
during the demonstration study. The Chiropractic
patients outside the study area, received these
procedures but at fewer percentages.
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79 chose Chiropractors to be their SOLE Primary
Care Physician during treatment of their problems.
9
Of Medicare patients surveyed, 77 said having
Chiropractic coverage as part of their Medicare
Benefit Package was very to extremely important
to them.
10
95 of the Medicare patients polled, want THEIR
Chiropractors to have the ability to order lab
work, x-rays, and other tests, thus not having to
make another appointment and trip to their
medical doctor.
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These numbers show what the Medicare patient want
from their Chiropractors.
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It is up to all of us to fight for the Equality
in the Scope of Practice and Reimbursement of
services for Doctors of Chiropractic. The polled
patients in Iowa made their voices clear they
want Chiropractors to be their primary care
physicians when they chose they want
Chiropractors to be able to treat them fully
without having to get others involved to order
lab or x-rays they want their Medicare and
secondary insurance carriers to cover all the
services Chiropractors can order and perform
within the scope of their practice. We, the
Doctors of Chiropractic in Medicare, want
reimbursement equivalent to medical doctors we
want reimbursement for all services we should be
able to order and perform we want full inclusion
by CMS for the full scope of our profession.