I received an email this morning from Dr. Dennis Perman detailing a new study conducted by the world-renown medical doctor and researcher, Dr. Arnold Milstein.  Dr. Perman's email went on to read:

"Dr. Arnold Milstein is one of the world’s foremost experts on clinical and cost effectiveness in health care, and the Mercer Reports, written by him and his team, are considered the gold standard among medical establishments, third party payers and legislators. In essence, if Dr. Milstein says it’s so, it’s accepted as unchallengeable, based on his reputation for objectivity and scientific reason."

The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress commissioned Dr. Milstein and his team to study the effectiveness of chiropractic care compared to medical and physical therapy interventions.  The study concentrated on neck and low back pain.

Dr. Milstein conducted his study in Europe due to the greater consistency in chiropractic's scope of practice compared to in the United States.  Dr. Milstein concluded:

"Using data from high quality randomized controlled EU trials and contemporary US based average unit prices payable by commercial insurers, we project that insurance coverage for chiropractic physician care for low back and neck pain for conditions other than fracture and malignancy is likely to drive improved cost-effectiveness of US care. In combination with the existing US-based literature, our findings support the value of health insurance coverage of chiropractic care for low back and neck pain at average fees payable by US commercial insurers."

It's discouraging to me to see some large health insurers eliminate chiropractic coverage from policies in an effort to drive down costs when, according to Dr. Milstein's unbiased study, they may in fact be doing just the opposite.

You can read the Mercer Report at the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress's website.