Department of Defense Report on Chiropractic Submitted to Congress
The report of the Department of Defense on the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project has been finished and submitted to Congress. The report, finalized by Department of Defense (DOD) consultants Birch and Davis has some interesting findings:
*5% of all military personnel will receive care for low back complaints every year.
*The total effect of chiropractic care on active duty time availability would likely range between 111,000 and 331,000 additional duty days per year, with a central value of about 199,000.
*Chiropractic care is associated with improved outcomes in time availability of active duty, reduced inpatient admissions by active duty and reduced physical therapy visits.
*Active duty beneficiaries clearly have a strong demand for chiropractic services, and this demand is strictly increasing with age.
After their care program ended, the responses of patients who received chiropractic care were compared with those who received medical care:/p>
|
Question |
Chiropractic |
Medical |
| Are you satisfied are you with the improvement in your condition? | 81.5% | 55.6% |
| Are you satisfied with the practitioner's willingness to spend time with you? | 95.1% | 77.5% |
| Are you satisfied with the explanation of your treatment? | 95.1% | 81.1% |
| I feel better now | 78.5% | 49.2% |
| I had good results | 82.9% | 50.7% |
| No days on restricted duty | 71.5% | 51.1% |
| 1-4 days on restricted duty | 4.2% | 8.2% |
| 5 or more days on restricted duty | 2.3% | 40.7% |
The chiropractic members of the Oversight Advisory Committee (OAC) submitted a separate report pointing out that while the inclusion of chiropractic care into the military would cost about $43 million, it would save the military (excuse me, taxpayers) nearly $70 million in other expenses with a net savings of about $26 million every year.
