Chiropractic and Medical Costs of Low Back Pain

This study compared health insurance payments and utilization for episodes of care for common low back conditions treated by chiropractic and medical providers, using 2 years of insurance claims data. The mean total payments were lower for chiropractic care ($518) versus medical care ($1020) as were the mean total outpatient payments ($477 versus $598). The authors concluded that the lower costs for episodes in which chiropractors serve as initial contact providers along with the favorable satisfaction and quality indicators suggests that chiropractic deserves careful consideration in gatekeeper strategies adopted by employers and third-party payers to control health care spending.