Document Detail


Preliminary findings of analysis of chiropractic utilization and cost in the workers' compensation system of New South Wales, Australia.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8583172     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To review the literature and test a new methodology of assessing chiropractic utilization and cost-effectiveness on workers' compensation claimants. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of data from the WorkCover Authority (WCA) of New South Wales, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Average chiropractic treatment cost per case, average medical treatment cost per case, comparisons with total compensation payments, assessments of related indirect costs (e.g., pathology tests). RESULTS: From the total number of employment injuries (n = 51,077) in NSW for 1991-92, 1,289 cases met selection criteria. Approximately 30% of the total injuries were described as back problems. The total utilization rate for chiropractic intervention in spinal injuries for workers' compensation claimants was 12%. Payments for physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment totalled over $25.2 million and represented 2.4% of total payments for all cases. Average chiropractic treatment cost for a sample of 20 randomly selected cases was $299.65; average medical treatment cost per case was $647.20. Further analysis of the 20 selected cases seemed to show an average cost per claim that was significantly different from WCA database figures. CONCLUSION: The methodology used was found to be able to provide a basis for comparison of costs for care apportioned to chiropractic and other interventions. An analysis of 20 randomly selected cases from the WCA suggested that chiropractic intervention for certain conditions may be more cost-effective than other forms of intervention.
Authors:
P J Tuchin; R Bonello
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics     Volume:  18     ISSN:  0161-4754     ISO Abbreviation:  J Manipulative Physiol Ther     Publication Date:  1995 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-03-20     Completed Date:  1996-03-20     Revised Date:  2005-11-16    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7807107     Medline TA:  J Manipulative Physiol Ther     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  503-11     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Chiropractic Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Chiropractic / economics,  trends,  utilization*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Humans
New South Wales
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Injuries / economics,  therapy*
Workers' Compensation / economics*,  trends

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Reliability and concurrent validity of the BROM II for measuring lumbar mobility.
Next Document:  Chiropractic referral: the views of a group of conventional medical practitioners with an interest i...