The study will be called the "HMO Chiropractic Research Alliance" and will be Minnesota's most comprehensive evaluation of chiropractic and medical treatment for common disorders, including headaches and backaches. The study's main objective is to determine if health care costs are significantly lowered by increasing consumer access to chiropractic care. Also, the study will evaluate whether more consumers choose chiropractic care when it is more accessible.
Patients enrolled in Minnesota HMOs have been generally unable to access a chiropractor without first obtaining a referral from an MD. Through this study, a specified group of patients will have direct access to chiropractic services; the costs and patient satisfaction will then be evaluated.
Leading the study will be Thomas Choi, PhD, a health services researcher at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Choi has been involved with several major health studies that have national policy implications. The study team will include other researchers at the Institute for Health Services Research and the Division of Biostatistics at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health.
The HMOs participating in the study are: Blue Plus, HealthPartners (the parent company of Group Health and MedCenters), and Medica Choice. Collectively, these HMOs provide health care coverage to more than 1.1 million Minnesotans, or nearly 90 percent of all Minnesotans covered by an HMO.
"We have always looked for ways to improve health care while controlling costs, and this study should give us an indication of what role chiropractic care can play in that effort," said Phil Griffin, director of legislative affairs for Medica Choice.
"This joint effort is already leading to increased understanding between chiropractors and the medical community, said MCA Executive Director Scott Mayer. "I believe the research will demonstrate that by increasing access to chiropractic care, HMOs can save money and improve the satisfaction of their patients."
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