We named our first Person of the Year in 1986 and have continued to do so every year since. Three decades later, we felt a "story," rather than a person, was the best candidate to recognize with our annual award.
The F4CP Initiative
As reported in our February issue, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress has launched an initiative titled "Save Lives. Stop Opioid Abuse. Choose Chiropractic." The initiative features an "opioid toolkit" (available for free download here) that includes a position paper, print advertisement, infographic, poster, brochure, advertorial, and radio and TV public-service announcements.
The ACP Guideline
In April, we reported on the updated American College of Physicians clinical practice guideline, "Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain." As its title alludes to, the guideline recommends spinal manipulation and other non-invasive, nondrug therapies as first options for acute, subacute and chronic low back pain. The complete guideline is available for free download here.
The Consumer Reports Article
The June issue of Consumer Reports featured "The Better Way to Get Back Pain Relief." The article teases, "Growing research suggests that drugs and surgery may not be the answer for your bad back," and discusses, among other topics, the risks associated with opioid use while espousing the value of conservative care, including chiropractic. Read the entire article online here.
The Joint Commission Standards
Revised pain management standards from The Joint Commission require the commission's accredited hospitals to provide nondrug pain treatment as a necessary performance element. Chiropractic and other nonpharmaceutical therapies are listed as options hospitals can offer in order to meet the standards, which take effect Jan. 1, 2018.
The Attorneys General Letter
In September, the National Association of Attorneys General sent a letter signed by AG's from 35 states and two U.S. territories to the president / CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, which represents an estimated 1,300 insurance companies insuring more than 200 million Americans. The letter urges AHIP to "take proactive steps to encourage your members to review their payment and coverage policies and revise them, as necessary and appropriate, to encourage healthcare providers to prioritize non-opioid pain management options."
Editor's Note: Think opioid / nondrug pain-relief awareness is over? It's just getting started. For example, check out our breaking news item from a few weeks ago (October issue), which details a new "pocket guide" you should mail, personally deliver or otherwise provide to every MD you know.
Dynamic Chiropractic editorial staff members research, investigate and write articles for the publication on an ongoing basis. To contact the Editorial Department or submit an article of your own for consideration, email
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