Workers Compensation Studies
THE UTAH STUDY - “fewer days lost and lower cost”
This 1988 Utah workers’ compensation board study found a tenfold savings for mean compensation cost in back-related injuries treated by chiropractors as compared with medical doctors ($68.38 vs. $668.39). To ensure accurate and true results, only those back-related injuries with the same diagnostic codes were compared between the two groups. Also, medical treatments assessed were limited to non-surgical treatments only.
Cost per Case Comparison of Back Injury Claims of Chiropractic versus medical Management for Conditions with Identical Diagnostic Codes. Jarvis KB et al. Journal of Occupational Medicine - 1991; 33:847-52.
THE FLORIDA STUDY - “shorter disability, lower cost, and lower hospitalization rates”
This study conducted by the State of Florida examined 10,652 patients who sustained back-related injuries on the job. Their findings revealed individuals who received chiropractic care compared with standard medical care experienced a (i) 51.3% shorter total disability duration (ii) lower treatment cost by 58.8% and (iii) a 20.3% hospitalization rate in the chiropractic care group vs. a 52.2% hospitalization rate in the medical care group.
An Analysis of Florida Workers’ Compensation Medical Claims for Back Related Injuries. Wolk S. Foundation for Chiropractic Education and research. Arlington, VA - 1998.
THE CALIFORNIA STUDY - “chiropractic patients get back to work twice as fast”
In this study, Richard Wolf, MD followed 500 individuals sent for chiropractic treatments and 500 individuals sent to medical doctors for treatment. Those who received chiropractic treatments returned to work in an average of 15.6 days vs. 32 days for those who received medical treatment.
Industrial Back Injury. Wolf CR. International Review of Chiropractic - 1974; 26:6-7.
THE OREGON STUDY - “chiropractic gets claimants back to work much faster”
This Oregon study found that individuals with workers’ compensation claims returned to work significantly faster under chiropractic care compared to medical care. In fact, under chiropractic care 82% were able to return to work after one week while only 41% of those who received medical care were able to do so.
A Study of Time Loss Back Claims. Portland OR. Workers’ Compensation Board, State of Oregon, March 1971.
THE TEXAS STUDY - “more chiropractic care dramatically decreases claim costs”
This 2002 study found that lower back and neck injuries accounted for 38% of all workers’ compensation claim costs. Chiropractors treated about 30% of workers with lower back injuries, but were responsible for only 17.5% of the medical costs and 9.1% of the total costs. The average claim for a worker with a low-back injury was $15,884. However, if a worker received at least 75% of his or her care from a chiropractor, the total cost per claimant decreased by nearly one-fourth to $12,202. If the chiropractor provided at least 90% of the care the average cost declined by more than 50% to $7,632.
Chiropractic Treatment of Workers’ Compensation Claimants in the State of Texas, February 2003.
THE NORTH CAROLINA STUDY - “average cost of treatment and lost workdays lower with chiropractic”
The North Carolina Department of Commerce authorized the retrospective review of 96,627 workers compensation claims between 1975 and 1994. The average cost of treatment, hospitalization and compensation payments were lower for patients treated by doctors of chiropractic (DC) in comparison to doctors of medicine (MD). The average number of lost workdays for patients by DCs was lower than for patients treated by MDs. Combined care patients generated higher costs than patients treated by MDs or DCs alone.
An Evaluation of Medical and Chiropractic Provider Utilization and Cost: treating Injured Workers in North Carolina. Phelan SP et al. Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics - 2004 (Sep); 27(7);442-448.