In the United States, the economic stimulus package put forth by the Obama administration contains significant consideration for health care, especially in the areas of electronic patient records and wellness and prevention programs.  The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has identified opportunities for chiropractic within this stimulus package.

The bill would provide $20 billion to implement computerized health record systems for public insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and would pay private physicians to do the same. Individual physicians would receive up to $65,000 for establishing an electronic record system. Physicians not using electronic health records by 2016 may face reduced Medicare payments.

The bill defines “physician” using Social Security Act Sec. 1861 (r), which means that DCs would be included in the electronic health record incentive program. The details and parameters for this program are still being developed and much of the money for the incentive program will not be appropriated until 2010, but the ACA is pleased that chiropractors are being included in this process.

“The inclusion of doctors of chiropractic in federal incentive programs regarding electronic health records has been a central focal point of the ACA-led Patients Access to Responsible Care Alliance (PARCA), a coalition comprised of non-MD/DO providers,” said Dr. Glenn Manceaux, president of the ACA.  “We have been lobbying for this inclusion, and right now, we are included in the program.”

The other areas in which there are significant opportunities for chiropractic are prevention and wellness programs, as well as comparative effectiveness research, which focuses on finding the best procedures and practices for specific conditions or ailments.  A total of $1billion is being set aside for prevention and wellness initiatives and a total of $1 billion will be allotted for comparative effectiveness research.  The ACA considers both of these areas as very important for the inclusion of chiropractic in the American health care reform process.