title: Colorado workers' compensation: medical vs chiropractic costs for the treatment of low back pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low back disorders (LBDs) are the most common complaint among workers; therefore, many questions arise about cost-effective treatment approaches. This investigation evaluated the differences in cost-related factors among a population of patients selecting chiropractic vs allopathic care for the treatment of nonspecific LBDs. The study hypothesis was that chiropractic care would be more cost-effective or equivalent to allopathic care for the noncomplicated LBDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were extracted from an insurance company database of patients reporting work-related low back injuries who were treated with either chiropractic or allopathic approaches. Cases were matched using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes 722 (intervertebral disk disorders), 724 (other and unspecified disorders of the back), and 847 (sprains and strains of other and unspecified parts). The data set included 76 chiropractic cases and 2386 medical cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total amount paid by the insurance company was 1.7 times higher for patients treated by doctors of chiropractic (DCs) compared with those treated by medical doctors (MDs), and the cost of clinical treatment was 3.3 times higher for the DCs than MDs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cost for treatment by DCs was greater than that of MDs for similarly classified conditions affecting the low back. The amount paid by the insurance company was primarily related to the number of services given by each provider.
authors: Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO 80523-1681.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Gilkey
authors: Laine
authors: L
authors: Caddy
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Keefe
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Wahl
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Mobus
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Enebo
authors: Kirby
authors: K
authors: Duvall
authors: Kimberly
authors: K
authors: Griffiths