A one-page "pocket guide" titled "Moving Beyond Medications" could be a critical first step in educating medical doctors (particularly those who would like to pull away from the grips of Big Pharma) about the value of chiropractic and other nondrug therapies that have been shown to be effective at relieving pain.
The guide, developed by four of the leading organizations dedicated to promoting integrative health – the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH), the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH), the Integrative Health Policy Consortium (IHPC) and the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) – recommends that doctors educate patients on "evidence-informed non-pharmacological and self-care approaches to managing pain and promoting wellness," including, but not limited to chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, massage therapy, physical therapy, psychological approaches, mind-body therapies, yoga, tai chi and other movement therapies.
Click here to view / download the pocket guide, which recommends patient education on nondrug pain-relief options as part of a five-step process (step 1: assess the patient's pain and well being; step 2: set goals jointly with the patient; step 3: educate the patient about integrative pain management options; step 4: develop a treatment plan with the patient and address potential challenges; step 5: follow up –troubleshoot and modify treatment plan as needed).
It is recommended that the guide be disseminated by individuals and organizations to all health care providers, particularly those unfamiliar with the benefits of integrative medicine and/or those who commonly prescribe as a primary pain-relief strategy. In fact, it may serve as an initial outreach tool for doctors of chiropractic to initiate referral relationships with MDs and increase patient access to nonpharmaceutical pain-relief services such as those you provide.
Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
With estimates showing over 30 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy – and a significant portion underdiagnosed – it’s increasingly likely that chiropractors are already treating these patients. What’s missing is structured recognition, comprehensive management and targeted tools to slow progression, improve function and support systemic health.
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, with 487 additions, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services performed on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes. While no changes affect the common spinal or extraspinal codes most frequently used by DCs, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for comorbidities, referred pain, or trauma cases.
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