From the Director's Desk
Memo
Looking back at the past year, the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is a change that will likely affect all the health professions as they journey forward in the government's quest for healthcare justice. That update in coding has created a clearer way to track who the winners, and
losers are in healthcare. No longer do chiropractors need to fight for licensure, as was the case as recent as 40 years ago, in some states. Today it is demonstrating the value of the treatments that chiropractors use. Take this chance to read the American Chiropractic Association's (ACA’s) perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of the shift to ICD-10 for the chiropractic profession, and how the patient benefits, beginning on page 58.
Considering the history of the profession, being one of dragless, non-medical intervention, there are staunch critics opposed to the idea of permitting chiropractors to gaining the ability to prescribe medications or injectables. By Dr. Lacy's assertion, it's necessary to have access to the full gamut of treatment interventions required for a patient's well-being. Take this chance to read Dr. Rod Lacy’s perspective on page 52.
This issue is full of ancillary methods for helping your patients, not only through chiropractic adjustments, but through microcurrent, acoustic sound waves, lasers, and more. Thank you for all you do!
You may find this issue online, along with the archives at digital.theamericanchiropractor.com.
Joseph Busch
