Table 2 Comparison of health care costs in private health plans
Chiropractic care | Comparator group(s) | Comparator | Lowest | Differencec | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First author | Year | Health care costs included | Cost type | N | Costs | n | Costs | ||||
Allen [33] | 2014 | Outpatient (DC, MD, PT), medications, surgery, imaging, injections, other | Paid | 1672a | $6,171 | 1. MD care, 2. advice, 3. PT, 4. multiple providers | 13,115a | $9,958 | Chiropractic | −38 % | |
Grieves [29] | 2009 | Imaging, hospital, physical therapy, outpatient office | Allowed | 411 | $851 | 1. MD primary care, 2. MD specialist care | 486 | $2,871 | Chiropractic | −70 % | |
Liliedahl [32] | 2010 | All health care services | Paid | 36,280 | $452 | MD care | 66,158 | $740 | Chiropractic | −39 % | |
Mosley [30] | 1996 | Imaging, medications, other | Paid | 121 | $539 | MD care | 1,838 | $774 | Chiropractic | −30 % | |
Shekelle [31] | 1995 | Hospital care, physician services, medications, outpatient services, injections, supplies | Billed | 412a | $264 | 1. MD primary care, 2. orthopedist, 3. internist, 4. DO, 5. other providers | 608a | $166 | Comparator | 59 % | |
Smith [27] | 1997 | Not specified | Paid | 97b | $1,038 | MD care | 101b | $3,068 | Chiropractic | −66 % | |
Stano [28] | 1996 | Not specified | Paid | 1,575a | $518 | MD care | 4,608a | $1,020 | Chiropractic | −49 % | |
Stano [23] | 1995 | Outpatient (not specified) | Paid | 2,408a | $493 | MD care | 4,391a | $1,000 | Chiropractic | −51 % | |
Stano [24] | 1994 | Outpatient (not specified) | Paid | 10,659 | $5,474 | MD care | 27,021 | $8,427 | Chiropractic | −35 % | |
Stano [22] | 1993 | Outpatient (DC, MD, facility, other), inpatient (MD, hospital, other), and medications | Paid | 1,326 | $2,150 | MD care | 7,144 | $3,127 | Chiropractic | −31 % | |
Stano [25] | 1993 | Outpatient (DC, MD) and inpatient (not specified) | Paid | 2,668a | $573 | MD care | 5,212a | $1,112 | Chiropractic | −48 % | |
Stano [26] | 1993 | Outpatient (DC, MD) and inpatient (not specified) | Paid | 4,156 | $5,747 | MD care | 6,789 | $8,240 | Chiropractic | −30 % | |