New York chiropractors don’t like the new medical treatment guidelines adopted last December by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. These changes focus on the treatment for the mid- and low-back, neck, shoulder and knees. The state’s main chiropractic association is lobbying state lawmakers to reverse the new guidelines.

New York State Chiropractic Association President Bruce Silber told Insurance Journal that the guidelines mostly affect chiropractors and physical therapists. “But really, there was no input from these providers” when the workers’ comp board developed these rules, he said. These rules jeopardize insurance for thousands of workers and retirees, he argued.

“They allow two-to-three months to get better. But in the event that people need longer treatments, there is now a great difficulty in getting additional treatments,” Silber said. “In the past, those with a chronic condition were allowed periodic treatments. But now, if you have a chronic, permanent problem, and if it’s not gonna’ get completely resolved, you cannot get a treatment.”

He said California, a state that had adopted similar guidelines, saw its overall cost of care go up. “They said it would reduce the cost of care but it actually went up because people now turn to more costly drugs and surgeries.”

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