Use of chiropractic spinal manipulation in older adults is strongly correlated with supply.

ABSTRACT:

Study design

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of administrative data.

Objective

To examine the relationship between regional chiropractic supply and both use and utilization intensity of chiropractic services among Medicare beneficiaries.

Summary of background data

Numerous studies have documented trends and patterns in the utilization of chiropractic services in the United States, but little is known about geographic variation in the relationship between chiropractic supply and utilization.

Methods

We analyzed Medicare claims data for services provided by chiropractic physicians in 2008. We aggregated the data to the hospital referral region level and used small area analysis techniques to generate descriptive statistics. We mapped geographic variations

SUBMITTER: Whedon JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3414681 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature