Chiropractic 2025:

Chiropractic 2025: Divergent Futures
Avoid misleading arguments. Much of the business-planning advice for chiropractors ignores outcomes. The
public communication campaigns for the field, as well as marketing by chiropractors to consumers, must instead
include a focus on the established therapeutic efficacy of chiropractic treatments. This will position chiropractors
better in the marketplace of consumer-directed health plans.
5. Create greater tolerance and mutual support within the profession.
Support chiropractic colleagues in a good faith pursuit of their visions. In 1998 and 2005, IAF called for unity
in the profession. Given the value of diversity within the profession and the improbability of unity in the profession
(indeed, few professions can claim to be fully “unified”), IAF now recommends the development of a mature
tolerance among chiropractors, and the authentic pursuit of the distinct visions of the focused-scope, middle-scope,
and broad-scope wings of the profession.
6. Promote individual chiropractors’ contributions to public health and to improving population health.
Identify roles in public health and population health for individual chiropractors and chiropractic
organizations to assume. Chiropractors, like all health care providers, must influence the health condition of
their patients and their communities. Since 1998 IAF has recommended that chiropractors promote health equity.
Improving population health is part of that objective. Since our 2005 report, increasing the population’s health has
gained more recognition. The Triple Aim has become the leading standard for judging quality in health care systems
(the aims are improved patient experience, lower per capita costs, and increased population health). All health
care professionals and health care systems are considering how to increase population health. Chiropractors must
reimagine and reinvent their roles. The fact that hundreds of chiropractors have joined the Chiropractic Section of
the American Public Health Association serves as an indicator of the growth of this topic. We recommend that each
chiropractor understand what contribution he or she can make to public and community health, and how to become
involved in these fields. We recognize that many are already doing this, but most chiropractors are not. We also
recommend that relevant organizations in the field develop options or roles for chiropractors in population health,
as the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress has done regarding chiropractors’ roles in the Patient-Centered Medical
Home.
7. Develop geriatric chiropractic.
Develop outcomes for chiropractic care of elders and press Medicare to expand the coverage of chiropractic
care. One of the largest growth areas in health care will be care for elders or geriatric care. The health care needs
of the elderly population are more pronounced than younger age groups, and will grow disproportionately as the
Baby Boomers age. Aging Baby Boomers will look for alternative methods of care that can help them reduce pain,
treat their conditions, and remain as active and as healthy as possible. Chiropractic has much to offer for elders.
We recognize that chiropractic care for elders is complicated by Medicare’s “subluxation only” coverage for
chiropractic care. Medicare’s coverage should be expanded to include diagnosis and evaluation by chiropractors
as well as those chiropractic treatments for conditions covered by other insurers and state statute. There is also the
challenge that Medicare payment levels for services are low and will be under pressure to remain low or even be
reduced. Chiropractors must generate better evidence for geriatric chiropractic. In addition, as they show their cost
effectiveness, DCs will need to press Medicare to expand coverage and maintain adequate payment levels.
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