Statewide Blue Shield Write-Offs
Incurred & Paid Through December 1198

Information kindly provided by:
Brad Dopps, DC - bdopps@msn.com 

In 1998 BCBS of Kansas released data that pertained to write off 
amounts for all classes of providers in the state.  According to BCBS 
write off amounts occur as a result of two factors:

1.	Provider charges that are above the allowed amounts
2.	Services that are determined to be not medically necessary

Therefore the provider with the least amount of write off would be 
providing services that were lower in cost to the allowed amount, 
and fewer services would be considered medically unnecessary.  
Chiropractic performs better than all of the other categories of 
providers by having the lowest write off amount.

1.	Anesthesiologists - 31.10% write off
2.	Internists - 29.29% write off
3.	Pathologists - 26.05% write off
4.	Physicians MD & DO - 24.77% write off
5.	Surgery - 32.45% write off
6.	Physician Assistants - 22.33% write off
7.	Physical Medicine and Rehab - 34.74% write off
8.	Radiology - 33.53% write off
9.	Occupational Therapists - 45.58% write off
10.	Registered Physical Therapists - 52.77% write off
11.	Orthopedic Surgery - 32.53% write off
12.	Chiropractic - 15.46% write off

It is somewhat puzzling as to what motivates BCBS of Kansas, but 
they seem reluctant to release studies.  This information was only 
released during an investigation by the insurance commissioneržs 
office.  Inside sources have indicated that the current data is very 
similar although they would and could not release a copy of the 
current study.

One would think that this information coupled with the fiduciary 
responsibility of the insurance companies would make chiropractic 
services more accessible.  However this is not the case.  
Chiropractic services are more difficult to access than any other 
service.  Referrals from managed care are few and far between.  
When referrals do occur they are inadequate to allow for corrective 
care.  The time has come for BCBSKS to allow for chiropractic 
access.

PROVIDED BY:  CPAN (Chiropractic Political Action Network)

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