December 2007

UHC to re‑examine policy on kids, headaches

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has reversed ‑‑ at least temporarily ‑‑ its policy statement that chiropractic for children and adolescents, as well as chiropractic treatment of headaches, are "unproven" services. The policy was announced in September and generated widespread protest from the chiropractic profession. All major chiropractic organizations, including the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), voiced their opposition to the policy, with the WCA citing research evidence and the Council on Chiropractic Practice Guidelines to support chiropractic care for children.

As reported in the November issue of The Chiropractic Journal, the UHC Bulletin stated the company had "previously concluded that certain services provided as a part of chiropractic care were unproven." The Bulletin went on to say: "A recent review of the clinical evidence in published, peer‑reviewed medical literature leads us to further conclude that chiropractic services for treatment of children and adolescents is unproven and services for treatment of headaches is unproven."

In response to the outcry, UHC Senior Medical Policy Director Richard Justman, DC, reportedly retracted the policy and pledged that it would be reviewed within the next 90 days before any final decision would be made.

Terry A. Rondberg, DC, WCA president, was cautiously optimistic about the news.

"I hope this signifies willingness by the UHC management to review all pertinent materials about these issues, including the WCA Position Paper, as well as the CCP Guidelines so they understand that there is substantial evidence to support chiropractic for all people, including our youth," he said. "My concern is that they will use the time to allow attention to drift away from the issue before restating their original policy. The matter has been put on the back burner, but we have to keep the heat on."