BEFORE READING, PICTURE ME ON MY SOAP BOX !!!
I have talked to some of you and you have felt my frustration with certain things about my profession. I love what I do and I get to help people get healthy in a non-invasive way and I don't have to become another drug dealer (M.D.). However there have been some changes in the bureaucracy of America that has been making it more and more difficult for chiropractors to practice and make any money. They (the insurance companies) have a goal to audit EVERY chiropractor within a year or two. And audit basically says they comb through your notes and billing and if there is ANY discrepancy then you will have penalties (from repaying money to loss of license or Jail time). So I started thinking what can I do to protect my family in the future. I have talked to several doctors who have been practicing for 30+ years and they all say "I see more patients now and make less money now than I did 20 years ago". That doesn't seem right to me. Chiropractors have more and more research that proves what we do WORKS, yet we are getting reimbursed less and less every year for doing the same things or more. This doesn't seem right to me.
SO here is the other side of the coin. MDs have a code that allows them to bill and adjustment and guess what? THEY GET PAID MORE THAN I DO !!!!! How is that OK they don't even have any training on how to adjust (unless they do a weekend course .... yeah .... weekend course).
Anyway. I decided to take things into my own hands. We were in Priesthood meeting and we were reciting the Purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood and it says "Obtain as much education as possible". So I have found a way that I think I can protect my future from the uncertainty of the future of my profession. Plus the scrutiny that we are under for helping people without drugs (heaven forbid we don't make the pharmaceutical companies any money).
So here it is . . . I have returned to school full time (on top of my full time job). I am currently studying to become a Nurse Practitioner. With this degree I will be able to push drugs if I want to. Or I will be able to continue in doing chiropractic but I will get paid more for it. And it something happens I will always be able to have the security of a masters degree in nursing. Nurse Practitioners have full autonomy in 33 of the states right now (meaning they can practice completely on their own without being overseen my an MD). That number is growing and they are getting more respect as front like care providers.
I started this program in January and it will last 2.5 years. I am not excited about being in school again, but I am excited about protecting my future and making things a little more stable in an economy and a country that has a questionable future. I am a little nervous about our new president and where he has this country headed in terms of health care.
3 comments:
WOW! That sounds like lots of fun. I hope things go well with this. Going back to school does not sound like fun since you just finished. Good luck
Good luck with that-- where ya goin to school?
You didn't read my post carefully enough. You're supposed to vote on the poll to the right... attention to detail! :)
Oh my holy cow Devin! Were you bored? not doing enough? Well, I admire your willingness to provide for your family. Shellie, are you ready for being a single parent for a while? Congrats!!!
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