Dr. Carraway will be out of town from January 9th through January 16th. The office will be closed and will reopen on Monday, January 16th. Thank you for your understanding.
Bill Introduced in Senate to Provide Full Chiropractic Coverage in Medicare
Arlington, Va. – The U.S. Senate today introduced a bill, S. 4042, to modernize Medicare coverage and better meet the needs of today’s seniors by increasing access to services provided by doctors of chiropractic. An identical bipartisan-supported bill in the House currently has 130 cosponsors.
Sponsored by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) with Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) as original cosponsors, the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act—which is identical in text to the House version, H.R. 2654—would give Medicare beneficiaries access to all covered Medicare benefits available from their chiropractors, provided the services are allowed under the doctor’s state license.
Medicare beneficiaries are currently covered for only one chiropractic service—manual manipulation of the spine—and forced to pay for additional services out of pocket or to seek those services from a different type of provider, requiring more time, travel and expense.
“Medicare beneficiaries want to lead active lives, but as we age musculoskeletal problems become more common. Access to chiropractic’s safe, patient-centered and evidence-based nondrug approach to back pain, neck pain and other musculoskeletal conditions provides options to those who wish to reduce or avoid pain medications and surgery,” said American Chiropractic Association (ACA) President Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD.
“ACA thanks Sens. Blumenthal, Cramer, Baldwin, and Wicker for their support of this important legislation, which augments ongoing efforts to stem the opioid crisis in America by giving seniors access to effective nondrug therapies readily available in chiropractic clinics,” noted Keith Overland, DC, chair of the ACA Legislative Committee.
Both S. 4042 and H.R.2654 add no new services to Medicare. They simply allow patients to access current Medicare benefits that their chiropractors are licensed to provide. The statute that governs patient access to chiropractic in Medicare has been unchanged since 1972, limiting patient choice in a manner that does not align with most modern healthcare plans or the chiropractic profession’s role today in mainstream health care. Projections indicate the number of people age 65 and older who are eligible for Medicare–currently over 60 million–will increase by one-third over the next decade.
To learn more and find out what you can do to support passage of S. 4042/H.R. 2654, visit www.acatoday.org/Medicare.
Christmas 2021 Closing
Our office will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (December 22-24th) in celebration of the Christmas holiday. We will reopen on Monday, December 27th and follow our usual schedule.
Have a peaceful and Merry Christmas!
Office Closure
Our office will be closed on Friday, October 29th through November 2nd. We will reopen Wednesday, November 4th and follow our regular schedule.
Celebrating Our 35th Year of Service
We’re celebrating a huge milestone at Carraway Chiropractic & Laser Center! Over the past 35 years, Dr. Christopher Carraway has been proud to serve New Bern and the surrounding communities. We are honored to have earned the trust of thousands of patients, providing safe, gentle and effective relief for a wide variety of conditions. Guiding his patients toward a healthier, happier life is the most rewarding aspect of his long chiropractic career.
Back in 1986, Dr. Carraway achieved his professional goal of opening Carraway Chiropractic Center in his home town of New Bern, North Carolina. The practice grew rapidly and in 1995 he moved into his current location at 2507 Neuse Boulevard.
Dr. Carraway has many years of experience, having achieved his doctorate in chiropractic in 1985, his diplomate in chiropractic neurology in 1997, certification as a laser specialist in 2010, and certification in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners in 2011.
As his patients know, Dr. Carraway is an enthusiastic advocate of low lever laser therapy. He currently serves as a senior medical advisor for one of the largest therapeutic laser companies worldwide, and senior clinical advisor for Laser Therapy University online. He has been instrumental in testing new laser devices and has developed multiple laser protocols which have become the standard of care internationally. In 2015, using his in-depth background in neurology, he developed a laser protocol that had never been done before and has proven to be very effective for treating migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, as well as PTSD. His work has been published on numerous occasions in the Journal of Practical Pain Management. Throughout his years of practice, he has been asked to lecture for multiple chiropractic colleges and state associations, sharing his knowlege and experience for the benefit of doctors of chiropractic nationwide.
Dr. Carraway is grateful for the privilege of serving his patients and the community, and he looks forward to providing more years of chiropractic care and to continue with treatment, research and educational instruction in laser therapy. Cheers to 35 years!
Dr. Carraway Published in the The Practical Journal of Pain Management
Dr. Carraway is featured in the prestigious The Practical Journal of Pain Management. The article, “Using Photobiomodulation to Treat Trigeminal Neuralgia”, is a protocol that he invented and developed in 2015 and is being taught worldwide now.
Dr. Timothy Demchak, full professor and PhD at Indiana State University co-wrote the article.
Preventing “Text Neck”
Some 83 percent of American adults own cell phones, and three-quarters of them send and receive text messages. Text messaging users send or receive an average of 41.5 messages per day, with the median user sending or receiving 10 texts daily. As technology advances, allowing us to do more tasks on smaller equipment, our bodies often pay the price. With a growing potential for injuries from tools we rely on, it’s a good time to learn how to minimize the risks. One problem that is becoming more and more prevalent is neck strain from the overuse of these mobile devices, or “text neck.”
What Causes Text Neck?
Text neck is caused by poor posture when using a mobile device. It’s all too common to become hunched over with your head drooping forward and your shoulders rounded as you become engrossed in messaging, games and social media.
How to Avoid Text Neck
Sit up straight with your chest out and your shoulders back.
Bring your arms up in front of your eyes so that you don’t need to look down to see the screen.
Tuck your chin into your chest to look down rather than dropping your head forward.
If you must use your mobile device for lengthy typing, invest in an external keyboard.
Rest your forearms on a pillow while typing to help minimize neck tension.
Avoid using mobile devices while in bright sunlight. Straining to see the screen leads to jutting the chin forward, shifting work from the spine to the muscles that hold up the head.
Avoid looking at your phone for long periods of time while traveling in the car.
The best way to avoid text neck is to limit the use of your mobile device. If you need to send an e-mail, wait until you have access to a computer. If you need to share some information, call the person rather than texting them.
If you find yourself aching despite your best efforts, give us a call at (252) 636-2900. We can treat your pain and teach you ways to improve your posture.
It’s National Chiropractic Health Month!
It’s National Chiropractic Health Month! Did you know that back pain is one of the leading reasons why people are prescribed opioids? Chiropractic spinal manipulation is recognized as one of the most effective non-drug therapies available to relieve back pain, improve function and keep you moving! Learn more #StepsToStrength at acatoday.org/NCHM
Chiropractic Costs Less, According to New Study
Teaching Laser Therapy at the Fall 2018 NC Chiropractic Association
Dr. Carraway was recently invited to lecture on the benefits and application of Laser Therapy for the North Carolina Chiropractic Association at their 2018 Fall Convention. As well as educational, it was a very rewarding experience for Dr. Carraway. “I had the last lecture spot of the day on Sunday. I was afraid that as morning wore on, doctors would start to slip out to start their journey home, but everyone stayed to the last second asking questions and sharing. Then afterwards, I chatted in the hallway with a few doctors for another hour. A very sharp and engaging group of doctors and chiropractic assistants. I hope to be invited back soon.”