Table 3.

Average annual per capita total health costs between CAM and non-CAM respondents with spine problems, MEPS 2002–2008.

		Total expenditures	Inpatient	Outpatient	Prescription	Emergency
unadjusted	Non-CAM user	$8,383	$2,675	$3,070	$2,086	$318
	CAM user	$5,888	$1,381	$3,024	$1,227	$183
	Difference in expenditures (CAM use – non-CAM use)	$-2495 (p<0.001)	$-1295 (p<0.001)	$-46 (p=0.754)	$-859 (p < 0.001)	$-136 (p<0.001)
Age, sex, race & Insurance, primary diagnosis, & comorbidity adjusted	Non-CAM user	$7,948	$2,517	$2,976	$1,952	$310
	CAM user	$6,518	$1,609	$3,160	$1,421	$196
	Difference in expenditures (CAM use – non-CAM use)	$-1430 (p<0.001)	$-908 (p=0.005)	$184 (p=0.203)	$-531 (p < 0.001)	$-114 (p<0.001)
+ region & income, education, employment adjusted	Non-CAM user	$7,898	$2,496	$3,004	$1,913	$307
	CAM user	$6,575	$1,628	$3,125	$1,474	$199
	Difference in expenditures (CAM use – non-CAM use)	$-1322 (p=0.001)	$-868 (p=0.001)	$121 (p<0.001)	$-439 (p < 0.001)	$-108 (p<0.001)
+ self reported health status measures	Non-CAM user	$7,682	$2,414	$2,949	$1,848	$300
	CAM user	$6,887	$1,742	$3,204	$1,569	$210
	Difference in expenditures (CAM use – non-CAM use)	$-796 (p=0.021)	$-672 (p=0.006)	$255 (p=0.056)	$-279 (p=0.001)	$-90 (p<0.001)
Propensity score matched [2]	Difference in expenditures (CAM use – non-CAM use)	$-298 (p=0.403)	$-298 (p=0.227)	$292 (p=0.046)	$-145 (p=0.074)	$-92 (p=0.016)