November 2003

Medicare bill: More than drugs

According to the bill, the 4.5 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for 2004 and an additional cut in 2005 would be blocked. Instead, physicians will receive a 1.5 percent increase in 2004 and 2005, if the bill is passed and signed into law.

The Medicare bill also contains provisions for a demonstration project for chiropractic services to Medicare recipients.

Some of the provisions of this project include:

• The feasibility and advisability of covering chiropractic services under the Medicare program will be assessed at four demonstration project sites.

• Eligible beneficiaries who participate in a demonstration project will have direct access to chiropractic care.

• Any eligible beneficiary may participate in the demonstration projects on a voluntary basis.

The demonstration projects will be evaluated to determine whether eligible beneficiaries who use chiropractic services use fewer services than those who do not use such services. Cost and satisfaction will also be evaluated.

The project will allow chiropractors to provide care for neuromusculoskeletal conditions typical among eligible beneficiaries and diagnostic and other services that a chiropractor is legally authorized to perform by the state or jurisdiction in which such treatment is provided.

Currently Medicare limits chiropractic care.

The entire Medicare bill can be accessed at the home page of the House Ways and Means Committee, http://waysandmeans.house.gov/.

Source: House Ways and Means Committee, http://waysandmeans.house.gov/, “Summary of Medicare Conference Agreement”

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