March 2004

Chiropractic care added to veterans’ healthcare system

Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Secretary Anthony Principi has issued a blueprint to include full chiropractic care into the veterans’ healthcare system in the United States. Secretary Principi’s decision to implement more than three dozen recommendations made by a multi-disciplinary healthcare advisory panel will increase access to chiropractic care for every veteran who wants or needs to see a doctor of chiropractic and will improve the quality of healthcare available to millions of veterans in the U.S.

The Secretary’s action originated with legislative directives from Congress in 2002 and 2003 to establish a permanent chiropractic benefit through the DVA system and authorize the DVA to hire and employ doctors of chiropractic as care providers.

“This is a great victory for veterans and an historic new opportunity for doctors of chiropractic across America,” said Donald Krippendorf, DC, American Chiropractic Association president.

Since the creation of the DVA health system, the nation’s chiropractors have been kept outside the system and all but prevented from providing care to veterans. In 2002, 4.5 million patients received care in DVA health facilities, including 75 percent of all disabled and low-income veterans. Although the DVA health care budget is roughly $26 billion, in 2002, less than $370,000 went toward chiropractic services for veterans.

In issuing today’s order to his department to begin inclusion of chiropractic care, Secretary Principi specifically acknowledged that the goal is “to ensure that chiropractic care is ultimately available and accessible to veterans who need it throughout the DVA system.”

Key elements of Secretary Principi’s blueprint include:
• Integration of full-scope chiropractic care (under applicable state law) into all missions of the DVA health care system, including patient care, education, research and response to disasters and national emergencies, and DVA facilities across the country;

• Inclusion of chiropractic care into the VA's funding of research into treatment of service-connected conditions;

• Inclusion of chiropractic colleges and students in training programs at VA facilities;

• Establishment of a goal to ensure continuity of chiropractic care for newly discharged veterans who have been receiving chiropractic care through the Defense Department health care system.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.amerchiro.org

Industry News from:
Chiropractic News from: