May 2004

ACA provides update on DoD/VA opportunities

The directive from VA Secretary Anthony Principi will ultimately make chiropractic care available to all veterans, although at the current time access must come through a VA medical referral.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, which has worked directly with Congressman Bob Filner (CA) on legislation that would provide direct access to DCs in the VA system, a number of changes to the VA healthcare system have been ordered:

• Immediate inclusion of chiropractic care. At least 21 VA facilities around the country are to hire or contract with an initial group of DCs to provide chiropractic care to veterans through the VA system;

• Integration of chiropractic care into all VA missions for patient care, education, research and response to disasters and national emergencies;

• Doctors of chiropractic are to be partners in healthcare teams;

• Inclusion of chiropractic care into 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 care for newly discharged veterans who have been receiving chiropractic care through the Defense Department healthcare system.

To begin this process, each of the 21 VA service regions, known as Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISNs), will each select a VA facility to offer chiropractic care and then equip that facility for a chiropractor to treat patients. The selected facilities will either hire DCs as full-time or part-time employees or contract with them.

A map showing the VA service regions is available at http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?divisionId=1.

The VA will announce when the application process will begin and will provide information on how to obtain application forms.

DoD opportunities available

Late in 2003, President Bush signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act that ordered the Pentagon to speed up implementation of the chiropractic care benefit authorized for active-duty military service personnel. Care is currently being provided at 42 military health facilities throughout the United States. More sites are expected to be added in 2004.

The sites are available at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/chiropractic/location.htm.

Doctors of chiropractic who are interested in working for the DoD need to submit their resumes directly to the private companies selected by the Air Force and the Army to employ all chiropractors. Hiring contact for the Army is Sgt. Ric Rodriguez, USA (Ret.), Aliron International, Inc., 254-542-4505 or www.aliron.com. For the Air Force, the contact is Ron Miles, Cherokee Nations Industries, 210-651-0027 or miles@cherokeemedical.com.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.com

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