November 2005

ANJC to recommend revised scope of practice

New Jersey chiropractors will have an expanded scope of practice, if the state legislature accepts recommendations that will be made by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC).

On Nov. 19, 2005, the ANJC board of directors voted to revise the chiropractic scope of practice in New Jersey, which has not been updated since 1953.

According to a press release, although the scope of practice has had some minor modifications over the years since it was first drafted in 1920, the profession has worked with an extremely limited ability to care for patients.

The proposed scope continues to allow the subluxation-only practitioner to practice as they have been all along. However, chiropractors with a broader focus will be able to practice in their specific areas of interest and expertise, including nutrition, sports, rehabilitation and wellness care. Many of the gray areas under which chiropractors in New Jersey have operated for years have been clarified.

In drafting the new scope, individuals from the ANJC legislative committee took into consideration information from the American Chiropractic Association, International Chiropractors Association, and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. They also reviewed New Jersey case law and the scope of practice acts in all 50 states as the basis for the body of this document.

The proposed revisions to the scope of practice will be posted on ANJC’s Web site (www.anjc.info) on Dec. 1. The proposal will be open for comments until Dec. 15. To be considered, all comments must include the full identification and contact information of the doctor who is submitting them.

The executive director will forward all comments to the legislative committee and ANJC board for review. Drafting of a final document will then be presented to the state legislature.

The proposed Scope of practice will then advance through the following legislative steps:

1. Sponsors in both the state Assembly and Senate will sign the legislation. It will receive a bill number and be sent to committees in each house for review.

2. The two committees will vote on the bill and send it to the Assembly and Senate floors for a final vote.

3. The bill will arrive on the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Source: Association of New Jersey Chiropractors, www.anjc.info

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