The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation that would increase patient access to Medicare-covered services provided by doctors of chiropractic, has gained its 100th cosponsor since its reintroduction Jan. 16 in both the US House and US Senate.
The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 539/ S. 106) would reduce barriers to care and enable seniors and other beneficiaries to more fully access the chiropractic profession’s evidence-based, non-drug approach to managing pain and improving musculoskeletal function, noted an American Chiropractic Association (ACA) press release.
The new bill was introduced by Reps. Gregory Steube (R-Fla.) and John Larson (D-Conn.) and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). Initial cosponsors include Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).
As of July 10, H.R.539/S.106 has 100 cosponsors; Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Rep. Carol D. Miller (R-W.V.) and Rep. Mary E. Miller (R-Ill.), the 100th cosponsor, are the latest, having joined during the month of July. View the full list of cosponsors and more at Congress.gov.
For the past 50 years, citing no scientific or policy basis, Medicare has limited beneficiaries to coverage of one chiropractic service, manual manipulation of the spine. Patients requiring additional services have been forced to seek them from other types of providers, thus delaying care, or to pay out of pocket for those services.
No new services, just new access
While adding no new services to Medicare, the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act proposes new language that would bring Medicare coverage into alignment with other federal programs and private health plans, giving seniors access to additional covered services in their DC’s practice, such as other non-drug therapies, evaluation and management services and diagnostic imaging. The allowable covered services would be determined by a DC’s state-licensed scope of practice.
“The prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions such as back, neck and joint pain increases with age. The opioid crisis has emphasized the importance of offering non-drug options for pain management, and treatment guidelines today support their use as a first line defense against common musculoskeletal pain,” said ACA President Leo Bronston, DC, MAppSC.
“We are thankful to the sponsors and cosponsors of this bill for standing with us in support of improving access to non-drug chiropractic services that can help seniors reduce or eliminate the need for riskier and costlier alternatives such as prescription pain medications and surgery,” added John Falardeau, ACA’s senior vice president of public policy and advocacy. “Musculoskeletal pain, led by spinal disorders, costs the US healthcare system $874 billion per year and is the most common cause of severe long-term pain and disability.”
With more than 65 million enrollees, Medicare’s impact on the quality of senior healthcare is significant and will only increase as the baby boomer generation continues to age and enter its ranks over the next several years.
Learn more about the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act at acatoday.org/Medicare.
About the American Chiropractic Association
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in the United States. ACA attracts the most principled and accomplished chiropractors, who understand that it takes more to be called an ACA chiropractor. We are leading our profession in the most constructive and far-reaching ways—by working hand in hand with other health care professionals, by lobbying for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, by supporting meaningful research and by using that research to inform our treatment practices. We also provide professional and educational opportunities for all our members and are committed to being a positive and unifying force for the practice of modern chiropractic. To learn more, visit acatoday.org.
