Help provide accessible chiropractic to our nation's vets

November 17, 2012 — As we honored our nation’s veterans recently, it’s important to reflect on the role chiropractic care plays in their treatment and healthcare decisions.

Prior to the intervention of Congress a decade ago, doctors of chiropractic (DCs) did not serve on the staff of any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) treatment facility. In addition to their absence at these facilities, the availability of chiropractic services for eligible veterans was limited to VA “referrals” for doctors running private practices outside of the VA system.

Such referrals were so rarely made that access to the services provided by DCs within the VA system was virtually nonexistent until Congress took action to address this glaring deficiency. As a result of congressional directives, including recommendations issued by a congressionally mandated advisory committee, the VA currently grants access to a DC at more than 40 major VA treatment facilities within the U.S.

However, more work needs to be done. Despite progress, the overwhelming majority of America’s eligible veterans continue to be denied access to the services performed by DCs because the VA has failed to take significant action to provide chiropractic at nearly 120 additional major VA treatment facilities. What can you do to help? Visit acatoday.org/lac and take action to extend chiropractic care in the military health system.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, acatoday.org