Legislation introduced to include chiropractors in U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

August 6, 2010 — The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) today commended Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) and Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) for introducing legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that calls for the appointment of doctors of chiropractic (DCs) as officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps.

The bill, H.R. 6032, would include DCs in the Regular Corps and the Ready Reserve Corps, and would require the president, in consultation with the surgeon general and the U.S. secretary of health and human services, to appoint no fewer than six DCs to the Commissioned Corps.

Although the Commissioned Corps includes representatives from many diverse healthcare professions, no doctors of chiropractic have ever been appointed to serve —ACA and ACC have been working diligently with Reps. Green and Terry to advance this legislation, which specifically addresses this long-standing deficiency. 

The Commissioned Corps is an elite team of more than 6,000 well-trained, highly qualified public health professionals dedicated to delivering the nation’s public health promotion and disease prevention programs and advancing public health science. Officers in the Corps provide healthcare services in a variety of locations and venues, including care to members of the U.S. Coast Guard and at community health centers. 

“Both Rep. Green and Rep. Terry have been champions for improving access to quality healthcare, and are long-time supporters of the chiropractic profession’s role in delivering vital health services to our nation’s citizens,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “The services of doctors of chiropractic will be a tremendous value to the Commissioned Corps, and enacting this legislation will be another important milestone in the mission to fully integrate chiropractic care into the nation’s healthcare delivery system.”

“Doctors of chiropractic already serve our nation’s active-duty military and veterans with distinction and success,” said ACC President Frank Nicchi, DC. “H.R. 6032 will allow doctors of chiropractic to join forces with other health care providers in the fight against disease, poor health conditions and other threats during both non-emergency and emergency periods for our country. We extend our appreciation to Rep. Green and Rep. Terry for their bipartisan effort to introduce this long-overdue legislation.”

H.R. 6032 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over the USPHS. Reps. Green and Terry serve as senior members of that committee. ACA and ACC will soon initiate a range of grassroots activities to build support for this important legislation. 

To contact your Representative and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 6032, please visit the ACA Legislative Action Center.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.org