U.S. Rep. introduces legislation expanding chiropractic services

January 27, 2009 — U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., has reintroduced legislation into the U.S. House of Representatives that would extend chiropractic healthcare services to U.S. military retirees, dependents, and survivors as part of the TRICARE program.

If signed into law, HR 484, the Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act, would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to allow any beneficiary covered under TRICARE to select and have direct access to a doctor of chiropractic. The plan deadline is Aug. 31, 2009.

“We owe our service members and their families the best quality healthcare available, which is why the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) are proud to have played a significant role in developing the language for this bill,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. “With the continued support of Rep. Rogers and other pro-chiropractic members of Congress, military retirees, dependents, and survivors are one step closer to accessing the chiropractic benefit.”

HR 484 defines “chiropractic services” as diagnosis (including x-ray tests), evaluation and management, and therapeutic services for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal health conditions. The legislation specifically notes that chiropractic services may only be provided by a doctor of chiropractic. 

Rep. Rogers introduced nearly identical legislation in 2005 and again in 2007.

For years, the ACA has been lobbying Congress to more fully integrate chiropractic care — a proven and cost-effective healthcare choice — into the military and veterans’ healthcare systems. Although recent legislation has established a permanent chiropractic care benefit for America’s veterans and active-duty military personnel, chiropractic care is only available at a limited number of stateside military bases and VA facilities across the country.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, www.amerchiro.org