June 2006

Chiropractic Tricare bill gaining support in Congress

A Congressional bill that would give military dependents and retirees access to chiropractic benefits under the federal Tricare health system is gaining momentum in the Capitol, according to the Chiropractic Coalition.

The bill, introduced by New Hampshire Congressman Jeb Bradley in April 2005, provides health care benefits for more than eight million individuals. HR 1594, formally titled the "Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Retirees and Dependents Act," is based on legislation agreed upon in the last Congress and supported by all major chiropractic organizations in the United States.

"The chiropractic profession is very fortunate to have legislators like Representative Bradley, who know our profession and the unique benefits we can provide in a highly effective and low‑cost manner," said International Chiropractors Association Board Member Dr. Gary Walsemann of New Hampshire.

Terry A. Rondberg, DC, president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, noted that other house members have signed on as co‑sponsors of the bill after chiropractors in their states explained how important the bill was to military dependents and retirees, as well as to chiropractors. "It's one of those situations of a bill that doesn't attract a great deal of attention in Washington," he noted. "But once a constituent makes a legislator aware of it, and emphasizes that it's widely supported by all major chiropractic organizations, with little or no opposition, he or she is willing to support it as well."

The bill states that the Tricare program must include chiropractic services, which are to be provided only by a doctor of chiropractic. In addition, the bill specifically states that individuals will have direct access to DCs, without referral by another health practitioner.

Also included in the proposed legislation is a clear definition of the term chiropractic services, which "includes the diagnosis (including by diagnostic X‑ray tests), correction, and management of vertebral subluxations or neuromusculoskeletal conditions, and such other chiropractic services determined appropriate by the Secretary; and does not include the use of drugs or surgery."

With the Department of Defense (DOD) scheduled to spend $37 billion on health care in fiscal year 2005, a chiropractic benefit in Tricare could make a major contribution not just to the quality of care, but to the cost‑effectiveness the agency needs, the Coalition explained.

The Chiropractic Coalition urges all doctors of chiropractic in the US to contact their member of the US House of Representatives and ask them to co‑sponsor HR 1594. DCs and consumers can identify their Representative via the Internet at http://www.house.gov.

Rep. Bradley was one of the featured speakers at the 2005 Chiropractic Coalition Legislative Day in Washington, DC, where he spoke of the need to mobilize from the grassroots to promote HR 1594, and for doctors of chiropractic everywhere to build individual relationships with their Congressional representatives.

Rep. Bradley was also recognized by the Chiropractic Coalition as one of "America's Most Outstanding Public Servants," and presented with a statue of America's First President George Washington. Rep. Bradley is in his second US House term and serves on the Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Small Business Committees.

The Chiropractic Coalition was founded in November 2002 by three major chiropractic organizations, the International Chiropractors Association, the World Chiropractic Alliance and the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations. The mission of this cooperative effort is the promotion of chiropractic science and practice as a separate and distinct, drugless and non‑surgical approach to health that mobilizes the body's natural healing abilities, without intrusion into the realms of other professions.