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Congress Reintroduces Bill to Improve Medicare Coverage of Chiropractic Services

Tuesday, January 21, 2025  

From the American Chiropractic Association

Media Contact:

Annette Bernat abernat@acatoday.org (703) 812-0226

Jan. 17, 2025

 

Arlington, Va. — Bipartisan legislation that would increase patient access to Medicare-covered services provided by doctors of chiropractic was reintroduced Jan. 16 in both the U.S. House and U.S. 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.

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.).

For the past 50 years, and with no scientific or policy basis, Medicare has limited beneficiaries to coverage of one chiropractic service, manual manipulation of the spine. Those requiring additional services have been forced to seek them from other types of providers, delaying care, or to pay out of pocket.

While adding no new services to Medicare, proposed new language would bring Medicare coverage into alignment with other federal programs and private health plans, giving seniors access to additional covered services in their chiropractor’s clinic, such as other non-drug therapies, evaluation and management services, and diagnostic imaging. The allowable covered services would be determined by a chiropractor’s state licensure.

“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 American Chiropractic Association (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 senior vice president of public policy and advocacy. “Musculoskeletal pain, led by spinal disorders, costs the U.S. 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 health care 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. Visit acatoday.org.

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