Legislation to increase Medicare coverage of chiropractic services has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. For almost 50 years, Medicare beneficiaries have only been covered for one chiropractic service: manual manipulation of the spine.
Lack of Medicare coverage means seniors and other Medicare patients who require services are forced to either pay their chiropractors out of pocket or visit a provider whose standard procedures may involve drugs, or other treatment options that are often unnecessary.
The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, (H.R. 1610 / S. 799) would allow Medicare beneficiaries access to the chiropractic profession’s broad-based, non-drug approach to pain management, which includes manual manipulation of the spine and extremities, evaluation and management services, diagnostic imaging and utilization of other non-drug approaches that have become an important strategy in national efforts to stem the epidemic of prescription opioid overuse and abuse. While the bill increases access options for Medicare beneficiaries, it does not add any new services or remove services currently covered under Medicare.
Recent studies show that access to chiropractic care can save money for the healthcare system, particularly when compared to prescriptions and surgery. The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, (H.R. 1610 / S. 799) is bipartisan legislation addressing a nationwide issue. Access to chiropractic care will benefit more than 55 million Americans.
Take Action
It is vital that your federal representative hears from patients about the importance of increased access to chiropractic care. Urge your representative to co-sponsor The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act, (H.R. 1610 / S. 799) and thank them for their support of Medicare patients.
Ask Congress to Support H.R. 1610 / S. 799
Research
The effect of increasing access to chiropractic services in Medicare is likely to be both real and substantial among
Medicare beneficiaries age 65+, resulting in better care outcomes, fewer adverse events, and lower cost of care.
Greater availability of chiropractic care reduces costs for spine-related conditions:
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- Access to chiropractic care in Medicare can reduce visits to primary care providers by 0.37 million visits, at a
savings of $83.5 million annually.1 - Conversely, reduced access to chiropractic services increases visits to primary care physicians (32.3 visits
per 1,000) and the rate of spine surgeries (5.5 additional surgeries per 1,000). This equates to an additional
expense of $391 million to Medicare annually.2
- Access to chiropractic care in Medicare can reduce visits to primary care providers by 0.37 million visits, at a
More research:
- Increase Access to Chiropractic Services to Decrease Costs in Medicare (PDF)
- Chiropractic: A Cost-Efficient Option for Medicare Patients (PDF)
- Access to Chiropractic Services: A Synopsis of Research Related to Reduced Costs and Opioid Utilization (PDF)
Resources
- Davis MA, Yakusheva O, Gottlieb DJ, Bynum JP. Regional Supply of Chiropractic Care and Visits to Primary
Care Physicians for Back and Neck Pain. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: JABFM.
2015;28(4):481-90. - Davis M, Yakusheva O, Liu H, Anderson B, Bynum J. The Effect of Reduced Access to Chiropractic Care on
Medical Service Use for Spine Conditions Among Older Adults. Journal of manipulative and physiological
therapeutics. 2021;44(5):353-62.
To learn more, please contact the American Chiropractic Association Department of Public Policy and Advocacy at 703-812-0228 or [email protected], or visit acatoday.org/advocacy