New Bill: Medicare to Cover Chiropractic Care

Sponsored by Republican and Democratic Senators alike, the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act “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.”

Among the changes, the Act would define a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) as “physician” and provide patient access to all Medicare-covered benefits allowable under a chiropractor’s state licensure cover. American Chiropractic Association (ACA) President Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD, stated, “Medicare beneficiaries want to lead active lives, but as we age musculoskeletal problems become more common. Access to chiropractic’s safe, patient-centered and evidence-based nondrug approach to back pain, neck pain and other musculoskeletal conditions provides options to those who wish to reduce or avoid pain medications and surgery.”

 

Read the press release.

Read about the Act.

Other Categories:

• functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

• imaging studies

• low back pain

• orthopedics

• pain management

• pain policy

• spinal/spine