Rep. Rogers Revives Legislation Providing Chiropractic Care to Military Beneficiaries Arlington, Va.—U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., has re-introduced legislation that would extend chiropractic health care services to U.S. military retirees, dependents and survivors. If signed into law, HR 1554, the Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act, would require the Department of Defense to develop a plan to make chiropractic a permanent part of the TRICARE program by Jan. 31, 2008. “The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) have played a significant role in the development of the language for this bill,” says ACA President Richard G. Brassard, DC. “We will continue to be committed to working with Rep. Rogers, and other pro-chiropractic members of Congress, to ensure that these retirees, dependents and survivors receive access to the chiropractic benefit—a central component of quality health care.” The bill 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. HR 1554 defines “chiropractic services” as diagnosis (including X-ray tests), evaluation and management, and therapeutic services for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal health conditions. Rep. Rogers introduced nearly identical legislation—HR 999—in 2005. For years, the ACA has been lobbying Congress to more fully integrate chiropractic care—a proven and cost-effective health care choice—into the military and veterans’ health care systems. Although recent legislation has established a permanent chiropractic care benefit for America’s veterans and active-duty military personnel, chiropractic care is available at a limited number of stateside military bases and VA facilities across the country. Contact our local chiropractor to help relieve your chronic back pain