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U.S. House Passes Legislation to Expand Military Access to Chiropractic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2006

Measure Calls for Analysis of Extending Chiropractic Care to Reservists, Retirees and Dependents: The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved pro-chiropractic language that would require the Department of Defense to ensure that chiropractic care is available to all members of the armed services through U.S. military treatment facilities worldwide. The language, backed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC), was passed on May 11 as part of HR 5122, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

“The passage of this language is a victory for our men and women in uniform, as they are one step closer to accessing the chiropractic care they need and deserve,” said ACA President Richard G. Brassard, DC. “On behalf of the chiropractic profession, I want to thank Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, Ranking Member Ike Skelton, and Reps. John McHugh, Jeb Bradley, Mike Rogers and others who were instrumental in advancing this important legislation.”

The bill, as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for providing chiropractic health care services to all members of the uniformed services, as mandated by Public Law 106-398, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001. In addition, HR 5122 would require the Pentagon to study the cost and feasibility of expanding the chiropractic benefit to military dependents, retirees and reservists.

HR 5122 stipulates that the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report, including the implementation plan and the completed study on expanding the chiropractic benefit to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Armed Services by March 31, 2007.

The Senate has not yet acted on their version of the FY 2007 Defense Authorization Bill.

“I am proud that ACA and ACC spearheaded the advocacy efforts in support of each of the chiropractic provisions in HR 5122,” Dr. Brassard said. “Passage of this legislation by the House is a major first step. The ACA and ACC lobbying teams will be working with our chiropractic allies in the Senate to ensure that the accelerated chiropractic care directive remains in the legislation when it is considered for final passage.”

According to ACC President Frank Zolli, DC, “The progress that has been achieved to date with the inclusion of doctors of chiropractic in both the DoD and Veterans’ health care systems could not have been achieved without the grassroots assistance of chiropractic state associations, colleges, doctors and chiropractic students. Thank you for this critical support.”

Similar language was included in the House version of the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act; however, it was not included in the version signed into law by the President, and thus new language was reintroduced to the 2007 legislation.

Currently, only 42 medical treatment facilities in the military health system, all within the continental United States, offer chiropractic health care services. Last year in a step toward full implementation, Congress directed the Air Force to place a doctor of chiropractic at 11 additional air bases in the United States prior to October 2006.

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