The ACA is working to advance chiropractic-friendly legislation

The 109th Congress opened in January of this year, and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has been heavily involved in the legislative process since day 1. While this session of Congress will address many big-ticket items, such as restructuring the Social Security code, amending the income tax structure, and reforming the federal tort laws, the ACA will continue to push for legislation that advances the chiropractic profession and benefits our patients.

Chiropractic for the Military
This year, the ACA spearheaded an effort to extend the chiropractic benefit available under the military health care system known as Tricare. Currently, only men and women in uniform are afforded chiropractic care at 42 facilities within the United States. It is estimated that there remain approximately 300,000 active-duty personnel—many of whom are serving overseas—who cannot access chiropractic services. Included in HR 1815, the Fiscal Year 2006 Defense Authorization Act, however, is a provision passed by the House of Representatives that orders the Pentagon to develop a plan to make the chiropractic benefit available to all active-duty members.

HR 1815 also includes another important provision backed by the ACA. The ACA firmly believes that while our troops—especially those in harm’s way—most deserve the benefit of chiropractic care, we shouldn’t ignore the dependents back home or military retirees—those who have dedicated their entire adult life to defending our nation. Under HR 1815, the Pentagon is to analyze the cost, feasibility, health benefit, and potential cost savings of providing chiropractic care for not only active-duty family members and retirees, but also for members of the reserves and their dependents.

This is an important victory, not only for the chiropractic community, but most of all, for the men and women of our armed forces. The actual data and the anecdotal evidence gathered from the field are clear: Our fighting force needs the best care available. Congress understands this and is holding the Pentagon’s feet to the fire when it comes to chiropractic.

Continuing with this theme, the ACA is working hard to ensure that this country’s veterans are also able to receive chiropractic care. With the words, “To care for him who shall have borne the battle,” President Abraham Lincoln affirmed the government’s obligation to care for those injured during war and times of conflict. Shouldn’t chiropractic care be a part of that commitment? The ACA thinks so, and so do veterans.

As a result of ACA advocacy efforts in 2004, 28 Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) facilities now provide chiropractic care to former service members, but the work is far from over. Like the military health care system, the DVA is a cornucopia of hospitals, facilities, and clinics designed to treat veterans with a wide array of medical issues. And yet, it wasn’t until just recently that the DVA recognized the role of chiropractic. In fact, DCs were only admitted in the DVA in 2004, making them the first health service provider added to the agency in more than 25 years!

But 28 facilities are not enough. The ACA has enlisted the help of longtime chiropractic supporter, Rep Bob Filner, (D-Calif) to write a bill, HR 917, which would allow veterans direct access to chiropractic care without first seeing a primary care physician. More important, Rep Filner’s proposal reminds the DVA that Congress is watching and that it expects continued expansion of chiropractic to DVA facilities.

On a different front, the ACA is closely monitoring a number of bills that have the potential to affect DCs and chiropractic students.

Health Care Access Improvement
S 824, the Health Care Access Improvement Act, would provide a tax credit to primary health care providers who establish practices in health professional shortage areas (HPSA). This legislation, introduced by Sen Conrad Burns (R-Mont), would give DCs who practice in an HPSA tax credits for each month they provide services in that area. As the bill states, “An individual who is a qualified primary health services provider for any month during the taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year an amount equal to $1,000 for each month during such taxable year.”

Higher Education Affordability
HR 1380, the Higher Education Affordability and Equity Act of 2005, is supported by the ACA and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. Sponsored by Rep Phil English (R-Pa), this proposal would implement favorable tax changes regarding student loan interest deductibility as a way to ease the burden of loan repayment and to help make higher education more affordable and available. Highlights of this legislation include: allowing taxpayers making less than $100,000 to deduct the full amount of interest earned on student loans; increasing annual contributions to education savings accounts from $2,000 to $5,000; and making permanent an array of provisions included in the Economic Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.

National Pain Care Policy
HR 1020, the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2005, was introduced by Rep Mike Rogers (R-Mich), and declares that pain care research, education, and treatment should be national public health priorities. The bill has 10 sections dealing with various aspects of pain management, including a call for a White House Conference on Pain Care and various pain care education, training, and public-awareness campaigns. The ACA supports this legislation because it addresses the pain issue in a comprehensive, holistic way, and because it offers an opportunity for our profession to participate in this national dialogue and legislative effort.

The ACA will continue to support legislation that gives DCs an opportunity to provide the cost-efficient care that so many Americans want and need. During the past 20 years, DCs and their patients have won many hard-fought battles and have been favorably received in many federal health care programs. The list of accomplishments is amazing, but the list of hurdles left to clear is daunting. The ACA has never backed off when making the profession’s voice heard on Capitol Hill and in the home districts of our lawmakers. I promise you, this year will be no exception.

John A. Falardeau is the ACA’s vice president of government relations. He served previously as the director of federal and state government affairs for the Rubber Manufacturers Association. In addition, he spent 10 years as a senior assistant to two members of the US House of Representatives. He can be reached via email: jfalardeau@acatoday.com.