Noteboom The Law Firm

Bill Would Mandate Chiropractic Care for Veterans

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced new legislation (S. 1447) into the U.S. Senate mandating chiropractic care within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Should Sen. Blumental's bill pass, it would incorporate complete chiropractic care into the VA's provided health care as a fully covered service.

The bill was introduced on June 6 and is currently in front of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), combining chiropractic services with VA health care will help veterans recover faster, which would save money in the long run, and make health care more cost-effective.

According to a VA report from February 2010, approximately 50% of veterans cycling back to the United States needed care for musculoskeletal ailments and their symptoms. Those symptoms were complained of more than any other mentioned in the report. Under current policy, however, veterans in pain cannot access the vital care that could benefit their conditions.

Multiple studies have acknowledged the primary threat musculoskeletal injuries present to active-duty soldiers. This bill will guarantee enough chiropractors across the nation to provide the necessary levels of care. Without such legislation, chiropractic care would be introduced randomly and sporadically.

This bill is a companion to a bill in the house, H.R. 329, which was introduced in February. Although some chiropractic care is being provided at VA facilities, there are still more than 100 major VA medical facilities unable to offer such care to veterans in need.