ACA - Federal Employee Program

Please Note: The ACA is aware of changes to the 2009 FEP Benefit. We are working to gather more information on what has led to these changes. Read the overview of the new benefit here.

A decision by the ACA, the Virginia Chiropractic Association (VCA) and the other chiropractic plaintiffs in 2001 to remove the national Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) from a federal lawsuit against Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield paved the way for significant and substantive discussions between ACA and BCBSA on a range of insurance-related issues. And as a direct result of these settlement negotiations, BCBSA initially agreed to include a chiropractic manipulation benefit with limited x-rays in the BCBSA FEP basic option. This inclusion brought about a welcome change in status for doctors of chiropractic, as they became formally recognized as “covered providers” under both the BCBSA FEP basic and standard options. Under the BCBSA FEP, “covered providers” are eligible to be reimbursed for providing physical therapy services, if such services lie within their respective state scope of licensure.

Since 2001 the ACA has lobbied for increased coverage for chiropractic care under the Federal Employee Program. In 2009 under both the standard and basic options chiropractic manipulations and physical therapy services are eligible for reimbursement. For more information on the specific details of the benefit please read the over of the 2009 Federal Employee Program Summary Plan Description. If you are having problems with processing Federal Employee Program claims please contact ACA's Insurance Relations Department.