Legislation seeks expanded access, overseas demonstration project

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a directive that orders the Pentagon to make chiropractic care a standard benefit for all active-duty military personnel.  The legislation is contained in H.R. 5658, a bill authorizing defense programs in fiscal year 2009, and is based in part on recommendations from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC).

The bill—passed by the Armed Services Committee on May 14 and the full House on May 22—also contains language allowing for chiropractic demonstration projects at overseas military locations and clarifies that chiropractic care at U.S. military facilities is to be performed only by a doctor of chiropractic.

“H.R. 5658 is a bipartisan bill that explicitly states that chiropractic is an integral component of the Pentagon’s health care delivery system, and it is the [Armed Services] committee’s intention that this language will increase access to chiropractic care at more facilities worldwide,” said ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC.

In 2000, Congress passed and the president signed a similar authorization bill, which contained language calling on the Secretary of Defense to develop a “plan” to get the chiropractic benefit to all active-duty service members.  To date, there is a doctor of chiropractic at 49 military bases around the country; however, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office report, only 54 percent of servicemen and women eligible for chiropractic care can reasonably access the benefit.  This most recent legislation shelves the “plan” approach and simply states that chiropractic care is a standard health care benefit. 

According to ACA sources, the House Armed Services committee also expressed concern that there were no doctors of chiropractic stationed at overseas military facilities.  The language contained within H.R. 5658 allows the Pentagon to conduct demonstration projects to implement chiropractic care at these sites.

“The House Armed Services Committee is to be commended for strengthening current law.  This strong statement by the committee will pave the way for expanded access to this critical component of the military health care system—both here at home and overseas,” said ACC President Dr. Carl Cleveland III.

The ACA and ACC express their appreciation to members of the House Armed Services Committee, especially Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.), and John McHugh (R-N.Y.) for their work on this important military health care issue. 

The Senate is expected to take up the legislation in the near future.  Watch ACA’s Web site and publications for more details as they become available.