Arlington, Va. — The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is amplifying its efforts to increase congressional support for Medicare parity legislation with the hiring of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, an international lobby and law firm with deep experience in the health care sector.
The Pillsbury team will focus on recruiting additional cosponsors for the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 2654) by targeting key House committees and by identifying and working with senators to introduce a Senate companion bill. The bill currently has 79 congressional cosponsors.
H.R. 2654, introduced in April by Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), would increase Medicare coverage of services provided by chiropractors within the full extent of their state licensure, enabling chiropractic patients to conveniently and safely access additional covered services that may be medically necessary. The change would also align Medicare with chiropractic coverage offered in many private health and Medicare Advantage plans.
“Passage of the Medicare parity bill is ACA’s No. 1 legislative priority. Pillsbury, with its impressive team of former Congressman William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-Mo.) for strategic purposes and Yvette Cravins for Capitol Hill advocacy and outreach, brings experience and long-time contacts in healthcare circles to the table. In short, they make a strong addition to our advocacy lineup,” said John Falardeau, ACA senior vice president of public policy and advocacy. “In addition, Clay is no stranger to chiropractic issues as he holds an honorary doctorate from Logan University in Chesterfield, Mo.”
The federal Medicare program, which serves as a model for private insurance plans, currently serves more than 55 million individuals. Various projections forecast the number of people 65 or older increasing by about one-third over the next decade. Since 1972, Medicare beneficiaries have been covered for only one chiropractic service (manual manipulation of the spine), limiting their options and access to other effective nondrug treatments for relieving pain and improving function.
About the American Chiropractic Association
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in the United States. ACA attracts the most principled and accomplished chiropractors, who understand that it takes more to be called an ACA chiropractor. We are leading our profession in the most constructive and far-reaching ways–by working hand in hand with other health care professionals, by lobbying for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, by supporting meaningful research and by using that research to inform our treatment practices. We also provide professional and educational opportunities for all our members and are committed to being a positive and unifying force for the practice of modern chiropractic. To learn more, visit www.acatoday.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
