ACA members who have worked long and hard to build bipartisan support in Congress for the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act (H.R. 539/S. 106) can feel proud of the progress the bill has made to date. The cosponsor count continues to grow, and every day we see new faces join us in support of this important legislation.
As we publish this blog, H.R. 539 has 167 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives and the companion bill, S. 106, has 15 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate. In both chambers, the cosponsor count is bipartisan, with support from both Republicans and Democrats, and it has been this way from the start. We believe it is because the need for this legislation is simple to grasp: People want choice in health care. They want access to nondrug options for pain management. When possible, they want to avoid riskier treatments such as prescription opioids and surgery. Such basic preferences are hard to argue against.
The bill is having a similar, unifying effect in the chiropractic profession. In fact, ACA is pleased to share that in recent weeks, with support from across the profession, including the International Chiropractic Association (ICA) and the newly established MAHA Chiropractic Hub, we have realized our goal of growing our coalition to include support from the administration. Last week on Capitol Hill, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke about the need for parity for the profession. While we may have different perspectives about how to prioritize Medicare legislation, we are proud to be aligned with ICA, agreeing that the profession’s No. 1 priority is to get H.R. 539/S. 106 passed, for the benefit of our patients and to pursue parity for doctors of chiropractic in all federal programs, together.
This new unity of purpose between ACA and ICA is exciting to witness and has resulted in thousands of messages to Congress in support for Medicare coverage modernization. The additional support comes just as we are looking down the final stretch of the 119th Congress, which ends in December. That is our deadline to get this bill to the president’s desk. Our unity of purpose, our combined voice, and our new show of strength to Congress is critical. Together, we will amplify the message that chiropractic’s evidence-based, nondrug – and high-value – approach to health, wellness and pain management is essential to Medicare’s success.
I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has gotten us this far, and to everyone who is joining us now and will help us get this legislation over the finish line. When our collective strength is combined, amazing things can happen. Thank you.
Join the Effort to Pass the Medicare Bill
If you have not done so already, lend your voice to this effort, August is an opportune time to visit with your legislators, as many are home during the traditional summer recess. Learn more about how you can be heard in your community on the ACA blog. Also, visit ACA’s Medicare page and send a message in support of H.R. 539/S. 106 via the links to ACA’s Legislative Action Center.
In addition, if you are an ACA member, consider donating to the ACA-PAC, which, as the largest federal political action committee in the profession, is the voice for chiropractic and the recognized ally of pro-chiropractic members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.
Dr. Anderson is president of the American Chiropractic Association (2026-2027).
