Just in case you missed it.....
President Signs Bill Authorizing Medicare Project to Test Expanded Access to Chiropractic
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As part of legislation overhauling the 38-year-old Medicare program passed by the Senate and House
just prior to Thanksgiving-and signed into law by President Bush on Dec. 8-Congress has authorized
a Medicare chiropractic demonstration project designed to test expanded access to chiropractic
services for America's seniors. Enactment of this demonstration project (section 651 of
H.R.1) was ACA's top legislative priority in 2003. Also included in the Medicare bill is a provision
aimed at ensuring that beneficiaries will continue to have access to chiropractors and other
physicians by replacing a 4.5% physician payment cut with a 1.5% payment increases in each of
the next two years.
In the end, the "chiropractic demo" passed because Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA; pictured), its chief
sponsor, was successful in turning back fierce opposition from certain congressional leaders known
to be hostile to the profession, the powerful organized medicine and PT lobbies and an array of
other special interests. In fact, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD, the AMA and others
repeatedly attempted to scuttle Grassley's efforts.
The current Medicare program imposes an arbitrary limit on the covered services that can be offered
by doctors of chiropractic. Under current law, a DC may only provide Medicare beneficiaries with a
single covered service (manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation) despite the fact
that they are licensed in all 50 states to provide additional services that are currently covered
under Medicare, including x-rays and other diagnostic tests and physiotherapy services. ... The
chiropractic demonstration will assess how greater freedom of choice for consumers and additional
competition among care providers will benefit the health of Medicare beneficiaries and provide for
more efficient use of Medicare resources. The four-site, two-year demonstration will likely have a
profound impact in rural and medically underserved areas where beneficiaries will no longer be
forced to visit a second or third provider to receive the full range of necessary services.
HUGE!