H.R. 2654, the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2021, is approaching 80 congressional co-sponsors from both sides of the major party aisles. The bipartisan support bodes well for the act, which the Congressional Research Service says "expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine."
H.R. 2654 is mirror legislation to that introduced in 2019 – legislation that failed to progress to a vote despite 92 co-sponsors. The current legislation already has 79 co-sponsors, the most recent pledging support on Aug. 3: Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.).
The American Chiropractic Association, which has championed the legislation since its inception, emphasizes the importance of H.R. 2654 from a chiropractic and public-health perspective in promoting the act on its website (which also features a template for contacting your state legislators and requesting they co-sponsor H.R. 2654, if not already doing so):
"The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act ... would allow Medicare beneficiaries access to the chiropractic profession's broad-based, non-drug approach to pain management, which includes manual manipulation of the spine and extremities, evaluation and management services, diagnostic imaging and utilization of other non-drug approaches that have become an important strategy in national efforts to stem the epidemic of prescription opioid overuse and abuse."
Editor's Note: DC will provide updated co-sponsor totals and news on any significant actions taken as they occur. As of Aug. 4, H.R. 2654 remains under review by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and House Committee on Ways and Means.
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