Chiropractors currently face a limitation under Medicare—only spinal manipulation is reimbursed. This outdated restriction forces patients to pay out-of-pocket for essential components of care that you’re qualified to provide, such as exams, diagnostic imaging, therapeutic exercises, and non-drug therapies.
The Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2025—introduced on January 16, 2025, in the 119th Congress as H.R. 539 in the House and S. 106 in the Senate—seeks to update Medicare to include all chiropractic services within your state scope of practice (osteopathic.org, congress.gov).
Visit: https://www.acatoday.org/ to contact your Representative and Senators!
KAC Board Support
The Kentucky Association of Chiropractors (KAC) Board has re-affirmed its support of H.R. 539/S. 106. After supporting similar legislation during the previous Congress, the Board voted to support these bills again in the 119th Congress – underscoring KAC’s consistent commitment to securing full Medicare reimbursement for all legally permitted chiropractic services .
Key Provisions
- Recognizes chiropractors as “physicians” under Medicare and expands reimbursement beyond spinal manipulation to all services within state scope (congress.gov).
- Aligns Medicare coverage with the VA, Department of Defense, Federal Employee Health Benefits, and private insurers (congress.gov).
- Requires a one-time documentation-training webinar before billing privileges are granted (congress.gov).
Why This Matters
- Patients gain access to a full range of evidence-based, non-drug treatments covered by Medicare (acatoday.org).
- Supports efforts to reduce opioid dependence among Medicare seniors.
- Brings Medicare chiropractic coverage in line with modern practice standards and removes unnecessary out of pocket costs by the patient.
Opposition to Be Aware Of
Various medical, osteopathic, and radiology organizations have expressed strong opposition, raising concerns about chiropractors using the “physician” title, patient safety, billing expansion, and training differences compared to MDs/DOs (aaem.org). Their opposition is nothing new to this bill and has been introduced before. Further, chiropractors are already considered physicians in they eye of Medicare. We simply bring awareness to the issue, to hopefully further drive chiropractors to reach out to their Representatives and Senators.
What You Can Do
- Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators to urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 539/S. 106.
- Use the American Chiropractic Association’s advocacy tool to send a message in minutes at https://www.acatoday.org/
- Educate your patients about their costs and the solution for available for affordable chiropractic care for seniors.
By advocating for full-service coverage, you help ensure Medicare beneficiaries can benefit from the full scope of chiropractic care – enhancing quality of life and reducing dependency on medications or invasive procedures.
Your action matters. Contact Congress today to build momentum behind H.R. 539 and S. 106!
Resources
Legislation
- Text and summary of H.R. 539, introduced January 16, 2025 (congress.gov, acatoday.org)
- Text and summary of S. 106, introduced January 16, 2025
KAC Support
- KAC news on bipartisan reintroduction and board resolution (thekac.org)
Advocacy Tool
- ACA’s Medicare advocacy portal
Opposition Letters
- AMA/AAEM sign-on letter expressing opposition (aaem.org)
- Neurosurgery and radiology letters voicing concern
Visit: https://www.acatoday.org/ to contact your Representative and Senators!
