On Feb. 1, 2024, two more legislators – John R. Carter (R-Texas) and Robert “Bob” Good (R-Va.) – co-sponsored the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023, bringing the co-sponsor total to 155, two more than the total achieved over the entire two-year congressional cycle in which identical legislation last appeared (2021-22). As of press time in late February, the act (H.R. 1610) had 157 co-sponsors (83 Republicans, 74 Democrats).
According to the legislation text:
It is the purpose of this Act to expand recognition and coverage of a doctor of chiropractic as a “physician” under the Medicare program in connection with the performance of any function or action, including current service of “manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation,” as is legally authorized by the State in which such doctor performs such function or action. ... This Act would bring Medicare chiropractic coverage more in line with that provided with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, and private health insurance coverage. ... [by expanding] Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors [within the scope of their license], rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.
To track H.R. 1610’s progress in the House (it has been assigned to two committees: The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee), including co-sponsor totals as they update, visit https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/hr1610.
Editor’s Note: S.799, identical legislation introduced in the Senate, currently has 11 co-sponsors (six Democrats, five Republicans). It has been assigned to the Senate Finance Committee. You can track S.799’s progress and co-sponsor totals at https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/s799.
