The three-year Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration project, created by the 1995 National Defense Authorization Act, is in full swing at 10 military treatment facilities. Three other military sites not offering chiropractic are being used to compare outcomes. Chiropractic care is being put to the test for treatment and cost effectiveness.
Active duty members, active duty family members, retired members, and retired family members participating in the demonstration project go through a screening process to determine if their conditions are neuromusculoskeletal. It they are, they have the option of receiving chiropractic or traditional medical care. Patients under 17 and those who are pregnant are excluded from receiving chiropractic.
Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, with 487 additions, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services performed on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes. While no changes affect the common spinal or extraspinal codes most frequently used by DCs, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for comorbidities, referred pain, or trauma cases.
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Southern California University of Health Sciences has entered into an agreement with Pacific College of Health and Science whereby PCHS’ San Diego and Chicago campuses – including students, faculty, staff, and academic programs – will join SCU effective May 2026, pending regulatory approval. Founded in 1986 as Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, PCHS is not only the largest acupuncture / herbal medicine school in the U.S., but also offers integrative health curriculum in holistic nursing and massage therapy.
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