The development of the "tiering system" for HEAL loans (a system that allocates the $260 million HEAL funds based on ranking the private financial institutions that offer the most favorable terms), has drastically cut the available HEAL funds to chiropractic students for the current fiscal year (FY). One chiropractic lender, for example, with $60 million in loan allocations for FY 90-91 is reduced to a $15 million allocation under the current tiering system.1
The ACA and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) have been working together these past months in behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts with key Congressmen and their staff to amend the HEAL tiering system and to institute reforms to lower default rates among chiropractic colleges.
"We're extremely pleased by the meetings we've had and the action so far of this issue," said Richard Miller. Mr. Miller noted that some of the reforms suggested by the chiropractic profession to lower default rates among its students will be included in the final version of legislation reauthorizing the loan program for at least another three years.
Representatives from the ACA's Government Relation's staff met with the ranking member of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and senior staff members of Senate Labor Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, among others, to "put the finishing touches on suggested conference language ... acceptable to the conference committee."
Mr. Miller pointed to the chiropractic profession's early recognition of the serious problems with the HEAL program, particularly the high default rate among some chiropractic colleges. "We have tried very hard and expanded an extraordinary amount of time and resources in seeking to respond responsibly to those problems, and to defeat any attempts to directly or indirectly discriminate against chiropractic students in the amount of money available under HEAL.
Reference:
1. Clum G: The HEAL Saga, Part 2. Dynamic Chiropractic, January 31, 1992.
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.
With estimates showing over 30 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy – and a significant portion underdiagnosed – it’s increasingly likely that chiropractors are already treating these patients. What’s missing is structured recognition, comprehensive management and targeted tools to slow progression, improve function and support systemic health.
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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