The Bush administration has targeted chiropractic student assistance for elimination in its official 1992 fiscal year budget recently submitted to Congress. The fiscal 1992 administration spending plan proposes to eliminate the Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) program, through which thousands of chiropractic students fund their education. In its place, the Bush administration has proposed an expanded Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) program, that expressly excludes chiropractic students.
For more than a decade the HEAL program has provided federal guarantees for loans for chiropractic education, and has been a major factor in the growth and development of the system of chiropractic education in the United States.
The budget document containing this controversial proposal not only outlined the administration's intention to eliminate federal assistance for chiropractic students, but contained very negative and distorted characterizations of chiropractic colleges and the chiropractic profession. Describing the chiropractic profession as non-critical and in low demand, and chiropractic colleges as "questionable institutions," the budget document stated:
"The exclusion of chiropractic studies from the program would ensure that needy students are served by health professions' institutions that have earned the public trust and are worthy of receiving taxpayer support."
This unexpected administration initiative prompted an immediate and emphatic response from the International Chiropractors Association (ICA).
"This shortsighted and hostile proposal will be bitterly resisted with all the resources the ICA can bring to bear," said ICA Legislative Committee Chairman Dr. Sid E. Williams. "Unlike other legislative initiatives where chiropractic is seeking to expand its participation in federal programs, the legislation this administration is recommending will take something away from a profession that is already being cheated and shortchanged by medically-dominated public health programs."
The communications and government relations staff, working in close cooperation with the ICA Legislative Committee and ICA affiliated chiropractic colleges, has launched a vigorous political action campaign to defeat the administration's proposal. A "Chiropractic Student Emergency Political Action Kit" has been produced containing a summary of the situation and model letters to members of Congress urging a rejection of this proposal. An initial distribution of 6,000 kits is under way.
All 535 voting members of Congress are receiving a strongly worded letter calling for the immediate rejection of the administration's proposal, and providing the legislators with accurate and balanced information on the student loan issue. In addition, an in-depth survey of the membership of key congressional committees is being conducted by ICA's Legislative Committee and lobbying staff to lay the groundwork for the defeat of this anti-chiropractic proposal should the issue come to a vote in Congress.
"We can leave nothing to chance in this effort," said Dr. Sid Williams. "It is clear that strong forces have lined up against the chiropractic profession and only an immediate and energetic campaign of political action can ensure that this proposal will be defeated."
To receive an Emergency Political Action Kit call the ICA at (703)528-5000 or write:
International Chiropractors Association
1110 N. Glebe Road, Suite 1000
Arlington, Virginia 22201
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
