The chiropractic profession joined a long list of provider and consumer groups declaring legislative victory on May 11, 2006, as S.1955, the controversial Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, was withdrawn from the Senate floor and effectively defeated after Democrats threatened to filibuster the bill.
As expected, deliberations on the bill began Tuesday, May 9, when Senate Democrats voted to allow S.1955 to advance to the Senate floor - a reportedly procedural move. Debate was limited to 30 hours and ended Thursday afternoon, at which time Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, MD, (R-TN) announced that limited amendments to the bill would be considered. Senate Democrats voted against cloture and the bill was pulled from consideration.
Had the bill passed, provisions in S.1955 would have allowed for the creation of small business health plans (also known as association health plans), to offer insurance coverage through nonprofit organizations on behalf of the small businesses that make up their memberships. The bill was introduced in November 2005 by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. While S.1955's stated purpose was to expand health care access while reducing insurance costs, it contained language that would exempt association health plans from having to comply with state regulations regarding health care coverage.
Currently, many states require insurers to cover specific conditions and treatments, including chiropractic; several states also have mandates in place which prohibit insurers from refusing or limiting coverage to people based on age or health history. Lobbyists, consumer groups, and other opposed organizations purported that S.1955 would leave consumers unprotected without mandated benefits and weakened internal grievance procedures.
In a statement from the American Chiropractic Association, President Richard Brassard, DC, expressed a word of thanks to those who opposed S.1955 and helped lay to rest a potential threat to the profession.
"The ACA extends an enormous 'thank you' to the entire chiropractic profession - state associations, individual doctors, patients, students, chiropractic college leaders and other organizations - everyone who joined together to successfully defeat this potentially devastating legislation. A special thank you also goes out to our allies in Congress, Senators Tom Harkin, Jeff Bingaman, Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and others, for their outstanding leadership on this important issue. Not only did we safeguard the health coverage of millions of patients across the country, but we also showed the nation's decision-makers that the chiropractic profession is a force to be reckoned with. I can assure you that your thousands of e-mails, faxes and phone calls to Congress, letters and news releases to local media organizations, and other grassroots efforts made the difference."
"Today, we can breathe a great sigh of relief, but only for a moment," added Dr. Brassard."The small business or health association plan concept is a popular one, and a new bill will almost certainly surface in the very near future."
Resources/Notes
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?
