Two chiropractors and a patient, backed by the Arizona Chiropractic Society (ACS), filed a lawsuit on March 14 against the Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI), alleging failure to enforce the chiropractic insurance equality law, ARS 20-461(A)17 and ARS 20-461(B). This law requires insurers to give patients the option to use their health insurance to see a medical, osteopathic or chiropractic doctor for treatment of common neck and back problems and pay the same co-pays and deductibles with the same overall limitations on treatment.
At the current time, co-pays, deductibles and other limitations for chiropractic care discriminate severely against chiropractic care with financial barriers so huge that insurers, led by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, basically force patients to choose MDs or DOs for back and neck pain. ADOI, despite hundreds of consumer complaints over multiple blatant violations, has refused to enforce this law, which only they have the legal authority to enforce. Therefore, this legal action is asking the courts to order ADOI to properly enforce the law. Technically, it is called a "Writ of Mandamus" or a "Special Action."
For extensive additional information, go to the Arizona Chiropractic Society Web page, www.azchiropractors.org. If you have any questions, contact Alan M. Immerman, DC, ACS president and executive director, at (602) 368-9496 or acs@azchiropractors.org.
Source: Arizona Chiropractic Society
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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