New ICA-Endorsed Medicare Legislation Introduced in House
Dynamic Chiropractic Staff
The Chiropractic Act of 2022 (H.R. 8701), introduced by Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) and endorsed by the International Chiropractors Association, is touted by the ICA as Medicare legislation "that can be quickly passed into law. It provides clear instructions for standard of care evaluation and management services (exams and radiological imaging when needed)."
In a press release announcing the new legislation, the ICA summarized the key points of H.R. 8701, which would "amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure equitable treatment of items and services furnished by chiropractors under the Medicare program," as follows:
"Provides specific instructions to CMS to cover what is standard of care – evaluation and management services – specifically including examination and when needed radiographic imaging services, while specifically excluding any expansion of scope for the prescribing of drugs – an important clarification that the Congress agrees with a majority of the chiropractic profession."
"[S]treamlines provision regarding patients' freedom to privately contract for services so that all physicians as defined in Medicare (which includes chiropractors) are able to privately contract. This is commonly referred to as the Opt-Out Provision. Chiropractors are the only physicians currently not included in this provision."
"Eliminates the vestiges of the antitrust discrimination against chiropractors that were at play in 1972 when chiropractic was included in Medicare."
"[P]rovides swift implementation so that Medicare Beneficiaries may reap the benefit of the changes as quickly as possible."
Editor's Note: As of press time, it is unclear how H.R. 8701 compares / differs from American Chiropractic Association-endorsed companion Medicare bills currently under House and Senate review (H.R. 2654 and S. 4042, respectively). Stay tuned.
A historic meeting between chiropractic and Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) leadership took place on March 10th, 2026, in Washington, D.C., featuring representatives from chiropractic national organizations, professional associations and policy principals. The collective goal: advancing the role of chiropractic in improving the health of Americans. Meeting participants focused on long-standing issues that have affected the chiropractic profession for decades, including access to care, reimbursement parity, and ensuring DCs have an appropriate role in national health policy discussions.
Radicular-like pain of the upper and lower extremities is among the most common presentations in musculoskeletal and spine-related practice. Traditionally, these symptoms are interpreted through a disc-centric and dermatomal framework, often leading clinicians to attribute limb pain, paresthesia or perceived weakness to spinal nerve-root pathology. While this approach is appropriate in cases of true radiculopathy, it frequently falls short when symptoms fail to follow consistent dermatomal patterns or correlate poorly with imaging findings.
A 46-year-old male presented to our clinic with a seven-year history of recurrent low back pain with sciatica. He reported stiffness and discomfort that worsened with prolonged sitting both at his desk job and during evening television time. The patient had seen multiple chiropractors over the years. In every case, spinal manipulation and other passive treatments would bring gradual symptom relief over 2-3 months. However, within another 3-6 months, the symptoms would return. Frustrated – and now considering a spinal injection and possibly surgery if that failed, he came to our office seeking a different approach.
