The IFCO is in opposition to the ACA Chiropractic Medicare Coverage “Modernization” Act of 2019. The act continues to pave the way for the ACA’s intended plan of scope expansion and primary care physician status.
The ACA has a long history of leadership who are in support of scope expansion to include pharmaceuticals as well as the marginalization of vertebral subluxation-centered chiropractic. The most recent evidence comes in the form of their “Choosing Wisely” campaign which openly attacks, without basis, the long-established x-ray standards of care in the management of vertebral subluxation.
The IFCO wishes to remind all organizations that to remain silent in these matters, or worse, to join forces with the ACA in this and other matters that seem beneficial to both parties is a union of diametrically opposed values and objectives.
The proposed act does nothing to support or increase the public’s access to vertebral subluxation-centered care.
Instead it only increases the likelihood of continued scope expansion and will increase the financial burden on an already overburdened system for services that fall outside of the rightful scope of chiropractic.
Additionally, the ACA act does not address the ability of the chiropractor to opt out of medicare, a point which is of paramount importance and would truly be addressing the inequity in the current system.
Finally, the ACA act further positions the practice of chiropractic as a treatment for spinal pain and associated musculoskeletal conditions, and limits doctors to only the management of those said conditions instead of recognizing the salutogenic nature and broad implications for our care.
The IFCO is strongly opposes this act and encourages all individuals and organizations who may have already signed on to support this act to reconsider their position on the matter.
Over a decade ago the International Federation of Chiropractors and Organizations (IFCO) participated in the development and promotion of the Chiropractic Medicare Freedom and Benefit Protection Act, along with a coalition of other organizations including the World Chiropractic Alliance and the International Chiropractors Association (ICA). The centerpiece of this Act was a revolutionary bill (H.R. 2560) that provided a definition of chiropractic that actually reflects what chiropractic is.
The Bill was written by legislative staff from Representative Don Manzullo’s office, in collaboration with Christopher Kent DC, JD, President of the Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation.
The Bill’s purpose was to prevent duplication of services between chiropractors and medical doctors, provide reimbursement for exams and imaging related to the detection and correction of vertebral subluxation and to allow the Doctor of Chiropractic the ability to opt out of Medicare if they so choose.
The IFCO is only in support of measures that address those stated concerns and is in complete opposition to this act that continues the decline of the chiropractic profession into a form that is unrecognizable from its intended path and unique offering to humanity.
We encourage all of those who are in agreement with our position and who are opposed to this political usurpation and degradation of our profession as well as the public’s right to a vertebral-subluxation corrective service to contact your senators voicing your concern (https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact), join the IFCO and like-minded state associations, and become involved in protecting and promoting our great profession before it is too late.
Dr. Liam Schubel
IFCO President
