# What the Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act Does

Right now, Medicare has very strict limits on chiropractic care. Since 1972, Medicare has only covered one specific service: spinal manipulation to treat what chiropractors call a "subluxation" (a misalignment of the spine). That's it. You can't get Medicare to pay for other services a chiropractor might provide, even if your state allows them to perform those services legally. This bill would change that by expanding what Medicare will cover when you see a chiropractor.

Under this bill, Medicare would cover any service that a chiropractor is legally licensed to provide in their state, not just spinal manipulation. So if your state allows chiropractors to do things like physical therapy, rehabilitation exercises, or other treatments within their scope of practice, Medicare could potentially pay for those services too. The bill argues that this would bring Medicare in line with what the Veterans Administration, military health programs, and private insurance already cover. Essentially, it's saying that if a service is legal for a chiropractor to do where you live, Medicare should be willing to pay for it.

There is one requirement built into the bill: chiropractors would need to complete an educational webinar or similar online training that the government designs, but only once. After that, they'd be approved to provide the expanded services. The bill does keep one restriction—Medicare would still cover spinal manipulation for subluxation without any special requirements. This means if you're a Medicare beneficiary and your chiropractor is licensed to provide additional services in your state, you'd have access to more treatment options covered by Medicare, rather than being limited to just one type of care.

Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023

Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act of 2023 This bill expands Medicare coverage of chiropractic services to include all services provided by chiropractors, rather than only subluxation corrections through manual manipulation of the spine.