Tell the U.S. Senate to Allow Chiropractic Physicians to Perform VA Disability Exams
Illinois chiropractic physicians have an opportunity to support federal legislation that would expand access to timely disability examinations for veterans. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed HR 3951, which includes language expanding the pool of providers, including chiropractic physicians, who may perform Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability exams. This resolution would remedy current federal law under which chiropractic physicians are not authorized to perform these exams. Now, the Senate needs to act.
3 Million Disability Exams on the Line
Approximately three million VA disability exams are performed each year. These exams are used to evaluate the severity of a veteran’s service-connected conditions. They are a critical step for veterans seeking the care and benefits they have earned through their service.
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When there are not enough qualified examiners available, veterans can face delays, particularly in rural areas where access to health care providers may already be limited. HR 3951 includes provisions designed to address those delays by expanding the number of licensed health care professionals who may perform these exams. This expansion will speed up much-needed benefits to qualifying veterans.
For chiropractic physicians, this legislation is also an important recognition of the profession’s role in the broader health care system and in serving veterans who need timely access to disability evaluations.
What HR 3951 Would Do
According to the American Chiropractic Association’s Legislative Action Center, HR 3951 includes provisions that would:
- Expand the list of providers eligible to perform VA disability exams to include all licensed health care professionals, including chiropractic physicians.
- Permanently allow VA providers to perform cross-state disability exams.
- Help reduce examiner shortages, particularly in rural areas.
- Help cut wait times and accelerate delivery of benefits to veterans.
The House has already acted. The next step is for the Senate to pass this needed legislation and send it to the president for enactment.
Take Action Today
The Illinois Chiropractic Society encourages chiropractic physicians and staff to use the ACA Legislative Action Center to contact Senators Durbin and Duckworth and urge them to support passage of this legislation.
Click here to contact your senators through the ACA Legislative Action Center.
The action center includes a suggested message, shown below, making it quick and easy to communicate with your senators. Your message can help reinforce the importance of expanding access to VA disability exams and ensuring veterans receive timely evaluations and benefits.
Message Included in the Call to Action
“Last fall, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation, HR 3951, which contained a provision expanding the pool of providers who may perform Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability exams. Approximately three million of these exams are performed annually.
This bipartisan bill ensures that veterans, especially those in rural areas, have access to quality and timely examinations so they can receive the care and benefits they’ve earned, regardless of where they live. The legislation permanently allows VA providers to perform cross-state disability exams and expands the list of providers eligible to perform disability exams to include all licensed health care professionals. These changes will reduce examiner shortages, again especially in rural areas, cut wait times, and accelerate the delivery of benefits to veterans.
I urge you to work to bring this much-needed legislation to the floor and send it to the president for enactment.”
ICS Members Can Make a Difference
Federal advocacy is most effective when elected officials hear directly from us and from our communities affected by pending legislation. ICS members can help ensure that the Senate understands the importance of this issue for veterans, rural communities, and the chiropractic profession.
Please take a few moments today to submit your message.
